Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Discussion

[not2late]

It goes without saying that there will be spoilers in this thread. So if you haven't read the book and don't want to be spoiled, don't read this thread.

[Bugaboo]

Re: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Discussion

Cool!!!! I've started re-reading it already!

[Bugaboo]

Re: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Discussion

But Dumbledore apparated with Harry after making sure nobody was around to see. If he had been a decoy then there would have been no need. I think Snape...oops...Professor Snape was bound by the Unbreakable Vow. Which he probably didn't even know what he was vowing to do. However Dumbledore and he were arguing about something. Maybe Dumbledore knew and that's why he asked for Snape specifically. Really, if I were Dumbledore the first person I would want at my side would be someone like Professor McGonagall. Dumbledore had his reasons...however hard they may be to understand. For now anyway.

[not2late]

Re: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Discussion

I liked this book.

Muggle Government and Ministry of Magic.
I've always wondered how the Ministry of Magic communicated with the Muggle government. For a time I thought the Minister of Magic was a cabinent position in the Muggle government---afterall, how did the Muggle papers know that the homicidal villian Sirius Black escaped from jail in PoA? So it was interesting to see that the MoM was a parallel government. It's also interesting that Tony Blair doesn't like being bothered with Wizarding things and that John Major tried throwing Fudge out the window

The Dursleys.
I'm disappointed in them. In OoP, Petunia seemed to have turned around in her attitude towards Harry, but in this book she's back to her same old uncaring self. It's a pity.

Though I thought Dumbledore's exchange with them ("Let us assume that you have invited me into your sitting room) was hilarious.

Fred and George
I remember getting into an argument with some folks in the "HP Discussion Group That Must Not Be Named" about who was the most intelligent student(s) at Hogwarts. I nominated Fred and George--they disagreed. My reason for Fred and George was in order to develop their pranks, they had to be 1. creative, 2. have working knowledge of various magical subjects and be able to apply that knowledge in new ways. So I was happy to see their shop successful and that they are Defense contractors for the Ministry.

Percy
I hope Percy and the Family will reconcil, but I don't think that will happen.

Ginny
Wooo Hoooo! She waited and never gave up on Harry.

I'll post more later.

[Bugaboo]

Re: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Discussion

I'm on Spinner's End again...paying more careful attention to the conversation and I have a feeling that Snape really didn't know what Malfoy was supposed to do or thought Narcissa only wanted Snape to protect Malfoy which would be easy enough. It was only during the vow did she ask him to fulfill the task if Malfoy could not. I think if Bellatrix hadn't been there Snape might not have done it.

I loved the way Dumbledore handled the Dursleys. Especially the wine glasses bonking their heads. I'm not surprised at Petunia sadly. Anyone that could treat a child the way she has...even her own blood...she reminds me of Sirius' mother in OoP. The way her portrait would scream about the "filth" in her house.

I would have to vote Fred and George as being really brilliant as well. All the things they made seemed silly because they were practical joke products but the extent of magic and knowledge how to make them must have been very advanced. I love the way they left Hogwarts telling Peeves to give Umbridge "heck for us." and Peeves who had never taken an order from a student did just that. I just can't believe that Umbridge is back at the ministry. She should have been sacked with the way she behaved. I'm glad Harry didn't decide to be the Ministry's poster boy. Good for him.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Discussion

You guys still talking about that book?

[not2late]

Re: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Discussion

You guys still talking about that book?

YEp, lots to talk about! Rowling put alot of info into the book.

[Bugaboo]

Re: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Discussion

Oh yeah...lots to discuss. I've decided it's my favorite of the series. A lot of stuff has changed now...veeeeery interesting.

[Origam]

Re: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Discussion

Am I the only one who thinks Dumbledore isn't really gone? Yeah he was killed.. but Harry saw the Phoenix rise from the flames around Dumbledores body and it says when the flames disappeared that there was a tomb in it's place.

I think Snape is on the good side.. he and Dumbledore were probably arguing over Sanpe most likely having to "kill" him. I think they both knew that Dumbledore wasn't going to really die, and it made Snape look like he held up his end of the bargin. Snape could've hurt Harry or worse even bought him back to Voldemort where Voldemort could've easily dispatched Harry. Also, if Snape were involved in the Deatheaters attack on Hogwarts there would've been lots more carnage.. he's fairly powerful and even the other professors acknowledge he knows more about the dark arts than they do.

Onto the Horcruxs.. I wonder who RAB is. Those initials seem familiar for some reason!

[not2late]

Re: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Discussion

If you haven't read it, Mugglenet.com has a multipart interview with Rowling about this book. It's really insightful and gives decent clues as to what might happen in Book 7.

[Bugaboo]

Re: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Discussion

I think Dumbledore is gone. There isn't supposed to be any way to survive that curse. Maybe by Dumbledore dying it extends the protection on Harry past his 17th birthday when he's no longer returning to the Dursleys. I also thought it was odd that Voldemort himself never once appeared in this book. At least not that I can remember.

[not2late]

Re: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Discussion

I think Volde is waiting and preparing for the final battle (you know that's coming!).

[Bugaboo]

Re: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Discussion

Oh yes. I believe that. I was thinking a little bit ago about Polyjuice Potion. Was that really Dumbledore? Was that really Snape? Hmmmmmmm.

[not2late]

Re: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Discussion

I was lurking on the "HP Discussion Group that Must Not Be Named" last night. Lots of theories about Snape--guilty Snape, non-guilty Snape. Someone did bring up the Polyjuice Potion too. But if it wasn't Dumbledore then who was it?

[Bugaboo]

Re: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Discussion

But if it wasn't Dumbledore then who was it?

I was thinking the same thing. I guess because Dumbledore is one of my most favorite characters I don't want him to really be gone. I'm having a hard time thinking Snape really is back on V's side though. Or he wasn't until he did what Malfoy couldn't. He might be now after what he did...or he and Dumbledore knew what was going to happen and it was planned that way.