Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Discussion *Spoiler Alert*

[daisies]

Overview of Book 6

Much, much better than the last book, book 6 answers some burning questions. How many other people are glad that this time he didn't have to fight Lord Voldemort personally, like ALL the other books? The horcruxes are an excellent new addition, and verify that the 'final showdown' will take place in the next book (but I'm sure we all already knew that)! I was never THAT close to Sirius, to be honest, but Dumbledore? I didn't think JK Rowling would do it. In the second chapter, when Snape reveals his true colours, I did wonder whether it was possible he was double-crossing the double-crossers, and maybe was still on the good side. I had also assumed he was pure-blood - strange how these things work. I think It's nice that Dumbledore's portrait is back, maybe the portraits can only give limited advice to the living? Hmm... Hopefully Harry will return to Hogwarts, no headteacher can be as bad as Umbridge! Felt a bit put out when he said he wouldn't be coming back - Once he defeats Voldemort and wins he's going to need those qualifications!

 

[Dermotjpr]

Felt a bit put out when he said he wouldn't be coming back - Once he defeats Voldemort and wins he's going to need those qualifications!

He wont need the qualifications he will die in his attempt to kill voldy. But he will succeed in killing him.

 

[Dermotjpr]

Another thing i feel i must add is anyone else quite sad about Dumbledores death i have loved the books for 7 years and feel that i was quite connected to the characters.I actually cried when i read that dumbledore died and cried more during the reading about his funeral it devastated me

 

[Sar]

To be honest, I wish in many ways that OOTP had never been published, it would have made much more sense storywise to have gone pretty much straight from GOF to this. The only thing I liked out of OOTP was the split there was starting to clearly be between Harry & his friends & the building resentment which I thought could make for a really interesting plot - but all that was totally forgotten.

I know that OOTP had the prophecy & what happened with Black, but I was seriously disappointed by that book, it did nothing to add to the mood left by GOF (excellent book) & made me reluctant to buy HBP.

Right then, this book:
I was impressed with her trying to draw how things would be perceived by "the muggle" world in the first chapter, gives us some idea of the overall terror being caused, but I think it was the second chapter that had me hooked & barely able to put the book down. I had been quite convinced Snape would sacrifice his own life & save Dumbledore, but I do like Ice's suggestion that maybe Dumbledore had agreed in advance Snape could use AK on him as a last measure. (Hadn't thought of that possibility myself - but it would be a really good twist) That would explain why after all these years Dumbledore had allowed Snape to teach DADA - which was what kept me thinking Snape was bluffing right up until he actually killed Dumbledore. I was kind of hoping the death was Harry killing Draco - the chosen one being nothing but a murderer. *shrugs*

I particularly enjoyed how light hearted Dumbledore was when facing almost certain death - though I feel the desperation & pleading imply he wasn't aware of what Snape was up to. I actually found quite a few places where I laughed out loud during this book.

I honestly think JKR's writing style is improving, though I did find the descriptions of actions in brackets quite bizarre & distracting. I am ashamed to say I did not figure out who the half blood prince was. I know some were disappointed by how the death was handled in this book, but it was far superior to the "he fell through a curtain" approach.

Can't wait to see what others have to say, as I've only just finished & my mind is still processing bits atm.

 

[Catalyst]

Im very very bad. Im only half way through the book and i read this and found out who dies. But i actually predicted it was Dumbledore, so im not that shocked.

 

[MonkeyCatcher]

I just finished the book then, and I think, like the rest of you, that this is far superior to OOTP. I was really dissapointed with the last book, especially with the way in which Sirius died - that was such a let down. I'd have to say that this book comes in as a close second as my fav HP book.. nothing could ever knock POA off that top spot .

I have to say that the first chapter I found to be rather boring. I know that it was interesting to some to see it from a Muggle's point of view, but I just found all the descriptions of people and setting etc to be drawn-out.

I was blown away by the second chapter though. That really sucked me into the story and I couldn't wait to see whose side Snape was really on. I hoped this would be resolved by the end, but I don't think it has yet. Call me stupidly optimistic if you will, but I just don't buy the whole Snape is a Death Eater thing. I think that Dumbledore was pleading with Snape to kill him as planned and not back out, as he knew that if Snape didn't then his cover would be blown and that one of the others would have finished him off anyway. At least I hope it was for the greater good.

I really did like the way in which Dumbledore died. Much better than the way in which Sirius met his end. I actually gasped out loud when I read what Snape did, which shows how surprised I was and I like surprises . I thought that it was fitting for such a great, unforgettable man to die in such an unforgettable way.

I loved the revelations on Voldemorts past.. that was one of the highlights of the book for me and I found myself just as eager as Harry to be summoned to the next meeting with Dumbledore. I was glad that they tied so many loose ends together in this book, while at the same time still leaving just enough open as to make you wonder over the next few years until the next one comes out.

I'm done with my rant now

 

[Sniffles]

I prefered the OOTP and this one wasn't as good, Voldermort wasn't in this one, just the memorys of him, it was mostly to do with the past and not much happened, of course Dumbldore did die but that's not exactly the point, I was surprised that snape was the HBP but it made sense, but why would he have left his book behind anyway? If it was that usefull he would have kept it. Also the I want to know exactly what happened to the children in the cave with Tom when he was on the trip with the orphanage.

Also, I know it says Voldermort likes collecting trophys, but i still don't think it is right that Voldermort used rare and amazing objects to hold his soul, he would have been smart enough to put it in a bottle and put an unbreakable charm on it. it would have been smart to fill it with a potion and sell it. Then he wouldn't need to put all the protection charms and spell on it. just let people think it is ordinary. They might then sell it or throw it out. But it wouldn't be found or broken, because it is unbreakable and ordinary.

Anyway, that's what I think.

 

[Robert]

Best of the Potter books so far.

Perhaps someone can answer a question I have. When Harry and Dumbledore were looking at the House Elf's memory in the pensive, I noticed that at one point it is mentioned that whilst some dialogue occurs the house elf is out of the room, she then returns laden with cakes. How can Dumbledore and Harry remain in the room with Smith and Riddle whilst the house elf fetches the food if it is the house elf's memory they are in??

I don’t see this as an issue. Perhaps if J.K. offered details that the elf could not have witnessed, then I would have agreed that a minor error had been made. As for Dumbledore and Harry staying in the room when the house elf left, well it’s a magic world after all.

I was happy to see J.K. allow Harry and Ginny get together. The way she’s dragging out the Ron and Hermione thing is really getting old. Good to see Harry growing up a little.

I was wondering how J.K. would keep Kreacher from talking. Good of Black to leave everything to Harry. I wonder if Harry will consider leaving a will when he goes Voldemort hunting.

I’m not sure what to make of Dumbledore’s death. Why did Dumbledore want Harry to get Snape and not Pomfrey? Where they planning something? Why did Dumbledore freeze Harry and then allow himself to be disarmed by Draco? Is Dumbledore really dead? I think this could be a source of speculation about the last book.

Obviously the story line for the next book will be the destruction of the horcruxes and the showdown between Harry and Voldemort. I find it difficult to believe that Harry will end up going off alone while his friends just stand by.

He wont need the qualifications he will die in his attempt to kill voldy. But he will succeed in killing him.

I really don’t see J.K. killing off Harry, but you never know.


There are a lot of answered questions for the last book. I think we’re suppose to learn more about Harry’s parents and why it’s so important that he has his mothers eyes. Also, Dumbledore mentioned that love is the strongest magic of all, and it’s the one kind of magic Voldemort doesn’t have that Harry has in abundance. Is there something significant about this?

 

[Sar]

R.A.B - anyone else fancy betting it's Regulus Black, Sirius' "idiot" younger brother who became a Death Eater

"From what I found out after he died, he got in so far, then panicked about what he was being asked to do, and tried to back out. Well, you don't just hand in your resignation to Voldemort. It's a lifetime of service or death"

 

[lies]

I don't think Snape's "bad". Dumbledore trusted him too much and his hands were shaking when he took the unbreakable vow for me to believe he's evil just yet.

 

[Robert]

R.A.B - anyone else fancy betting it's Regulus Black, Sirius' "idiot" younger brother who became a Death Eater

That's an interesting theory, but he's suppose to be dead.

 

[RIKKIS]

okay , so some of you don't think that snape is evil. As to wether he is or not I find that to be a mute point. He is the foulest person I have ever encountered in a book and I hope that harry personally gets the chance to kill him and doesn' back down in the next book. I will be thouroughly disappointed if he is allowed to live especially after betraying harry's parents. It is said that he felt really bad about it and that that was one of the biggest mistakes that he ever made, yet he still can't bring himself to be nice to the son of the people that he betrayed. He is a monster and I only wish that he were real so I could have the chance to end his useless life. The same goes for malfoy. I hope harry kills him. I don't understand why jk thought that dumbledore had to die. I would have rather it been anyone but him and the three amigo's. really disappointed in the book, gof remains my favorie and I thought it could have been much better.

 

[Robert]

Oh, I don't know. I think Umbridge is foulest by far.

 

[Ice]

That's an interesting theory, but he's suppose to be dead.

Since Voldemort was apparently unaware that one of his horcruxes had been destroyed, why can it not be that Regulus took the horcrux before he was killed? It could even be at Grimauld Place.

 

[Robert]

Why can't he be? Since Voldemort is apparently unaware that one of his horcruxes had been destroyed, why can it not be that Regulus took the horcrux before he was killed? It could even be at Grimauld Place.

According to the book(s), Regulus died long before Sirius died, so he wasn't around to take the horcrux from Dumbledore.

 

[Ice]

According to the book(s), Regulus died long before Sirius died, so he wasn't around to take the horcrux from Dumbledore.

Why would he have taken the horcrux from Dumbledore?? I assumed they pulled the fake from the bowl and that someone had been there before them.

 

[Robert]

Since Voldemort was apparently unaware that one of his horcruxes had been destroyed, why can it not be that Regulus took the horcrux before he was killed? It could even be at Grimauld Place.

Hay Ice, are you suggesting the switch long before Dumbledore and Harry arrived at the cave?

 

[Ice]

Hay Ice, are you suggesting the switch long before Dumbledore and Harry arrived at the cave?

Yes That is precisely what I am suggesting.

 

[Robert]

Why would he have taken the horcrux from Dumbledore?? I assumed they pulled the fake from the bowl and that someone had been there before them.

I wondered if that was what you were thinking. I would have thought they would have noticed the switch in the cave, but maybe not. I'll have to go back and look at the text again. I think it may be possible, Ice.

 

[Sar]

That's an interesting theory, but he's suppose to be dead.

and what does the message by R.A.B say?

"To the Dark Lord
I know I will be dead long before you read this
but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret.
I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can.
I face death in the hope tghat when you meet your match,
you will be mortal once more.
R.A.B"

Now if you then think about what Sirius said about his brother in chapter 6 of OotP, p104:
"He (his brother) aws murdered by Voldemort. Or on Voldemort's orders, more likely; I doubt Regulus was ever important enough to be killed by Voldemort in person. From what I found out after he died, he got in so far, (referring to him being a death eater) then panicked about what he was being asked to do and tried to back out. Well, you don't just hand in your resignation to Voldemort. It's lifetime service or death."

You seem to have forgotten that Voldemort was preparing to split his soul at school age, so he would have hidden the horcruxes well before going up against Lilly & James Potter, that means Regulus could easily have been alive when all this happened.
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