Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Discussion

[trojangal]

Was up half the night reading it, and finished it also.

I was not prepared either for the Snape situation.

I thought the romances were a little much..but good teenage stuff.

The Horcruxes..wow...what do you guys think would be some of teh other Horcruxes? Remember, Dumbledore said that something from each house...and two of them are accounted for.

Any thoughts on McGonagall as headmistress, now?

I don't see them closing Hogwarts...i could see it as a place of refuge now?

[ADqtPiMel]

Originally posted by sugar and spice


fire1977, good spot with the locket in the Black house.

Ooooh, another idea. Was there any point to the scene where Mundungus Fletcher steals stuff from the Black house? Maybe he unintentionally stole the locket? I doubt she'd just put that scene in for shits and giggles.

[sugar and spice]

Brilliant.

I almost have to stop reading this thread; you guys are going to decode Book 7 for me before it's even written.

[midwesterngirl]

Originally posted by sugar and spice
Brilliant.

I almost have to stop reading this thread; you guys are going to decode Book 7 for me before it's even written.

She said here that some readers have gotten very close to some parts of the ending. She also said thge next book is two years away,which I don't think is unreasonable.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally posted by ADqtPiMel
So here's my thoughts...

I think R.A.B. is Regulus Black.

I agree

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Did anyone else think about the resemblance between Harry/Ginny and James/Lily? Everyone says Harry looks like James and both Ginny and Lily are redheads. Just a thought I suddenly had towards the end.

Gonna suck to have to wait for #7.

The was a lot of relationship stuff in this one. BUT, Dumbledore did tell Harry that the ability to love gives him a power Voldemort doesn't have. So the relationships are really quite important.

[Lindz928]

I was never one to root for Harry and Ginny, but this book made me want to see them together so much! I agree that the whole relationship stuff was thick and teenage in this one, but I found myself getting excited to find out how they were going to get together, as well as the whole Ron/Hermione relationship. It does seem obvious that they will end up in those pairs, and I hope it does.

I had not thought of R.A.B. as being a Black, but I do think it's a good theory. I also looked back through the book looking for the first names of Borgin and Burkes, but could only find one of them in my quick skimming. Didn't Hermione see that locket in their store in Knockturn Alley? Hmm, I tihnk I will need to read it again soon to pick up on the little details.

I found it interesting to find out after so many books that the DADA position really IS cursed- since that has been casually mentioned by the students in almost every book. Very cool.

I was definately very sad by Dumbledore's death- it's so hard to imagine an HP book without his guidance to the younger characters. But, I think that Harry will somehow still benefit from his guidance, even without him there.

I thought I had read somewhere that we will be learning more about Lily and James' backgrounds, but maybe I was wrong. Hopefully we will in book 7. I agree that the whole eye thing might have significance.

Goodness I want book 7 NOW!!!!! Hahaha.

[Wine&SilverBlue]

I wasn't thrilled with this book for a few reasons:

- 1. I saw friggen spoilers on LJ by accident (people had them as buddy icons) and went into the book "knowing" that snape was the hbp, dumbledore would die, and snape would be the one to kill him. pretty much ruined the book for me - no surprise really

- 2. Dumbledore was by far my fav character. However, there was something in book 2 about him never truly leaving Hogwarts as long as there is someone there who believes/supports him (something like that) Hopefully he'll make some sort of appearance in some way or another in book 7


my prediction for the end?

Harry will beat Voldemort (no surprise there) and the Death-Eaters and thereby eliminate the need for Aurors... so instead, Harry will take over as the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts. He's proven himself as a teacher and he has the ultimate experience. I think it'd be a nice ending

[EtaEpsilove]

I also thought we would be hearing more about the backgrounds of James and Lily. Overall, I thought this was much deeper and darker than the others...and I was very glad to have so much explained!!

I guess it figures that Dumbledore would die ... Harry does have to do stuff on his own. But, really, why does everyone who cares for him die? I just thought it was a little much to kill off Sirius in OotP and then, just as he's getting really close to DD, kill him off too.

Also, I feel like the good side (order of the phoenix and such) is really losing at this point. One thing that really stuck out to me ---Harry did not fight Voldemort at all in this book. While we learned a ton about V., we still never saw him. And, correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that this is the first book where we don't meet/see/overhear Voldemort!

Anyway, I can't wait for the 7th (and, tear, last) one! 2 years is WAYYYY too long!

[sailorchicDG]

I just finished…

I figured that they would kill off DD, but not until bk 7. I thought that JKR would have him around to impart more knowledge unto Harry. Or at least kill DD off right as Harry has to face Voldomort giving him the extra determination to win.

Originally posted by fire1977
I'm inclined to believe that Harry's scar is a Horcrux, because of the "only a true Gryffindor" comment from Chamber of Secrets as well as Dumbledore wondering what object of Gryffindor's that Voldemort could possible have placed the Horcrux in.

I totally believe this theory. I always thought that DD explination of Harry’s link to Voldomort (in bk 1 or 2) to be pretty weak. I like the idea much better that Harry has part of V’s soul in him. This would explain the Parsletounge, and the dreams, slipping into V’s subconscious, similarities to Tom Riddle (determination, skill, ect.), and Harry’s ability to sense V through the scar. The scar could be V’s entranceway to the Horcux.

Originally posted by ADqtPiMel
Ooooh, another idea. Was there any point to the scene where Mundungus Fletcher steals stuff from the Black house? Maybe he unintentionally stole the locket? I doubt she'd just put that scene in for shits and giggles.

This is an interesting theory too. I like the fact that Harry inherited all of the Black possessions. If the locket is somewhere in the household, or at least was at some point before someone stole it (Mundungus or Kreecher), then it would rightfully belong to Harry. This could help him get it back to destroy the soul inside.

Originally posted by carnation
Also, since Draco was so hesitant about killing Dumbledore, I'm hoping he'll convert to the good guy side.

It’s weird, but I kind of want Draco to turn good in bk 7. He did show remorse in the bathroom with Moaning Myrtle (crying, ect) and he said that his family was being threatened. Maybe Draco felt influenced to follow his father’s footsteps as a Death Eater. Was his mother actually a DE branded with the mark or is she just a loyal follower? She did not want her son to take on his task; she wanted him safe. That shows that Draco knows what it is like to be loved, right? Possible way to turn him good?

I’m a closet romantic, and was really happy when Harry started to feel for Ginny; when they kissed I was sooooo happy for them. I didn’t think she still felt that way for Harry anymore. First crush and all… As for Ron and Hermione, I like the way that they kept trying to get back at one another (reminds me of my youthful days). But, hurry up already and through them together. I think that Ron and Hermione more closely mirror James and Lily than any other characters. Why, I can’t place my finger on it…

That’s all for now… more thoughts to come I’m sure.

[tunatartare]

Is Voldemort going to kill Draco now? In the beginning of the book Narcissa tells Snape that she thinks that Voldemort only gave Draco the job because he thought Draco would be unable to perform it. Even though Dumbledore is now dead, Draco himself didn't kill him with his wand.

I agree with S&S about the whole Nazi/Death Eater parallel. My friends and I once had a discussion about how the books parallel the Holocaust. Hitler said that in order to be considered Jewish, you needed to have at least one Jewish grandmother, which he did in deed have. Similarly, Voldemort is on a sort of quest to get rid of all the half-bloods, even though he, himself is not of pure blood.

I don't think that Snape is acting under the Imperius Curse. Rowling said somewhere that she wanted this book to shed light on the fact that he isn't a good character. I think he is truly Voldemort's favorite because he is the only Death Eater who isn't of pure blood (just like Voldemort) and he, like Voldemort, is also ashamed of his parentage.

[Lindz928]

Originally posted by sailorchicDG


I think that Ron and Hermione more closely mirror James and Lily than any other characters. Why, I can’t place my finger on it…

Is it because Ron and James were both pure-bloods and Lily and Hermione were both muggle-born? That's the main parallel that I see.

I also didn't think that Ginny still had feelings for Harry, but there are a couple of comments that she makes before they get together that lead you to believe that she is still interested. Like when she and Hermione get into an arguement about Harry and Ron.

Is it weird that in my head the muggle prime minister looks like Hugh Grant??? I think maybe I've seen "Love Actually" a few too many times. Haha

[tunatartare]

Originally posted by Lindz928
Is it weird that in my head the muggle prime minister looks like Hugh Grant??? I think maybe I've seen "Love Actually" a few too many times. Haha

Not just in your head lol.

[SmartBlondeGPhB]

Originally posted by Lindz928
Didn't Hermione see that locket in their store in Knockturn Alley?

She saw the necklace that poisoned Katie..........

[Lindz928]

Originally posted by SmartBlondeGPhB
She saw the necklace that poisoned Katie..........

Gotcha. Thanks for clarifying.