The Half Blood Prince

[weaktwos]

The Read:Wait ratio for Harry Potter books is wickedly slow.

I finished the book just prior to 3am this morning. Ugh.


I liked it, I liked it a lot. I'm very sad at some of the results, but overall very, very pleased.-I enjoyed the little tale of Apparition lessons as a lovely comparison to driver's training. And the fact that Ron flunked due to half an eyebrow not apparating was hilarious.
-It was about time for Ron/Hermione, and Ginny/Potter. Ginny was made for Potter, and still is. If he thinks going to succeed in keeping Ginny out of his business, I think he'll be mistaken. Plus, this goes against some advice Dumbledore was oft to give him: the difference between Voldie and Potter is that Potter can love. Plus, I'm fairly certain that Ginny can upstage hell's fury on a dime. Go-head, Ginny.
-I loved the relationship between Potter and Dumbledore, of course. And I should have realize that anyone who becomes a parental figure to Potter is marked for death.
-Snape might be next. Perhaps. I don't believe he's a true death-eater. As others have said, I think Dumbledore anticipated a point where Snape would have to show his allegiance to the death-eaters and Voldemort to pull this battle off. And given that the Half-Blood Prince has been helping Potter this year, I think their relationship will be quite interesting in book 7. Harry's little twinkling of compassion for Snape, as well as the nagging remembrance that Dumbledore trusted Snape to the end will prove to be key.
-Draco. He may have not killed Dumbledore, but he's still a prick. After all, he busted Potter's nose quite nicely and left him in the train. Sure, he's not a killer, yet. But I think had his hesitation was as much a fear of dying at the hands of Dumbledore versus dying at the hands of Voldemort. If Draco was facing a lesser enemy, I'm thinking he would have killed such an enemy with far less hesitation.

Comments

[pacalissanctum.livejournal.com]

I think Dumbledore knew (hence, at end of book 4 when he asked Snape if Snape realized what he was going to have to do and if he was up for it). Of course, part of that is to keep me from hating Snape and thus, my favorite fanfic pairing. :D I agree with your assessment of Snape, plus, it would stay within the theme of the books to have Harry be wrong about Snape again, just like every other time.

I kind of guessed that Dumbledore was going to snuff it in this book. His death has been foreshadowed since book 3 and really, there can be no ultimate faceoff if Dumbledore is still around. Was a bit shocked at how it came about though, initially.

My guess on who HBP was the most off prediction I've had in a while. :D

Who do you think RAB is? I'm voting for Sirius' brother.

[weaktwos.livejournal.com]

I was thinking it was perhaps another Black family member. Regulus, I believe? But that's just the only character I know thus far who shares the same initials.

[pacalissanctum.livejournal.com]

Yup, Regulus is the brother.

It would explain why Voldemort took personal interest in killing him off when Regulus was a Death Eater.

[torsoheap.livejournal.com]

As soon as I saw RAB, I figured it Regulus Black as well.

[weaktwos.livejournal.com]

So here we are...in the same boat. At least Two more years 'til book 7. *sigh*