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*

[taogrl.livejournal.com]

I cant believe you. I did not read the spoilers, so don't mention it.

[weaktwos.livejournal.com]

What?

[brittadotcom.livejournal.com]

I immediately thought Regulus Black = RAB as well (just finished reading 30 minutes ago!)...but that means he had time to find it & replace it before he tried to leave the Death Eaters, since it sounded like he was killed darn soon after attempting to leave them...hmm...and if Dumbledore had such a hard time even with Harry there to help, how could Regulus have succeeded by himself?

My co-worker totally called it was Snape...I had hoped it was a new character myself...but I did suspect Snape when the book was so helpful with the potions (it also makes me wonder more about Lily knowing now she was so good at Potions herself?)...and I knew Dumbledore had to die eventually for plotline reasons, but I was hoping it wouldn't be until book 7...but I did say the earliest would be the END of 6, not earlier...there was still too much to learn...and this venture just made crystal clear how Dumbledore was miles beyond Harry in figuring out how to circumvent Voldemort's booby traps...how will Harry succeed in finding the others?

I have to say I called the Ginny deal when Harry disappointedly realized she didn't hang out with them during the school year, and confirmed it as soon as the flowery scent was in that love potion example along with treacle tart, but I also suspected he'd pull the Spiderman line...Ginny should do the MJ thing & come back to him anyway...if Ron & Hermione are coming along in Harry's quest anyway, which is plenty of danger of risking of close friends, and Ginny just took her OWLs with Hogwarts possibly closing anyway, what's to keep Ginny from coming along, really?

I was surprised at pity for Draco, especially when JKR said after the last book that "you're all getting much too fond of Draco"...it seems that these last events have only created sympathy for him...?

I really kept hoping the Snape faceoff was a pre-organized last-resort plan between him & Dumbledore to save face in front of the Death Eaters & convince Bellatrix among others & keep the double-agent thing going...especially hearing Dumbledore plead which I never would have expected him to do...argh! I hope there is something more, since I know Dumbledore can make mistakes and that is appropriate, but such a fundamental mistake about judging human nature doesn't mesh with the rest of the ongoing themes IMO...

Okay, enough...sorry for the rambling... :)

[weaktwos.livejournal.com]

I think Snape was stuck between two vows..Draco and Dumbledore. And I think Dumbledore pleaded for Snape to kill him. If Dumbledore thought that Snape was against him, I don't think he would have let him kill him. I think Snape will help Harry fight Voldemort when the time comes. He appeared to be trying to teach Potter down to the end. And even after his death, Potter will not take Dumbledore's trust lightly, as he was considering that Snape's murder of Dumbledore was not all it appeared to be.

I do agree that Potter doesn't appear ready. However, if Ron, Hermione, and Ginny join forces, and they really should, I think they will make quite an imposing force.

I was rather bummed that J.K. took the Spiderman route. It really is silly for someone to protect someone from love who doesn't want to be protected from it. Now, I wonder what member of the Order of the Phoenix we will be "properly introduced" to in book 7, as Rowling hinted. Part of me thinks that we were never properly introduced to Snape.