Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Discussion. May include Spoilers!!!

[AlanUK]

I thought I would start a new thread so that those of us who have now finished the book could share our opinions without upsetting those who are still reading :)

Personally I was really enjoying the book right up until the last few chapters :( The end seems to leave many questions, not least how Harry is going to achieve his goals. Dumbledore himself was finding the quest dangerous and difficult so for Harry to continue it seems to be stretching possibilities.

The storyline seemed to focus much more on the emotions of the characters and building the plot for the next book than anything specific happening in this one (with the obvious exception on the last few chapters)

I think it's now going to be a long wait until book 7.

Alan.

[Queenie]

Good idea for a thread! I finished last night, brilliant book but so many unanswered questions. It's definately gonna be a long wait!!

The bit with the Inferi really freaked me out and I was in total shock when Snape said the Aveda Kadevra curse, we'd all thought he was bad but trusted Dumbledore's judgement so for that to happen was totally shocking. I kinda feel sorry for Draco now, maybe he and Harry will end up joining forces to defeat Voldemort at then end of book 7?

[AlanUK]

I still think Snape is working for the good guys ;) At the end when Harry was trying to Curse Snape and Snape was blocking the spells he said to Harry that he would have to learn how to keep his mouth and his mind closed if he wanted to succeed, giving him a last bit of advice for the battle ahead perhaps?

I also think that maybe Dumbledore's pleading was to make sure that Snape did what he had to do and did not bottle out therefore preventing Draco getting consumed by evil, which would lead nicely into Sanpe getting so angry about being called a coward.

[GADISNEYGIRL]

Hello all, I'm not from UK (though my ancestors were, does that count??), but I have been searching everywhere for a HBP discussion!

I tend to agree, Dumbledore must have had SOME reason to trust Snape, aside from the "he came to me after he had done it, etc". On the other hand, as I pointed out to my DH, Dumbledore told Harry that due to his brilliance (basically!), his mistakes tended to be bigger than others'. So maybe his trusting Snape was a mistake? I also wondered about Draco joining the side of the Order. Would definitely be an interesting turn of events.

I am hopeful that Harry and Ginny will wind up together in the end. And of course Ron and Hermione is no surprise. And Tonks and Lupin?? I love it!!

I had determined that the Potions book belonged to Snape. And though I was sad about Dumbledore's death, I was not surprised. After all, we all know in the end, Harry must face Voldemort without help from anyone.

[mandymouse]

I have just finished reading this book and I loved it. I loved the way the relationships of the characters developed, especially Harry and Ginny and it was hilarious imaging Ron and Lavendar kissing each other faces off. It was still a bit of a surprise that Dumbledore died, even though there had been rumours since the last book, and for him to die at the hands of Snape was a bit of a shock (even though like Alan, I still think he still working for the Order). It was sad at the end when Harry finished with Ginny and he said that he wouldn't be returning to Hogwarts for his final year

Now we'll probably have to wait another 2 years for the next book, in the meantime I'm going to read it again tomorrow to see if I've misssed anything.

[rob@rar.org.uk]

... (even though like Alan, I still think he still working for the Order).

Killing Dumbledore seems quite a big step to take in order to preserve your cover as a member of the Order of the Pheonix working undercover as a Death Eater.

[AlanUK]

Yes it does seem a bit extreme :eek:

Dumbledore did say to Voldermort at the end of book 5 though that there were worse things than dying, and he had made it very clear to Harry that he was not afraid to die :(

I suspect that we will see Harry back at Hogwarts for his final year in book 7. Hogwarts has played such an important part in all the books so far, I don't think JKR would just drop it.

[GADISNEYGIRL]

There is a very long (12 pages!) discussion on the other Community Board, which brought up many interesting points and theories!

[Queenie]

I have to agree with Rob here, if Snape is undercover then killing Dumbledore is a huge step to keep himself undercover. I can't imagine the Order would be too happy about that as he was sort of their leader. Plus I can't see Dumbledore allowing himself to be sacrificed so easily when he knows Harry, the Order and the whole Wizarding World really need him and his talents (both magical and his abilty to talk to people.) The other members of the Order seem geninely shocked about his death, you would imagine that Dumbledore would have said something to them about having to sacrifice himself to preserve people's secret identities... but then again Dumbledore is very secretive.

[lucy_love_]

could someone pm me please and tell me who the halfblood prince is as im not reading the book but the suspense is killing me.

thanks in advance

love

lucy

[AlanUK]

Pm on the way :)

[lucy_love_]

thanks very much alan. its quite exciting. i might pick them up one day but for now im going to torment my dd whos halfway through the book. i wont tell her though that would be just too mean.

for the adults on here who read them do you get the adult version? and what isz the difference?

love

lucy

[tinkerbelluk]

I think snape had to kill dumbledore because that was the task draco was set and therefore the content of the unbreakable vow, and if snape had not taken the vow voldermort my have suspected him as i think mrs Malfroy may have been ordered by voldermort to ask snape. Therefore snape had to kill dumbledore without arousing suspition from voldermont to continue spying for the order.

Tonks and Lupin: Big suprise but i like it.

Ron and Hermione: I wish they'ed get on with it, they have been obvious since book 1.

Harry not going back to hogwarts - i think he will realise over the holidays that he needs the last year of education to defeat voldermort so he will return. we will see when book 7 comes out.

[Aneille]

I think Dumbledore was dying anyway and if you want to believe Snape was a good guy than I am sure he knew that. Something was up with Dumbledore's hand and was getting weaker and weaker and I don't believe it was just old age.

Dumbledore genuinely seemed to trust Snape so I am thinking he definetly went to Snape for help with his cursed hand. Pomfrey wouldn't have been much help I don't think since it was caused by the Dark Arts. It may have been uncurable.

Also if Dumbledore and Snape were really on the same side then both of them may fully understand that the life of Harry and perhaps even Draco at this point is more important than either of them. Snape could do more damge to Lord Voldemort from the inside and keeping an eye on Draco than he probably ever could if he allowed Dumbledore to live at then end. Plus the odds were against Dumbledore even if Snape did try to stop the death of Dumbledore. Most likely Snape and Dumbledore would be dead in that case and maybe even Harry.

:confused3

Now we just all got to wait and see what happens.

I am not convinced yet that Snape is a good guy but I've always just had a feeling. I wouldn't be surprised though if he acted out against Dumbledore with pure hatred and then later in Book 7 redeems himself. And there was never any conspiracy theory at all involved.

[rob@rar.org.uk]

for the adults on here who read them do you get the adult version? and what isz the difference?

The only difference is the design of the book's cover. The actually books are word for word identical.

The adult version has a less garish book cover, perhaps designed to appeal to a more mature reader, or too be less embarrasing than the bright yellow/red design on the kid's version?

[ely3857]

I still think Snape is working for the good guys ;) At the end when Harry was trying to Curse Snape and Snape was blocking the spells he said to Harry that he would have to learn how to keep his mouth and his mind closed if he wanted to succeed, giving him a last bit of advice for the battle ahead perhaps?

I also think that maybe Dumbledore's pleading was to make sure that Snape did what he had to do and did not bottle out therefore preventing Draco getting consumed by evil, which would lead nicely into Sanpe getting so angry about being called a coward.

I like the way you think! I reckon Snape is a good guy (with a chip on his shoulder) - at the beginning of book 6 he was prestented as a baddy quickly, too quickly for it to be completely true.

:flower:

Jodie

[AlanUK]

I think it would be a real cop out by JKR if Snape really does turn out to be a baddy :(

[steve_rob]

My worry is how the heck is Harry going to kill Voldemort? If he can't even successfully curse Snape without him blocking it easily (as he tried at the end of book six), what chance is he going to stand against the greatest dark wizard of them all?

Apart from that, anyone think they know who this "R.A.B." is yet? The obvious one is Sirius' brother Regulus (sp?), but I wouldn't put it past JKR to make it a character we haven't come across yet.

[AlanUK]

I though R.A.B would likely turn out to be Regulus. It might have something to do with some back story that JKR is going to fill in within book 7 :)

[Goofyish]

Just finished the book :)

I don't think Dumbledore is dead - he will probably walk out of a shower in book 7 :)

[Miss Mickey Mania]

Has anyone figured out where any more of those horcruxes are yet? I think JKR said that at least one has been mentioned in one of the other books but most people won't have realised it's significance.

I do love these mysteries!

Is Dumbledore really dead? I'm still not totally convinced that Snape is all bad. It just seems too obvious and a little too neat. There has to be some more twists. Wasn't there a draught of living death potion? Maybe that was what Dumbledore drank in the cave.

I suppose this is just wishful thinking.

I am still intrigued by Neville Longbottom's back story. I've always had a feeling there was more to him than meets the eye. I wonder if he will have a part to play in the final book.

Louise