Harry Potter Book Club - Chapter 16 A Very Frosty Christmas

[yodamarie78]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 7:00pm

Chapter 16 A Very Frosty Christmas

Harry and Ron go to the Burrow for Christmas break. Harry tells Ron about the conversation he overheard between Snape and Malfoy. Harry also tells Mr. Weasley and Lupin about his concerns, but they tell him that Dumbledore’s trust in Snape should be enough. Christmas morning Percy shows up at the Burrow with Scrimgeour, who asks Harry to speak with him outside. Scrimgeour hints that he would like Harry to be seen around the Ministry. Harry tells him that he can’t do that since he doesn’t agree with the way they are handling things, such as arresting Stan Shunpike when they know he isn’t guilty. Scrimgeour calls Harry “Dumbledore’s man” and leaves.

*Discussion Questions*

Does it surprise you that Lupin and Arthur weren't more concerned after learning about an Unbreakable Vow between Draco and Snape?

In this chapter we learned exactly how Lupin became a werewolf. Are you surprised at how candidly Lupin shared this information with Harry? In turn, this is the first time that Harry had mentioned "The Half-Blood Prince" to an adult. What does this say about Harry and Lupin's relationship?

Everyone except Molly seems to see right through Percy's indifference to his parents and reasoning for being there. Do you think she sincerely is blinded by a mother's love or does she realize and not care?

After meeting Rufus Scrimgeour for the second time, how do you feel about him? Is he just a brash leader or should be call his allegiances into question?

Scrimegour states that "it doesn't really matter whether you are the 'Chosen One' or Not." Do you think he believes that? Do you think he feels that Harry is in fact the "Chosen One?"

*A huge Thank You to Patronus for supplying this weeks questions*

Discussion Guidelines

This is a Chapter by Chapter discussion of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. We will spend a couple of days on each chapter depending on how lively the discussion becomes.

I will post a summary and questions to start the discussion to kick off each Chapter in the thread and in the first post.

You may not reference anything that happens in a chapter after the one in question.

The discussion questions are only to kick things off and are not intended to limit the discussion. If you have any ideas for Discussion questions for any upcoming chapter please PM me.

Have Fun!
Original Harry Potter Thread Updated On: 5/1/06 at 07:00 PM

[Patronus]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 7:20pm

Sounds good! Thanks for agreeing to lead us on this.

You rock!

[Kitzarina]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 7:46pm

How exciting!

[Elphaba]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 7:51pm

well done yoda, what a great idea! Unfortunately I'm reading two others now.....a third would kill me

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 11:02pm

Excellent, Yoda!
I am also really busy, but I am going to try to squeeze in an extra chapter every few days.

[Atrias]

Posted: 2/18/06 at 11:06pm

Ooh, cool. I should really re-read the first chapter, I tend to skip it and get to the good stuff when I read Number Six.

[Staci1818]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 1:03am

That sounds really cool. Would I be able to join in late, as I'll be away this weekend?

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 1:05am

I don't see why not, Staci - just make sure to read the first few pages before bringing up ideas that may have already been discussed.

I've barely touched HP5. I've got to blow through about 1094 pages tonight and tomorrow and then I'll be ready for Monday.

[Overthemoon6]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 2:20am

Wonderful. I can't wait.

[DG]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 2:45am

"I tend to skip it and get to the good stuff"

What an interesting sentiment from a reader - almost as if the author couldn't possibly have intended for what came in the beginning to have an impact on the overall experience of the book.

I'm intrigued by this endeavor, and will jump in with comments if they occur to me.

And thanks for this. It gives an interesting counterpoint to the idea that nothing of cognitive value is taking place on this board. And all without restriction as to who may participate - go figure.

[Overthemoon6]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 2:57am

One of my friends skips all of the dialogue. I think its a shame, because J.K. puts a lot of the humor in the books in the dialogue.

[Plum]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 3:01am

I skipped everything Joseph said the second time I read Wuthering Heights, but can you really blame me?
Updated On: 2/19/06 at 03:01 AM

[Overthemoon6]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 3:03am

Ugh I hated Wuthering Heights. To me, Heathcliffe was an unsympathetic character, and Catherine annoyed the crud out of me.

[Overthemoon6]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 3:04am

Sorry. Threadjack.

[DG]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 3:05am

"the second time I read"

That's a pretty important part of your statement, Plum.

[Overthemoon6]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 3:17am

I don't think that I can read that book ever again. It took so much of me to get through it.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 3:48am

So somewhere in between my homework tomorrow, I'll definitely have to get chapter 1 reread. Updated On: 2/19/06 at 03:48 AM

[DG]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 3:56am

Siren - just consider it a part of your homework

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 11:50am

That is what I am doing. Except I am saving it for last, to be sure I read it.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 12:28pm

I'll give Atrias the benefit of the doubt and assume she meant that it's only on repeat readings, she "gets to the good stuff". After all, on your first reading, you wouldn't know what the good stuff is! Then again, even though I'm tempted to do that at times (especially in book 5), I can acknowledge that JK's genius enough to put in critical details when and where you least expect it, so I read it from cover to cover.

[JLSatUD]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 1:08pm

I read it from cover to cover but I feel like I am so anxious to get through it that I miss details the first time through. I'm also horrible at remembering which details came in which book because once I've finished they all blend together. This is a good idea though because it'll force me to re-read little by little and pay attention.

[RENTingFAME]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 1:57pm

I don't think I've touched HP6 since July... I've been so busy! Oh well. I shall abandon homework and reread some... I sense staying up obnoxiously late coming on. :)

[Atrias]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 1:59pm

*gapes at DG's comment* I was joking. Geez!

[yodamarie78]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 5:59pm

I'm so excited that people are really interested in this discussion.

I know you were joking Atrias, but I cannot understand skipping anything when it comes to Harry Potter. In working on discussion questions for the first couple of chapters of HBP I've been thinking about how incrediably important they are to the overall plot.

Remember if you think of any questions you would like to have included in the start up questions please PM me. The chapter one summary and questions should be up around 8 AM EST tomorrow. I'm expecting to spend a couple of days on each chapter, depending upon how lively the discussion is.

Just a reminder that because we're taking this one chapter at a time discussion should be limited to events that occur before the chapter in question. Anything that happens later in the book is off limits.

[theatrebabe]

Posted: 2/19/06 at 6:04pm

I'm really excited about this! This book is so much fun to disscuss and delve into. Can't wait!