Harry Potter Book Club - Chapter 16 A Very Frosty Christmas- Page 25

[singingwendy]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 5:45pm

Chapter 18: Birthday Surprises

Harry once again is saved by the Half Blood Prince in potions class when he uses a bezoar to solve his 'create an antidote" assignement. He then tries to get Slughorn to tell him about horcruxes, but Slughorn refuses. Harry, Ron and Hermione all take appartition lessons in preparation for being allowed to apparate on their 17th birthdays. Harry overhears Draco's discussion with Crabbe and Goyle, telling them not to ask questions, but just be good lookouts. This prompts Harry to become a bit obsessed with following Draco on the Marauder's Map, and he notices that often Draco simply seems to disappear from the school entirely.

Ron's 17th birthday arrives, and in his birthday celebration, he accidentally eats a chocolate frog laced with love potion. Harry takes him to Slughorn for an antidote. Ron is cured, and Slughorn proposes a birthday toast. Ron is the first to drink, and becomes violently ill. Harry saves the day by giving him the bezoar that he offered as an antidote during Potions.

1. Harry once again uses the Half Blood Prince's recommendations to help him out in Potions. Do you think this is wise? Who do you think the Half Blood Prince is? Is he or she good or evil?

2. The Apparition teacher's name is Wilkie Twycross, a seemingly perfect name for one who is described as slight, frail, and a bit "transparent'. J, K. Rowling has a talent for giving her characters great names. What are your favorite character names and why?

3. Draco seems to constantly be missing from the Marauder's Map. Is he really missing? If so, where do you think he is going?

4. Slughorn has no problem offering Harry and Ron a glass of mead, which is an alcoholic drink. I have to admit I was a bit taken aback by this occurance in a children's book. Do you think British readers reacted the same way? Did this bother you?

[caitiesus1522]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 6:07pm

1. Harry once again uses the Half Blood Prince's recommendations to help him out in Potions. Do you think this is wise? Who do you think the Half Blood Prince is? Is he or she good or evil?

I think it depends. The whole trying out spells...is stupid. But I think that using it for potions has worked...so he may as well try it.

2. The Apparition teacher's name is Wilkie Twycross, a seemingly perfect name for one who is described as slight, frail, and a bit "transparent'. J, K. Rowling has a talent for giving her characters great names. What are your favorite character names and why?

I still can't decide...they are all just great.

3. Draco seems to constantly be missing from the Marauder's Map. Is he really missing? If so, where do you think he is going?

I didn't think he was gone from the school. I know you can make a place unplotable, maybe he knows a way to make it so no one can figure out where he is.

4. Slughorn has no problem offering Harry and Ron a glass of mead, which is an alcoholic drink. I have to admit I was a bit taken aback by this occurance in a children's book. Do you think British readers reacted the same way? Did this bother you?

No I don't think they react the same way because alcohol is not such a big deal there and Europeans don't really have as many problems as here in the US...and they can drink sooner.

It didn't bother me at all.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 6:08pm

Whee! New questions!

1. I can't answer this one, since I already know who it is.

2. I love JKR's names. Some of my favorites are Dolores Umbridge (which roughly means "pains and anger". It's perfect), Remus Lupin (a very wolfish name for our favorite werewolf) and Nymphadora Tonks (because it's such a prissy, fairy-princess name, and we all know Tonks is nothing like that!).

3. See my answer to #1 ^_^

4. It didn't really bother me that much. I didn't even think about it until I re-read the book. I mean, Slughorn wasnt' trying to get them drunk or anything. I get the feeling that mead isn't a heavy drink (I've always considered it the wine cooler of the wizarding world). Plus, Ron is of age, and Slughorn fawns over Harry anyway. I'm sure anyone in the Slug Club would receive similar perks.

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 6:15pm

1. Harry once again uses the Half Blood Prince's recommendations to help him out in Potions. Do you think this is wise? Who do you think the Half Blood Prince is? Is he or she good or evil?

At first, I sided with Hermione and didn't think it was a good idea. And then everything the Half Blood Prince changed came out perfect. I would've done the same thing.

2. The Apparition teacher's name is Wilkie Twycross, a seemingly perfect name for one who is described as slight, frail, and a bit "transparent'. J, K. Rowling has a talent for giving her characters great names. What are your favorite character names and why?

This is too tough. I love them all!

3. Draco seems to constantly be missing from the Marauder's Map. Is he really missing? If so, where do you think he is going?

At first, I didn't know. Then I remembered...

4. Slughorn has no problem offering Harry and Ron a glass of mead, which is an alcoholic drink. I have to admit I was a bit taken aback by this occurance in a children's book. Do you think British readers reacted the same way? Did this bother you?

Isn't the legal drinking age in the UK 16?

[singingwendy]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 7:07pm

One more question....is once a week for new questions a good pace, or do we want them more often?

[Fiction Writer]

Posted: 7/26/06 at 7:10pm

I think it's good.

[singingwendy]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 10:34am

1. I know it's working out for Harry, but at this point in the book, I still wasn't convinced that using the HBP's potions text was such a good idea. After all, Harry hasn't had such good luck with 'borrowed" books---remember what happened to Ginny? Maybe it's just the teacher in me thinking, "he needs to do the work for himself".

2. I love J. K. Rowling's names! I love Remus Lupin--so "wolfy". I love Voldemort--"air of death". I love Fleur Delacour---how can she not be a girl to fall in love with after her name means "flower of the heart"? Professors Flitwit and Sprout--perfect. Ooh...also the Dementors!

3. I've read the rest, so I know where he was......I don't think I had a clue when I read it the first time thought!

4. Gee...my answer is already in the question. Yes, it struck me as odd.....not "I'll never let my child read this book because they are drinking in it!!!" but just a strange inclusion in a book aimed at children.

[Rose_MacShane]

Posted: 7/27/06 at 1:41pm

But the thing to remember is the books have become increasingly more mature, both in structure and style as well as tone and themes. I mean, this one features incest (the whole Gaunt family is comprised of "kissin' cousins"), death of loved ones (if you don't already know, I'm not about to spoil it for you!) and burgeoning love. They aren't strictly kids' books anymore.