Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (SPOILER THREAD)- Page 3

[Therese]

Posted: 7/17/05 at 10:13pm

I think JKR uses "half-blood" as generally meaning a Wizard/Witch with one magical parent and one muggle parent. So, Snape would still fall under the "Half-blood" category, regardless of his mother's specific ancestry. Also - I should go back and find it - do we know that Eileen Prince was a half-blood, herself, or is Hermione just speculating, look, here's a girl named Prince who was a student here, maybe she was a half-blood and this was her potions book? (EDIT: Oops, I see #1Elphie already looked it up.)

I think the room in which JKR would like to spend an hour, the room in which Harry has been but doesn't understand the importance of it yet, is the Prefects' Bathroom, where Cedric lets him work on one of the Triwizard clues in GoF. I think it's Hermione who comments in the new book that, now that Harry is Quidditch Captain, he's allowed to use the Prefects' Bath.

Thanks, Ashley, for reposting the teasers. There seems to be a fair amount of Sirius-related stuff that did NOT happen in Book 6, which therefore must happen in Book 7, which to me reinforces the idea that Regulus Black is "R.A.B."

Updated On: 7/17/05 at 10:13 PM

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 7/17/05 at 10:17pm

But Ashley, half of that stuff didn't even happen in the 6th book. So now, I am only left wondering about even more then I was before I started the 6th book.


The next one is going to be massive. And people need to get over the fact that Sirius is NOT coming back. He is a downer anyway...

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 7/17/05 at 10:17pm

I thought this book was excellent, and I think it might be my favorite. I have to let it sink in before I really decide. I had a feeling Dumbledore would die and when they entered the cave, the feeling got stronger. However, I was still devasted when it actually happened. I didn't think he would go like that. Dumbledore's death did not make me cry like Sirius' did, I think because Harry's reactions were different.
I'm dying to know for sure who R.A.B. is.

[Craig]

Posted: 7/17/05 at 10:25pm

Dumbledore's death has been forshadowed in previous books - and it was painfully obvious I felt in this one - including just before they departed for the cave when he made Harry promise to do whatever it was he asked - even run away...

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 7/17/05 at 10:52pm

This has some interesting and plausible theories, if anyone is interested:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/garlandgraves/3409.html

[Mattio98]

Posted: 7/17/05 at 11:25pm

Just finished reading so here are my thoughts...

-Snape is not evil. I think that Dumbledore was pleading with Snape to kill him and that's the reason why Dumbledore insisted on having Harry get Snape when they arrived back in Hogsmeade via apparition. It might be because Dumbledore was afraid of what Voldemort could do if Dumbledore was alive and under his power. I guess we shall see.

-I feel that Harry will be back at Hogwarts in some capacity in the next book if only for the reason that the books are labeled (on the spine) for the years at Hogwarts. I could be wrong but Hogwarts has been so central to the storyline that I can't see Rowling completely abandoning it.

-I am wondering if Harry will become a member or perhaps even the leader of the Order.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 7/17/05 at 11:51pm

Also, does anyone feel that when Harry was trying to attack Snape at the end, Snape was really teaching Harry his final lesson in preparation for an eventual battle with Voldemort? Telling Harry to "keep his mouth shut and his mind closed" seems like he was telling Harry to block out all distractions and use nonspeaking curses.

[BluCat500]

Posted: 7/17/05 at 11:55pm

I think its possible that Sirius could come back as far as the "once people are dead, they are dead" stuff. There was never reeeaaally incontravertible proof that he was dead, most likely my wishful thinking, as I liked Sirius....

I'm confused, yes a petty detail I know, as to why portkeys were so necessary in the past, if one can apparate another person with them...

And I thought the book felt a little rushed in parts, as if she were trying to keep it a certain length and had to cut out some of the cute little details other books had, there was certainly a lack of Fred and george in this one (would they really be content simply running a joke shop and not have any involvement with the Order of the Pheonix), and after writing a whole book about the order of pheonix they were barely mentioned...

I think its definetly a big possibility Snape is not "evil"...

And am I the only one who feels like Ron and Hermione's relationship doesn't make sense, I just don't like it for some inexplicable reason, and I must of missed or forgotten this but whatever happened to Krum?

Having said all that I couldn't help loving it, especially after waiting two years...

[Mattio98]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 12:47am

I know it's a strange thing to forget but, how many books will there be in total? Is it seven? And when is the next book scheduled to come out?

Also, I was just looking back out of curiosity and I noticed that the last names of the two children that Tom Riddle took into the cave both began with the letter B. Coincidence?

Posted: 7/18/05 at 1:01am

I believe just wearing the ring will make your hand go black.

And I too thought that RAB is Sirius' brother...It makes sense, and gives a reason for his death.

I cried when Dumby died! And God, I didn't think Snape had it in him.

Book 7 will definetly be big. Harry won't go back to Hogwarts, and neither will the others. I don't even think it'll open back up.

In the end, the battle will just be about Harry and Voldemort. And Harry will win. :) Maybe I'm just optimistic.

[LoudIrishGirl]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 1:42am

"I am wondering if Harry will become a member or perhaps even the leader of the Order"

He's too young to become a leader, but a member certainly. Also, I wonder if the 'pet' that JKR hinted at will be a phoenix for Harry? I'd find it fitting.

OH, and I decided that Regulus Black can't be alive (as I had guessed/hoped in an earlier post) because then Harry wouldn't have gotten the house.

Does anyone else wonder if Harry is Gryphandors (sp?) Heir much like Voldemort is Slytherins? If so, when and how do you think it will come up? Just curious...

Posted: 7/18/05 at 1:46am

I've always thought he was an Heir... but that seems to be too easy. You never know, though.

I think Ms Granger's going to get a much bigger part in the 5th book.

[LoudIrishGirl]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 1:54am

Hopefully! Hermione is sooo underrated in these novels, she only gets mocked and ridicule from everybody else. Ron gets some praise for his Quidditch stuff, and Harry for being Harry, but Hermione is sooo unloved and she is the most accompished and intelligent and mature member of that trio!

I really want Snape to get some love in the next book, too. He has done so much and been given so much sh*t. *Sigh* poor Severus.

Posted: 7/18/05 at 2:00am

Someone mentioned that Snape wasn't worthy of being a title character. I disagree. He was so much of a character. He freakin' killed Dumby. I think the title should be called Snape and the Boy Who Lived.... seriously. He was alwasy present.. on every page. He was talked about constantly.

Oh, and I kinda saw the whole Draco thing coming.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 2:46am

Well, I've finally caught up with you little speed readers, and HOLY CRAP! That was devastating and beautifully written. I didn't see Dumbledore's death coming, but I did pin Snape as the Half-Blood Prince pretty early on. I join so many others in thinking that Snape is still in Dumbledore's service and will ultimately facillitate Harry's meeting with Voldemort.

Then again, I bought into all that "Ron is Voldemort" nonsense that was circulating on the web a few years ago, so what do I know?

Posted: 7/18/05 at 2:50am

I must've missed that one...

I had early speculations that Tom was the Half Blood Prince, since he is half blood.

I'm hoping the 7th book will begin with the wedding. That'd make me happy... and then maybe a child?

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 3:09am

Okay, just finished. Wow. Let's see.

I was absolutely convinced that Voldemort was the half-blood prince and I yelled at the characters for being so ignorant. Oh well. Nice twist from Rowling, as I felt the last book missed that.

I too was in complete denial of Dumbledore's death, I was convinced what he was telling Malfoy was what they were doing to him, but then he got buried and i don't know, I can buy that he agreed to die and the more I think about it, the more I think Snape isn't evil. Why would he try to save Harry's life in The Sorcerer's Stone when Quirell was cursing him?

Also agree with wht was said about Dumbledore, he didn't fear death, and just...there's no way. Thanks for you comments, I'm like 97% convinced it was somehow a setup by Dumbledore and Snape. At first I thought it couldn't be b/c it really did seem like Dumbledore was dead but now I think it was set up for him to die. Very interesting.

A tad disappoined they didn't do a bit more with Sirius, though I guess Harry's realization at the end explains it a bit. I bawled after Sirius died, but didn't cry during this one. I think because for a while I was convinced Dumbledore wasn't dead, but then when I accepted it, Harry made the realization and I was like Dumbledore would have wanted things this way so I dunno.

But I liked it much better than the last one. Can't wait for the 7th!

Posted: 7/18/05 at 3:23am

Hopefully it'll be out soon. If I have to wait a year, okay. I can do that. Two years is okay too. More than three is pushing it. And five.. hell. I dunno if I'll even care.

[LariTheLoud]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 4:19am

Glad to see people are picking up on the "Snape isn't evil!" argument.

Fanon!Snape isn't dead, after all!

Posted: 7/18/05 at 5:33am

Who will be the new Head of Gryffindor?

[KelRel]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 9:00am

"It's very important in the plot that Harry has his mother's eyes, and that her wand was very good for charms." This was discussed in book 6, if he hadn't been soo good he wouldn't have gotten as much attention from Slughorn and he wouldnt have been able to get him to tell him secret had he not had Lilly's eyes.

I finished the book at about 2 this morning, but I have to go so I am not any later than I already am for class.(It started about a minute ago adn I'm still at home. I'm such a slacker!)

[cserannie]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 1:57pm

OK, I have finished the book and here is my opinion:
PITON IS NOT EVIL!

1. Dumbledore always knows everything (he knew everything about Malfoy), so he must knew everything about the unbreakable wow too.
2. I don't know whether Dumbledore knew about the poisened drink or not but when he was talking with Malfoy, he closed his eyes too many times (I guess he was talking with Snape all this time in a telepathic way, thay is why Snape hurried to the room so quickly and knew which room he should go) No one could tell him, because everyone was fighting.
3. Probably Dumbledore gave him the same order to Snape as he gave to Harry (always obey without any hasitation or question).
4. When Dumbledore said "Perselus" and then "Perselus, please" I guess he meant that "Snape do what he was oredered before".
5. Snape sentence "don't kill Potter because Lord Voldemort wants to do it".
Yeah right...and if it's true than why didn't they take Potter to him. It makes no sence.

Okay, maybe I just like Snape so much or I have a vivid fanthasy but if I were Rowling I would write the story this way thinking.

[KelRel]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 2:23pm

Perselus? You mean Severus?

I agree, I think that Snape was forced to kill Dumbledore by Dumbledore himself. I am torn though, think back to one of Harry and Dumbledore's first "lessons" he said that he considered himself to be "highly intuitive" or something like that, but admitted that when he was wrong he tended to be wrong in a very big way. Don't you think that this could have been a clue about Dumbledore's faith in Snape? That he thought he was right, but in all reality he was wrong, pardon the pun, but dead wrong.

[cserannie]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 2:44pm

Sorry, you are right. In Hungary all of the names are translated so here Severus Snape is Perselus Piton.
But I meant him, yes.

[BluCat500]

Posted: 7/18/05 at 3:02pm

lmao off seriously?