Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (SPOILER THREAD)- Page 7

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 5:57pm

Notice how when someone mentioned Snape being a sort of redemptive character, she responded that's very very interesting that one said that, and that we'd see why in the last book.

Interesting.

[LoudIrishGirl]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 6:00pm

Ahh, but interviews and spoilers are what make me so psyched(sp?) about the book! I love reading little hints and stuff and then wondering how it's going to be revealed etc. I love that stuff!

But reading the end before starting is just weird. I like spoilers for the build-up, but reading the ending first ruins any kind of tension in the book!

Posted: 7/19/05 at 6:25pm

I like knowing nothing.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 6:29pm

I read the spoilers before I read the book. I liked the book a lot anyway. However, I now loathe Snape.

Posted: 7/19/05 at 6:45pm

aww... it's Peppermint Patty.

I don't know if I should loathe him or not. He was just doing what he had to do (The Unbreakable Vow).

[Aigoo]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 6:50pm

AHjlaksdnfjkaler. Down with Snape. Dumbledore was cooler.

Posted: 7/19/05 at 6:55pm

I'm hoping Snape is still good in the 7th book.

[Beergoggles]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 7:15pm

snape will never be good... he's evil, evil, evil!

[TGIF]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 8:00pm

"I like knowing nothing."

Maybe you should change your name to Captian_Oblivious!

I love Snape's character so much because there are so many sides to it. As outwardly evil as he appears at the end of book 6, upon futher anaylsis I still question his reasons for doing what he did. It is THAT, that intrigues me. I look foward to seeing what unfolds in the 7th book.

Posted: 7/19/05 at 8:26pm

That's not exactly what I meant... I was talking more about "I don't want to know anything (spoilers, rumors, etc) about the 7th book."

I know this has been asked, but do you think she'll write anything else after Harry Potter? Not sequels, but other books that have nothing to do with our friendly Wizards and Witches?

[LoudIrishGirl]

Posted: 7/19/05 at 9:11pm

She's talked about writing under a pseudoname so that she is not bound by the comparison to Harry Potter all the time.

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 12:22am

I heard the last book is done. The only thing left to do is decide a release date. Also heard she would write inder a pseudoname.

I feel that Snipe will end up being a good guy. But then I thought it was Ginny, Snape or Malfoy that was going to die in this book! Was shocked that Snape was the Half Blood Prince. I stay away from teasers and websites when the books are released. I had also thought that Mrs. Durseley might be at the funeral since we now know a bit more about her. I figure more of her past will come out in the next book.

[Taryn]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 12:25am

Unless JKR is lying, the last book is far from done. The last CHAPTER is, and she says she's worked a LITTLE on the book, but will start writing full-force around the end of the year/beginning of next year. She wants to spend some time with her new baby.

She's also said that she loves Harry Potter and will be sad to finish it, but she's also really excited to be able to move on to different things, too.

[musicgal04]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 12:52am

On the subject of Hogwarts in the next book, I'm not so sure that it will reopen for awhile. I think it would be interesting if the Order used Hogwarts as a headquarters. I mean there are tons of charms on it, I have a feeling that they would get rid of the cabinet thing. Plus I'm sure there are tons of resources throughout the school and I think it would be smart of Harry to start off his Horcrux searching at Hogwarts. Just my thoughts. I loved this book.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 12:54am

Well JK has said that she has had the ENTIRE story outlined for YEARS before the first book she ever published.

She may not have it written yet, but she knows EVERYTHING that will happen already.

I will cry many tears when I purchase the last book. and cry even more when I finish the last page.

[LoudIrishGirl]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 12:57am

I know! So many people around the world will!

Those PotterParties are going to be INSANE, when that clock hits 12 people are going to TRAMPLE others to get that book!

[Plum]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 1:04am

Hm. I imagine Hogwarts won't be as well-protected without all of Dumbledore's spells on it. But there's no way on God's green earth the school will be left out of the last book. It's just not happening.

[TGIF]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 1:37am

In a recent interview with Rowling, she said that the one thing that she might consider doing is an Encyclopedia for Harry Potter - something for all us HB geeks to get even though we probably don't NEED it.

From an interview - "JKR: The most likely thing I’ve said this a few times before, would be an encyclopedia in which I could have fun with the minor characters and I could give the definitive biography of all the characters."


I am almost done with my reread (about 50 pages to go) and I picked up on one or two things that I would like some people's opinions on.

1.) I know this is being overly picky, but on the cover you see Dumbledore's right hand seemingly intact (not blackened or dead looking). However, in chapter 23 (titled Horcruxes) in the American edition the drawing at the start of the chapter shows Dumbledore's LEFT hand completely fine. Seems the illustrators missed something. I only noticed it because I kept forgetting which of Dumbledore's hands was hurt.

2.) When Harry meets Trelawney outside the Room of Requirements. Trelawney talks about how the cards are showing something disturbing and that no matter how she shuffles them the same three cards keep surfacing. The three were:

- A lightnight stuck tower (The Astronomy tower with the Dark Mark over it)
- Calamaity and Disaster (Death Eaters and Dumbledor's Death)

Now Trelawney has a fondness for predicting horrible deaths and tragic events. Could this be a case of the boy who cried wolf? After predicting distruction for so long no one seems to be taking any of her claims seriously ( understandably). Maybe Trelawney has a little more talent than we think. Could she possibly play a larger role in the next book?

3.) This is in response to the Dumbledore knew he was going to die/Snape isn't really evil theories. For the first time in any of the books Dumbledore shows signs of aggitation/frustration/sternness towards Harry. Previously he has always responded to Harry with the sort of patience that indicated that he could talk all day. However when Harry refuses to accept that he is equipped with anything useful to fight Voldemort or that Harry thinks Snape is still loyal to Voldemort, Dumbledore has surprisingly little patience. Now I could be reading into all of this; however, I interpreted this as Dumbledore LITERALLY not having the time to debate a 16 yr old boy on the matters. It could be that Dumbledore is seeing that time is precious and he must use all of it to his advantage.

- Also, when Harry tells Dumbledore that he knows it was Snape who told Voldemort about the prophecy it says that Dumbledore hesistated as if he was contimplating telling Harry something but instead he said that he trusts Snape completely. Could he have considered telling Harry the reason why he trusts Snape?

-- Here is the exact quote
"Professor...how can you be sure Snape's on our side?"

Dumbledore did not speak for a moment; he looked as though he was trying to make up his mind about something. At last he said, "I am sure. I trust Serverus completely."



---sorry for the legnth.

Updated On: 7/20/05 at 01:37 AM

[Plum]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 1:42am

Trelawney does have second sight, but it manifests rarely and is completely out of her control. Not to mention that she doesn't remember or realize she's prophesizing when she does. Interesting that it popped up with the cards this time as opposed to her trance-like states. And it doesn't change the fact that in her classes she's completely full of it. :)

The only reason Dumbledore didn't tell Harry why he trusted Snape was so Rowling could keep things ambiguous until the very end.
Updated On: 7/20/05 at 01:42 AM

[TGIF]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 1:45am

Yes, I figured that much about why nothing was said. Also, It would have seemed like they were wasting time when there was a Horcrux to be destroyed.

This is what I love. Is Snape evil? Is he acting on Dumbledore's orders? Did he only do that because he was forced to when he took the Unbreakable Vow? As outwardly evil Rowling makes him in this book, close readers still find it difficult to decided on Snape's nature.

[LoudIrishGirl]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 1:49am

"Could he have considered telling Harry the reason why he trusts Snape? "

Yah. My personal theory is that Snape loved Lily and that her death by his word tortured him till the end. I mean, they both were good at potions...she did try and protect him in the memory...he could have been nicer to her earlier in their time at Hogwarts.

That could also be why Snape hates Harry so passionately, by why he always saves Harry. Snape hates that Harry was so loved by Lily that it literally saved Harry from Voldemort, while his love for Lily caused him to be so tormented and torn. But he did love Lily, so he protected the little he had of her...kinda.

[Plum]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 1:53am

I also think Snape liked Lily, and felt guilty for causing her death. But while that explains why he defected from the Death Eaters, it still doesn't cover why Dumbledore trusted him so absolutely.

[LoudIrishGirl]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 1:57am

Good point. What else could it be? Something to do with his being the Half-Blood Prince, perchance?

[TGIF]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 1:57am

Hmm. I am not sure about this theory but lets run with it. Slughorn is constantly praising Harry on his potions work and comparing it to his mother's ability. Could Snape have, in attempt to get Lily's attention/gratitude filled out the Advanced Potions book and sent it to Lily, giving her the advice and tips she needed to succeed in potions? Teasers said we would find out why Lily was so good in Charms, but never mentioned anything about her knack for potions. Both Lily and Snape seemed to be members of the Slug Club. Slughorn said that it was impossible for anybody to not like Lily.

However there seem to be more things to contradicted this than support it. Harry is always told that his mother and father were both EXTREMELY smart. Snape called Lily a mudblood in the memory we see in the pensive. If he loved Lily so much, lets say in almost an obsessive way (which seems to fit his personality) he would surely know that she was pregnant with James's baby. If he had strong feelings for her, I doubt it could slip his mind that she would be due around the same time as the prophecy predicted.

[LoudIrishGirl]

Posted: 7/20/05 at 2:03am

Well as for the mudblood thing, don't young children hit the ones they like? I think that Snape was so unable to socially connect with her that he did anything for her to notice him. Along those lines, or he saw that she had already fallen for Potter and was so angry and muffled that he just spoke without truly thinking.

As for the obsessive thing, well what if he hadn't been able to learn of them? I mean, they were going into hiding (and were there for some time before Voldemort killed them, yes?). He may not have known WHEN Harry was born or to be born, merely knowing that she was pregnant with James's child must have been painfull enough. Could it have happened that he became cross-obsessed? I mean that he was so obsessed with her, but hated James so much that he tried not to learn much of them even as he yearned to?

I dunno, I just get the strong feeling that Snape loved Lily and that's part of why Dumbledore trusts him, if not the whole reason.