[NancyBrooke]

There is a soon-to-be three-part interview w/ JKR being posted at "The Leaky Cauldron" which I've found interesting. She has addressed questions of Snape's allegiance, R.A.B. and others, but manages to remain pretty ambiguous (dadblammit ...)

Here's the link:
http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/extras/aa-jointerview1.html

[Neniel]

Hey, I just finished reading the book too, and wow! I admit I may have expected something better (where plot consistency, pairings, everyday life may be concerned, you guys said it all!) but I won't deny bursting in tears in the end... I was just sitting there, clutching the book in my hands and muttering 'No, no, Dumbledore can't be dead!' for rive minutes before I could work up the courage to go ahead...

Well, I know many people feel that Dumbledore should be dead for a more mature Harry to emerge, but frankly, every single fan out there is thinking of ways to bring him back... Personally, I was brainstorming over his connection with Fawkes, something prearranged with Snape (he could have used some weird silent spell while saying Avada Kedavra aloud, is that possible?), the potion in the cave that would have been replaced is a cool idea too... But, honestly, let's face it. JKR loves disturbing the waters, so I wouldn't put D's death above her, merely for the fact that it totally threw the readers off. And besides, the average age of her readers is obviously growing, so it's only natural that she would be interested in something more that the usual 'fairy-tale' happy ending. And in truth, I like it better that way, the stakes are higher and anything could happen!

Harry's character was much more interesting as well. I liked him better than the overly angsty Harry from the last books. He has more confidence in his actions and seems to know what he's doing for a change. Too bad that Ron and Hermione don't share the same fate. Sure, Ron seems to have grown up a bit too, but where's the level-headed Hermione that provided advice and comfort in every difficult situation?

Snape, on the other hand, oh he was a treat, that one! The story screamed that he was the HBP from the beginning! I mean, put potions and slight tendance for dark arts and who do you come up with? But he's actually been one of my favorite characters almost since the second book, because he's there screaming for attention and there have been hints of his burdened past before (McGonagal being another, but I've been disappointed so far, maybe we'll see more of her in book 7). Anyways, I totally vouch for good, I mean, come on guys, it has "plot twist" written all over the place! He's the professor that started out bad, to become neutral, to change into good and now bad again! He's the perfect candidate for Harry's misplaced hate that will prove wrong and become some life-changing lesson or surprise before the end. If he's so evil, then why care enough to give the Unbreakable Vow? He didn't do it out of devotion to Voldemort, he did it to accept the responsibility of protecting Draco, a task that was nowhere near his responsibilities since it was made quite clear that Voldemort couldn't care less if Draco lived or died. By all rights, he should have kicked them out of his house, and it would have made even Bellatrix happy. So Snape cared enough to give an oath that binded him with his life. Compassion. And he never attacked any of the others from the OotP, he just raced past them to get outside. He didn't fight back against Harry, even though he could have stunned him or something and deliver him to Voldemort. He didn't reveal the location of the OotP's headquarters, when there could be several plausible excuses for Voldemort finding out with Bellatrix's (evem temporary) claim on the Blacks' house. In short, other than attacking Dumbledore, he never did anything to help Voldemort, while Dumbledore appears surpirsingly well informed on Voldemort's intentions.

Another idea... Did he really have to cut Harry short from casting the Crusciatio curse in order to counter it? It almost felt like he was trying to protect Harry by not letting him cast one of the Forbidden Curses. Far-fetched, of course, but still...

But Harry leaving Hogwarts... I don't know... It's not like he's giving up on his education, he'll probably start working on his own (like with the DA), and with Hermione on his side there shouldn't be any problems with using books on their own instead of living teachers. And he's got the basics down. He may not be proficient with silent spells yet, but that's a matter of practice. He's already developped the fighting spirit and responding instincts of an active Auror. He's seen much and has experience, although the know-how will be needed as well. All in all, he can survive and become a wizard to be reckoned on his own too. But why go out on his own where he's easy prey? Why not enlist McGonagall's and OotP's help? Even the now 7th year members of the DA could prove valuable allies. So, strategically, it seems like a weak decision...

Wow, I can't believe I've written so much already, I've got ideas and proposals dancing all over the place, but these were the most important for now.

Oh, and a friend of mine told me that according to JKR book 7 would take at least 2 years to finish... *wail* Don't start spreading it yet, could be mere hear-say, but still, it does seem possible...

[KhazarKhum]

Outside of Dumbledore, who at Hogwarts has done the most to keep Harry alive?

That's right. Snape. Hagrid's a close third.

Snape had every chance to kill Harry and others at Hogwarts, but he spent the time getting Draco out of there instead. And there's the thing he tells Harry--"Never call me a coward!"

[NancyBrooke]

[NancyBrooke]

I have a horcrux! ... It's my laptop: I spilled Diet Coke on it this morning and almost died!! but I got this one after giving birth, not killing anybody. Fortunately the Hub is a credentialed computer geek, and cleaned it all up nice for me. *phew!*

[ZeeDrippyVessel]

I just finished HBP and I admit, almost from the get-go, I had Snape pegged.

As for Snape good or bad? When Snape made the unbreakable vow... when Narcissca threw in the third demand - that Snape finish the job if Draco can't - he PAUSES. His hand SHAKES. He doesn't want to agree to it, but he has Bellatrix standing over him with her wand. Not a whole lot of choice here. I think he WENT to Dumbledore and told him - remember, they are overheard arguing and Snape tells him he doesnt' want to do it anymore. And AD tells him he must.

It is possible AD knew what that liquid was when he drank it and it was only going to cause a prolonged, painful death.

Also, how many times has Snape had the ability to do away with Harry - and hasn't? Even when he's running away - arguing with Harry about Cowardlyness... he's teaching him - you HAVE to learn this, you HAVE to learn that.

In many ways, I feel this was JKR's best book. IN other ways - it was horrid. Hermione was turned into a whining, love-sick girl.

Madame Pince and... Filch????? EEEEEW! That's as nasty as Ent/hobbit sex...

My eyes... my eyes...

Would have liked to have seen more day to day, but LOOK at the other stuff...

Look at the info Harry gleaned from the Spider funeral?

Oh and HERE's Another LOTR/HP similarity - - - how many noticed the similarities of when Harry and Dumbledore were crossing the lake and Harry was seeing the dead bodies in the water... all I could think of were The Dead Marshes.

THink about it.

It is late and I am tired. Just food for thought...

[RoxieRxChicago]

I had the exact same thought about that argument between Dumbledore and Snape as Zee. I refuse to believe Snape is evil. He did what he had to do because Bellatrix was on to him. She's an evil bitch, but she ain't stupid. I went back and re-read the rest of the books looking for clues and everything points straight to Snape protecting Harry and trying to keep him from getting himself killed. He's had an infinite number of opportunities to either do Harry in himself or take him to Voldemort, and he's done neither.

The other thing that keeps popping up through out the books is the idea that as long as there are those loyal to Dumbledore at Hogwarts, help will be available to them if they need it. So while I am 100% sure he is dead, I don't believe that is the last we have heard from him. His portrait, is afterall, in the headmasters office. So I believe he will be able to assist Harry in his quest in some way or another.

I also have a theory about Harry's ancestry. Dumbledore says that Voldemort was looking for objects that belonged to the four founders of Hogwarts to turn into Horcruxes. We know at some point that he had Slytherin's Locket. We also know that he managed to get a hold of Hufflepuff's cup. We don't know for sure whether or not he's got anything of Ravenclaw's, but Dumbledore is 100% certain that he doesn't have anything of Gryffindore's. Dumbledore also says at one point that he believed Harry's death was supposed to have made the final Horcrux. My theory is that Harry is a decendant somehow of Godric Gryffindore's. Therefore, he would have been something of Gryffindore's, thereby completing Voldemorts goal of having a horcrux from something belonging to each of the founders of Hogwarts. Also, Harry is supposed to be Voldemort's equal. Voldemort is the heir of Slytherin.... See where I'm going? I could be completely and totally wrong, but I think I'm on to something.

Anyway, must get back to the real world and go to work.

[NancyBrooke]

I completely forgot about the argument betw. Snape and Dumbledore, but have no doubts about your interpretation ... must go reread.

That's an interesting theory about Harry ... but Voldemort has gone in for artefacts if the four founders; what does Harry actually posess that has any antiquity to it? Only Sirius's mirror, perhaps ... I can't think of anything else.

There's Griffindor's sword, but it's in the Headmaster's office.

Wasn't that an interesting bit of magic, the portrait appearing almost instantly ...

[AngmarianRose]

i agree. i think Snape isn't totally on the dark side yet because when he killed Dumbledore, Dumbledore whispered "Severus, please". we dont know whether that means that he did or didnt want Snape to kill him. And he had to fulfill that Unbreakable vow he made to Draco's mother. i really like this book, i liked it better than the 5th book, i dont know about anyone else. i dont know whether them not going back to school is going to be a good thing or a bad thing. Harry's really reckless sometimes when he doesnt have someone to guide him and he's going to have a really hard time now without Dumbledore, but i wasn't suprised that he died. i saw it coming since book four.
i hope Ron and Hermione finally hook up in the 7th book and i'm glad that Harry and Ginny got together (even though i'm still a die hard Draco/Ginny fan!lol)

[KhazarKhum]

Hmmmm...... Draco & Ginny........

Mr Malfoy would have to mind his p's & q's, else he'd face the wrath of Fred & George!

[ghettoelleth]

LMAO. I have no idea who Harry Potter IS, but I am so impressed, with the exception of one or two, its usually like pulling teeth to get a word out of you girls. I guess we've stricken a vein in the gold mine of your passion.


Neni!!!! You're too cute.

Glad to see you out and breathing the free air for a bit.

[FallingIntoStrangers]

it is entirely impssible for harry to be a horcrux. My husband brought it up after HE read it, and I thought about it for a SECOND, as a possobility, but then realised a very improtant fact.

One Voldyy's souls is split, one oiece inside himself and 6 others scattered about. The 6 others MUST be destoyed BEFORE killing Voldy... Harry is the ONLY ONE who can kill him.

IF Harry is a horcrux, then Harry would have to die.... so then how can he kill the last piece inside Voldy if he is dead????

So yeh, Harry is NOT a horcrux.

One was the ring--- destroyed.
The diary---- destroyed
a Hufflepuff item---- ?
A ravenclaw item---?
Nagini----?
and the locket--- taken by Regulus and possibly inside the Black home, don't knwo if it is destroyed or not.
and Voldy himself.

I have gone back and read some things about Snape. Okay obviously he's no shining white knight. He IS a bad person... no doubt about that, but Dumbeldore knew what had to be when Snape killed him. I can see it know, when I reread it... and that is the SADDEST thing about Snape, he isn't evil, he is broken... and I cry for him, more than anyone else in the books.

And I love how the book made all my fanfict reading more canon, especially the Lupin/Tonks, cuz...grrrrrrrrrr.... that is sexy... the two fo them in book 5, under the invisibilty cloak in the department of mysteries, .... wonder what kind of mischief they got off to????

[nienor]

I had also thought about Harry being a Horcrux, but I agree with Fallingintostrangers, it's not likely. The paradoxon about Harry having to kill himself struck me too. And if Harry was a Horcrux, than Voldemort would have made him one unintentionally, and I don't think the magic does work like this.

On the other hand it just occured to me that this could be an explanation for the connection that Harry has with Voldemort.. feeling what he feels... if he had a part of his soul this could explain it. But wouldn't someone have recognized it? Harry himself or Dumbledore... now I'm confused.

[Eyborg]

Well, I finished reading the Half-Blood Prince some time ago, but didn't have time/energy to post anything about it here, until now. But here be my thoughts.

As a whole, I loved it. Not as much as the Order of the Phoenix, but loved it still. I loved reading all this background story about Tom Marvolo Riddle, his mother, and everything. Didn't realise he was such an evil kid, and such a manipulator at such a young age!

Dumbledore's death was a shock, yes, but not as much as I had thought. Also, I had kind of expected it (the Obi-Wan thing, you know). I personally believe he really is dead, but might possibly be able to communicate with Harry (and others) through his portrait, maybe? We'll see. But if he really is dead, his death has a meaning. I'm sure about that.
As for Snape, I don't believe he is all evil. I think he was forced to kill Dumbledore because of this Unbreakable Vow. But I guess we'll find out in book 7 what was the real reason behind it - and also what will happen to him and Draco. Speaking of Draco, I'm not sure if he's entirely evil either - I'm even beginning to feel sorry for him. And his mother Narcissa too.

About the Horcruxes, I pretty much agree with what has been said earlier here. But I personally don't think Harry himself is a Horcrux, because why then would Voldy want to kill him?
And R.A.B has got to be Regulus Black...

The only thing that kind of bothered me in the book was all the "relationships" - they weren't convincing enough for my taste. Ron/Lavender was just stupid (and fortunately Ron agrees with me about that in the end, hehe), and Harry/Ginny - ahhh well... okay. I AM a Harry/Ginny "shipper" (and Ron/Hermione "shipper" too by the way), but I felt their "romance" was too rushed and too unconvincing. I never got the feeling that they were ever in love with each other... until possibly in the end, when Harry tells Ginny they have to stop seeing each other. That shows to me that he is developing some true, deep feelings for her (wanting to protect her and all that). But all in all, the whole "relationship" was unconvincing, especially since the whole time Harry & Ginny were "together" (a few weeks, Harry says), the reader never sees it - it's all "offscreen"! We have no idea what they did together (down by that lake for instance), and how it was in general (their feelings and all that). And that's what irritates me (esp. when I compare it to Harry's relationship with Cho). Hmmm...
Oh well, perhaps it's just been such a long time since I was a teenager. I guess those four just need to grow up a bit, and then they will finally learn what love truly is... and then I guess Ron/Hermione and Harry/Ginny will end up together! (I suppose that when Voldemort has been defeated, Ginny will be waiting for Harry).
JK Rowling is a genius, but writing about teenage romance is not her strong side, I'm afraid. Just my opinion...

By the way, all those "ships" in the books (and fanfiction) have made me wonder... what are the laws and customs in the JK Rowling's wizarding world, regarding sex, morals and marriage? Do British wizards behave like British Muggles do (you know, our main characters are now at the age that most British kids start being sexually active), or are they more conservative (which is what I've always imagined since they're old-fashioned in so many other ways)? I imagine all sexual activity is strictly forbidden at Hogwarts (after all, boys can't go up to the Gryffindor's girl's dormitory!) but I guess the kids can find ways, if they really want to (wonder what Fred & George did, hehe). Anyway, let's just say I wouldn't want to be Madam Pomfrey...

Anyway, enough of that. Now I can't wait for book 7, because that's where I will get answers to all my questions in books 6! I'm sure you agree...

(Edited to clear up my wordings a bit).

[KhazarKhum]

Well, they "come of age" at 17, so they may be legally "adult" in other ways, too.

Here's what I've always wondered.

Where do wizarding kids go to school? Not Hogwarts--I mean the basic grammar/elementary schools. Do they go to a local public school? Do the wizards run private schools for them? I could see how some might fit in, but Fred & George in a regular school would be a teacher's worst nightmare!