[FallingIntoStrangers]

Okay, for whoever has finished reading it, lets discuss it here, cuz the HP sites are clogged...

I bought it last night at midnight and stayed up all night reading it. I finished it at 6:30 am... and have been crying since then...

I still cannot believe Dumbledore is dead. I knew he was going to die, cuz I have had afeeling he was going to in this book, but to actually read it was a shock. And that SNAPE!!! did it... I am in shock....total total shock... I kind of suspected Snape was the HPB, but I had a list of suspects. I thought if it was a student it was Dean Thomas, if a teacher/faculty it was Snape, and if it was someone else, then it was Tom Riddle despite what JK Rowling said.

Long Live Dumbledore!!!!!!

Glad to see Harry and Ginny finally hook up, but mad that Ron and Hermione still haven't.

Shocked to see that Tonks and Lupin have been together...

Oh so much to say... I don't where to start...

I am fairly sure that the R.A.B. who swithed the lockets in the cave is Sirius Blacks brother, cuz he was on Voldemorts side, and the inititals match. Maybe it's at the Black home.

I think it's cool that the trio aren't gonna go back to school, and go renegade and get it done...finally.... I think it's cool and the next book will be bad ass. I hope Ron and Hermione hook up in the next one...

Glad Harry was Captain of Quidditch and inherited the Black estate...

I am still in shock though... I knew it... but wish it weren't true. I know he HAD to... he knew all along what Draco was up to, but I wonder if he knew all along about Snape having to do it ...

Still not convinced Snape is the bad guy though... bad yes, but having to do what he has to do to help Harry defeat Voldy to redeem what Snape did that night the prophecy was made....I am pretty sure Snape will did in the last book, trying to save Harry.. or something...

Anyhoo.... glad to get all this off my shoulders.... looking forward to reading everyone else's reactions....

[PoweroftheBook]

I honestly don't think Dumbledore's dead. Part of me feels that this was an elaborate set-up cooked up between Snape and Dumbledore to allow Dumbledore to drop out of sight and miraculously reappear, much like Gandalf, greater and more powerful than before, or at least have the element of surprise on his side. And we do know how JKR loves to borrow from JRRT.

Extremely ticked off at JKR for the rampant character assassination of Hermione - the poor dear is all but invisible, except to cry over Ron. She acted rather out of sorts during the entire book. Granted, she's a teenager just like the others, but where was the character I so loved?

I never favored the Ron/Hermione relationship, but at least there's background to it. The out-of-nowhere Harry/Ginny pairing left me with a bad taste in my mouth and groaning at the Harlequin ten-cent novel breakup language they used in the end.

Extremely disappointed with JKR, especially after enjoying the Order of the Phoenix so much.

Regards,
The Power of the Book

[nienor]

Ah, great!

The HP forums are either disabled or so full of threads I can't see where to post.

I was shocked about Dumbledore, too, but somehow it seems to be necessary that Harry faced Voldemort alone, or with Ron and Hermione, in Book 7. I don't think this was a ploy, he is gone.

I just hope that Snape is not really evil, that he only did what he did because of the oath or that Dumbledore wanted to be killed (although I don't know why). I always thought he was a good villain, does that make sense? I mean someone who is on the right side but behaving badly.

[RoxieRxChicago]

I feel like I have Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome after reading that. I was shocked by Dumbledore's death too... well, not really shocked that he died, but that he died when he did and at Snape's hand. I spent a good part of the day walking around half dazed. I've been trying to work all this out in my head. I'm hoping that Snape had a really good reason for doing what he did and that he's really not evil. My reason for thinking that is that the when Harry was chasing him down and hexing him right and left, he refused to fight back, he only blocked the spells. I want to believe that if Snape was really working for Voldemort he would have done Harry some serious damage (just because he could) and then taken him straight to his boss. If he was really working for Voldemort, taking Harry to him would have put him in the number one slot and knocked Bellatrix Lestrange down a few pegs. That's what I want to believe. But the thing that keeps popping into my head is the comment Dumbledore made towards the beginning of the book about being smarter and more powerful than most men so he doesn't often make mistakes, but when he does, they are bigger and more dangerous. So maybe trusting Snape was his big, dangerous mistake; which would make Harry right about him all along... I will definitely have to re-read so I can read more closely and pick up on any little hints and suggestions I missed. I'm sure there are some because every time I re-read the other five, I pick up on something new that I overlooked before.

I actually feel really sorry for Draco Malfoy. I don't think he has it in him to be a killer. He did what he did because he was afraid for his family. I think if the other Death Eaters hadn't come along when they did, Draco would have caved. He's always been an asshole, but I don't believe he's a truly evil asshole. He is a product of his environment and, still a child. I am interested to see what will become of him.

I also think R.A.B. is Sirius' brother. He was killed because he tried to leave the Death Eaters. It would make sense for him to have taken the Horcrux. He realized that things had gotten way out of hand and wanted out. He could have found out about the Horcrux and taken it, but not had the chance to destroy it before Voldemort got to him.

I hope the 7th book won't take too horribly long to be published. I'm curious to see what Harry finds in Godric's Hollow. And of course I want to know how he's going to find the other Horcruxes and destroy them. And needless to say I want to know what the hell is up with Snape. Where did he take Draco? Is he really Voldemort's? Why didn't he fight Harry? The suspense is going to kill me.

Anyway, those are my views. I'm glad to know other people where as shocked as I was. I don't feel quite as riciculous now for crying like a baby when Dumbledore was killed (and I do think he really is dead, but the other previous Headmasters have pictures in the office that they are able to communicate through so I would imagine there would be one of him as well, so I don't think this is the last we've heard of him completely). Hopefully we won't have to wait to long to find out what happens next.

[NancyBrooke]

Sirius's brother ... that's interesting ... hadn't thought of that . Could explain why they do keep bringing him up. Now I want to go back to the "OotP" to see if, possibly, they did find the locket and not recognize it. Wouldn't put it past JKR.

I must say, I suspected Snape was the HBP, since the book started with him and did, in many ways, revolve around him. Also, I don't think JKR includes elements that are not significant (though we may not know it at the time) - she wouldn't suddenly introduce a character that good at potions that we don't already know something about. Again, I don't think the author would make a character so pivotal and then just throw him away ... Snape's got a lot more action ahead of him. This was Snape's book, from the start. I wasn't surprised that he killed Dumbledore, only in that I believe he is still on the side of Good, and had to do something to get out of that situation and remain in a position to benefit the OotP. Sorry the best solution was to kill Dumbledore. I think when Dumbledore was 'pleading,' he was pleading for Snape to do it, not for Snape not to do it.

I agree, it was inevitable that Dumbledore die, and I've no doubt that he is dead (how tacky if he comes back a la Gandalf and Obi Wan Kenobi) ... the old regime/parents etc. have to be removed so that the children can take on adult roles. It was my theory from the start that Dumbledore would have to die in order for Harry to become strong enough to succeed; I just didn't think it would be this soon.

I only have two criticisms ... but they're fairly hefty ones:

As these books become more complicated I miss the wonderful everyday things - new spells, class, quidditch - that once was were the extent of our hero/ine's world and, in many ways, drew us to the books in the first place.

Second, I've so far been dissapointed in both JKR's major death scenes: they seem so anticlimactic to me. First, with Sirius, he just falls gently through the curtain and Harry doesn't even realize what's happened. How long does it take for anyone to even say the word 'dead'? And w/ Dumbledore the focus shifts almost immediately away from him, his falling body, etc. and to Snape and the remaining death eaters, as if D's death is just a blip at first. I can see, now having written that, that it might reflect an actual experience with death - the disbelief, moving to deal with the actual, and then grief etc. - but it's an unsatisfying read.

Nice to be able to talk about this stuff here. My husband isn't likely to read the books and, while he will politely listen to me talk about it/them, he does get a kind of 'I'm actively paying attention 'cause I'm not really interested look' on his face ... kind of like when I talk about Tolkien!

[FallingIntoStrangers]

Yeh it HAS to be Regulus Black and I believe the locket IS in the Black house. I leafed through OOTP and read that when they were cleaning they found a "heavy locket". And no one could open it apparently.

Also, the book did seem very 'shippy. A lot of relationships out of nowehere. But reading the book again, there were defintite clues as to Harry's attraction to Ginny in chapter 9. He smells the love potion in class, and it smells to him of certain things, one of which is a flowery scent he smelled at the Burrow. They say that it smells like whatever attracts you. Later, after class, Harry smells it again and lo and behold guess who is stanidng behind him.... You guessed it.... Ginny. But I always knew they would hook up.

Too bad they then broke up cuz that poor kid probably needs a good roll in the hay right about now... ya know.


I think the jury is still out on Snape.

Plently of clues as to who was the HBP. Rememebr Harry;s Pensieve trip in book 5, seeing Snape and the Marauders taking a test, and seeing Snape bent real low over his paper and tiny writing. I shoulod have guessed it then, and then DUH, he is a POTIONS MASTER and I feel like such a tard for missing such things....

Anyhoo, I have heard a few peeps say they were disappointed in the book. I am not disappointed, but I did feel like the book was rushed and a lot of stuff was forgotten and not explained properly and seemed like she is trying to tie up loose ends too quickly ya know.

But all in all I am happy. I think the next book will be the best.

[VanatheEverYoung]

Well, it’s taken me awhile, but I’m finally here. I’ve been posting on two HP sites, but the number of threads and forums is too confusing.

I was sobbing for the last four chapters of the book. When Dumbledore drank the potion I started crying because I just knew ... I kept trying to find a loophole, a way that Dumbledore could live, but when Draco showed up ... and then Dumbledore's pleading with Snape ... "Severus, please ..." Oh My God, I couldn't even see the page! I'm getting teary right now. I really want to read the book again, but I'm afraid I'll cry every time Dumbledore is mentioned.

I remain firm in my belief that Snape utterly fooled Dumbledore. He never reformed at all. He was indeed a double agent spying for Voldemort. Dumbledore did not ask Snape to kill him ... Dumbledore did not know about the Unbreakable Vow ... The "duel" at the end between Harry and Snape proves how good Snape is at Legimency (sp?), so it’s entirely possible that he could have fooled Dumbledore. I've agreed with Ron from the beginning of the whole series: Snape is evil.

I have to admit, I really didn’t think Snape was the Half-Blood Prince. Actually, I made fun of a few people for suggesting it … now I need to apologize and give them cookies. Once I started reading it was pretty obvious that the HBP was indeed Snape. I kept trying to talk myself out of it by saying that it was Slughorn, but I knew it wasn’t. Ah well, I can’t always be right …

Speaking of Slughorn, he’s second only to Sirius in my Favorite Characters list. I just couldn’t get enough of him! Maybe it’s a subconscious desire to excel above my classmates, but the Slug Club sounds like the coolest thing since the Marauder’s Map. (Once again, Slughorn is second to Padfoot ).

I really liked all the relationships in this one. Ron and Lavender was just too funny ... I knew Ron/Hermione would take longer than book 6 ... Harry/Ginny is my ultimate favorite ship! I've wanted it to happen since Chamber of Secrets. And who wasn't thrilled to read Lupin/Tonks??? I love reading those fanfics and now they're all canon! Yay!

I prefer this more mature Harry, although the more I read OotP the more I accept that normal 15-year-old boys act that way even if the weight of the world isn't on their shoulders. I was really, really impressed at the very end of the book. Harry is a man now. It's incredible, isn't it? He started out so naive, yet brave and now he's a man.

I agree with most theories that R.A.B is Regulus Black. I really, really hope it is. I'd love to hear more about any of the good Blacks.

It's weird that the next book isn't going to be about Harry's school year. I still think a lot of the book is going to take place at Hogwarts. Hermione's going to use the library, Harry's going to get help from the Professors (I'm thinking Slughorn and McGonagall), plus I think the final battle is going to be there.

I was a bit put off by the lack of S.P.E.W in this book. There were so many opportunities for it with Harry “owning” Kreacher now. But Hermione didn’t even mention it. Harry thought about it once, but that’s all. I guess she abandoned house-elves in light of the Second War, but still … it gave her character a lot of depth.

Well, it was nice to get all that off my chest. I've been holding it in for almost a week.

[KhazarKhum]

There was no way that Dumbledore would not die.

The mentor must die for the student to acheive ultimate success. That's an old old old trope, and would of course be important here.

As for Snape...He made the Unbreakable Vow to help Draco. The only freind he has in the world is Dumbledore, so it would make sense that he would tell Dumbledore of the Vow. Dumbledore also knows that Draco is out to kill him, almost certainly because Snape has warned him.

On the tower, Dumbledore tells Harry to get Snape. Harry of course wants anyone but. Dumbledore's insistence means that he had some sort of agreement with Snape.

Who better to brew the potion that concealed the locket? Who knows better what it truly does? We only see Dumbledore sick from it--we have no idea what happens over time from drinking it. There may be no antidote. The water may only be delaying the final effects of the potion.

[VanatheEverYoung]

[Viv]

Would it be possible for *Harry* to be the fourth Horcrux?

[RoxieRxChicago]

OOOHHHH VIV!! Good point I hadn't thought of that. I think that it is quite possible that Harry could be one of the Horcruxes. It would make perfect sense. I suppose only time will tell though. My inner jury is still out on Snape. Both Vana and KhazarKhum made excellent points regarding Snape and Dumbledore and why things happened the way they did. The whole situation can be interpretted so many ways... I'm currently re-reading the book (yes, I am that big of a geek ) and I'm taking my time this time and paying attention to the seemingly mundane details to see if I missed anything. I've read the other 5 books a million times and each time I read them, I find something I didn't catch before. That's one of the things I love about them. So I'm sure this one has lots of hints, clues, and references that will only be found by closer reading.

[RoxieRxChicago]

OOOHHHH VIV!! Good point I hadn't thought of that. I think that it is quite possible that Harry could be one of the Horcruxes. It would make perfect sense. I suppose only time will tell though. My inner jury is still out on Snape. Both Vana and KhazarKhum made excellent points regarding Snape and Dumbledore and why things happened the way they did. The whole situation can be interpretted so many ways... I'm currently re-reading the book (yes, I am that big of a geek ) and I'm taking my time this time and paying attention to the seemingly mundane details to see if I missed anything. I've read the other 5 books a million times and each time I read them, I find something I didn't catch before. That's one of the things I love about them. So I'm sure this one has lots of hints, clues, and references that will only be found by closer reading.

[RoxieRxChicago]

sorry about the double posting Stupid computer...

[VanatheEverYoung]

[Silvae]

Finally found this thread!

I was a little disappointed by this book, as someone here said, beacause of the lack of everyday, fun, "banal" Hogwarts stuff so present in the earlier books.

And, yes, definitely, Dumbledore just had to die. My only issue with this is... when Dumbledore dueled with Voldy in OotP, his magic was very very high plane, and yet he seemed to be equal or, OK, OK, a little better at it than Voldermort (apparently JKR says it with a silent t - read that in the Times.) Harry can't even throw a silent spell! I mean, either the guy will need a serious amount of luck, or he'll have to take evening classes.

Snape is confusing, isn't he? When he kills Dumbledore, it's like JKR delibeartely glosses over what she usually adds, like the killer's facial expression, or some other clue. I think there are lots of times when he could have just let Harry be killed - like when he was fighting the jinx on Harry's broom, if I remember correctly. Sure, he wouldn't have had the glory, but Harry would have been disposed of. So I reckon he must still be on the Goodie side. He liked Malfoy, and probably his parents too, so why not try to protect them if he could? Plus it would have looked fishy to refuse to make the Unbreakable Vow, especially with Bellatrix hanging around, possibly ready to go tattling to Voldermort (not that I think Voldermort would have been too happy about the Vow either).

Well, we'll have to wait for no7, I suppose - and she only started writing it now!

Cheers,
Silvae