Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince *spoilers inside*

[Airhog]

Now that Ive finished reading the book I must say, this has taken a bit of a turn. I always thought there was something wrong with snape, but I couldnt believe he killed Dumbledore. And the fact that he was the half blooded prince.


Overall, I thought the book was a bit sluggish. It didnt seem to advance the plot of the overall series enough I thought. I also thought that they really narrowed down the important characters in this book.

I do wonder what kind of appearance that Draco will make in the final book. And of course, if Dumbledore really was killed, or he comes back like spock did in star trek

[terpkristin]

Alright, if this is the spoiler version of this thread...

I (and others, I belive) think RAB is Regulus Black, Sirius' brother. Could this knowledge of his be part of the reason Snape hated Sirius so much, because he knew Voldemort did?

I assume, then, that in book 7, Harry will find the REAL locket in 12 Grimuald Place, provided Mundungus didn't take THAT too. Hence I think book 7 has a real shot of having Mundungus feature more prominently, especially if there are any other horcruxes hidden in Sirius' old place...

I really do wonder what will happen to Draco. Obviously, he didn't exactly do what Voldemort asked him to do, and Snape had to bail him out...I don't think that will exactly "please" Voldemort.

Based on what Harry has left to do in book 7 (find 4 horcruxes and fight Voldemort in a final show-down), I imagine 7 will be quite a bit longer than expected.

Now, for what was said at Mugglenet (http://www.mugglenet.com/books/futur...ok6facts.shtml) in terms of "facts" and rumors about books 6 and 7 (my comments in red)...

• We will learn a lot more about Voldemort in this book.
• Yes, yes we did. We know more about Voldemort's past than we do Harry's!!
• HBP will be an intense book, but with light-hearted moments.
• OK, I agree. Mostly dark with some funny times...
• Harry will leave Privet Drive early again, for a "much pleasanter" reason than in book 5.
• Yep, this is true.
• The opening chapter of book 6 was originally planned for the early parts of book 1, perhaps we get a more in-depth story of what happened the night Harry's parents died.
• Obviously, we didn't get this "in-depth story" of what happened. The opening chapter of book 6 would have been fine in book 3 (Prisoner of Azkaban), in my opinion, as it was sort of out of place in HBP.
  
  
• Neither Harry or Voldemort (including Tom Riddle) are the Half-Blood Prince
• Duh. I never thought they were. I actually thought Snape had a good possibility of being him before the book came out, though I was leaning towards one of the kids (like Seamus or Dean).
• Arthur Weasley will not be the new Minister of Magic
• Duh again. Interesting that the new Minister is somebody we've never heard of.
• By the ends of books 6 and 7 "you'll have all the back story you'll need", says JK Rowling, and a prequel will not be necessary
• Um, ok.
• There will be a new Minister of Magic, no more Mr. Fudge.
• See above comment under "Arthur Weasly..."
• We will find out what happened to Hagrid's half brother Grawp. He will be a bit more controllable in book 6.
• I guess, though Grawp was really not part of the story here in book 6. Maybe he'll play a more prominent role in book 7, but I somehow doubt it. If you remember from book 5, the other giants didn't care much for him because he was smaller than they were.
• The Dursleys are in the next book, but Harry's stay with them will be the shortest yet. In book 5 he stayed for 4 weeks, so we know his stay will be less than 4 weeks.
• Yep.
• Cho Chang will not be a romantic interest of Harry in Book 6, however there will be a "little romance" for Harry says JK.
• Who didn't see Harry's romance with Ginny coming? Who thinks it'll re-ignite in book 7, even though he's pushed Ginny away for now?
• In books 6 and 7 we will find out exactly why JK killed off Sirius.
• Didn't figure it out in book 6, guess we'll have to wait for book 7. Unless it was solely so Harry could inherit his house and thus his posessions which likely include a horcrux (maybe more than one?)...
• Harry becomes even more powerful in book 6.
• He's become more powerful in every book, this seems like a no-brainer.
• In books 6 and 7 we will find out why Dumbledore trusts Snape.
• I suppose we found out SOMEWHAT why in book 6, but boy do I hope this is resolved in book 7. I felt that the entire "old mans mistakes" and "too trusting bit" were a bit of a wash-over.
• We will find out what happened to Wormtail AKA Peter Pettigrew
• Again, I hope we find out more about what happened, other than him just going to live with Snape...
• More about the animosity between Snape and Sirius will be revealed in the last 2 books.
• I hope it's revealed in book 7, didn't get much of a feeling for it in book 6.
• JK has said that giving away the form of Snape's boggart and patronus says too much. We'll definitely find out what Snape's worst fear is, and it'll be important.
• I think this must be a book 7 thing.
• Hermione and Draco will NOT end up together in book 6 or 7.
• Well isn't that a relief?
• We will find out what exactly Dudley saw when he looked at the dementors.
• Didn't find it out in 6, hopefully that will come out in 7. What could a kid like Dudley be consciously afraid of?
• The reason Voldemort and Harry both didn't die when Voldemort tried to kill Harry, will be revealed.
• Never really thought about this one. Is there some reason other than the love bit?
• We will see more of Draco's mother, Narcissa Malfoy, now that Lucius is busy.
• Guess we did see a bit of her, but again, I wonder what's going to happen to Draco.
• We'll learn more about Harry's scar in the last 2 books.
• I didn't think there was much particularly revealed about it in book 6.
• Moaning Myrtle will make an appearance again, as will Tonks.
• I love both of these characters.
• More about Voldemort's birth will be revealed, thus helping us understand why he is so evil.
• Book 6 gives a lot of background, but no real reason for him being evil other than it's just his personality, in my opinion...
• Muggles begin to notice "more and more odd" occurrences in book 6, says JK.
• Yep.
• The wizarding world is really at war in the sixth book.
• Yep.
• Harry will tell his dearest friends about the prophesy after it sinks in to him.
• Yep.
• We will learn more about Harry's relatives, including his grandparents (though JK says they aren't really important to the story)
• Guess that's for book 7.
• We will find out what happened to Sirius's motorbike.
• Guess that will happen in book 7, too. I assume this means we'll find out what happened to it AFTER he lent it to Hagrid, because it's revealed in book 3 that Sirius lent Hagrid his bike to get Harry to safety.
• Book 6 will be shorter than the 5th book (or at least JK's 99% sure, but will not swear on her children's lives)
• Yep. It was a bit shorter.
• There will be no "new" nationalities of children at Hogwarts. Hogwarts is a British school, and JK says that adding foreigners for the sake of it is not in her plans.
• Not sure where this came from.
• During an interview, when JKR was asked in which Hogwarts room she'd like to be for 1 hour, she said it would be a room in which Harry has been before, but doesn't know its importance. Yet. (this could have happened in book 5, but we're unsure)
• Could this be the Room of Requirement?
• It's very important in the plot that Harry has his mother's eyes, and that her wand was very good for charms.
• I'm intrigued by this. Especially because it didn't come up too much in book 6, except that Lily was also good at potions (at least according to Slug)

So yeah. Feel free to discuss/disparage. My mom and sister still haven't started it (well, I guess my sister STARTED it but only just), so I'm looking for others to discuss it with.

/tk

[Bearcat729]

I believe that Draco will be punished in book 7 for failing his task. I also believe that Voldemort will give him another task that will cause him to go honest like Regulus Black did.

I want to believe that RAB is Regulus but for some reason it just seems too easy. It feels like a bait and switch.

Something I did read on a message board about the horcrux issue and the fact that there is one item we do not know about(Gryffindor) is what if Harry is the final horcrux. They play up the Voldemort transfered part of himself to you in the first 5 books. So it seems possible.

[Airhog]

Do you think Harry will be persuaded to return to hogwarts in book 7?

I think it is likely that Draco is killed in book 7. I dont think JK has specifically said that another character would die, but he does have to best chance. Although I do remember hearing that one of the major characters would die by the books end, and maybe dumbledore was it. He was my favorite character in the book, but I think he really needed to be killed off. I dont think the story would have been right had he lived in book 7.

It was almost too obvious for snape to have killed Dumbledore. Especially if you look at all of the signs in all of the other books about him being evil. I really just cannot get past that bit. I honestly thought that Hagrid would be killed, but he's never been an important character IMO.

Who will be the next defense of the dark arts teacher? That assumes that Harry makes it back for his last year.

[terpkristin]

You know the thing that gets me about Dumbledore?
There was a line in the first book where Dumbledore told Professor McGonagall that he'd trust Hagrid with his life. I assumed that if he died, then, that somehow Hagrid would have been there or otherwise tried to save him. Or that Hagrid would give his life to save Dumbledore.

I doubt Dumbledore will come back as a ghost (just doesn't seem likely) but I still wonder what Dumbledore touched to burn his hand..

/tk

[Vince]

TK -- he said it was the ring of Slytherin. Destroying that horcrux burned his hand.

[terpkristin]

Damn. I must have glossed over that part.
Oh well, thanks!

/tk

[Coffee Warlord]

The key portion, Snape's betrayal, was REALLY under-explained. Dumbledore is still too wise in his own right to simply use the tad that was explained for his reasons for trusting Snape.

Unless of course, he was under direct orders...from Dumbledore to kill Dumbledore, thusly cementing him with Voldemort for Harry's final battle. Heh.

[Bearcat729]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

The key portion, Snape's betrayal, was REALLY under-explained. Dumbledore is still too wise in his own right to simply use the tad that was explained for his reasons for trusting Snape.

Unless of course, he was under direct orders...from Dumbledore to kill Dumbledore, thusly cementing him with Voldemort for Harry's final battle. Heh.

I think that the Snape thing will be explained more in the next book. I also have to believe that Snape and Harry will face off once more.

[Barkeep49]

My friend has speculated, and I think this is a good one, that Snape was indeed under orders from Dumbledoor to kill Dumbledoor if push came to shove. In this way Draco Malfoy's soul could perhaps still be saved, something DD seemed intent on perserving.

My problem is that, sure Harry is powerful, but it seems as though numerous wizards totally outclass him. Even with Ron and Hermoine at his side, I just don't see him being someone that would be much of a challenge for more competent wizards.

This book was a let down. Far too many pages were wasted giving Voldemort's background. Was it nice? Sure. Was it a major revelation worth the time it was given? Not so much.

This book felt as unnecessary as Goblet of Fire, without nearly as good of an ending. I continue to believe that Order of the Phoenix was the best, followed by Azkaban, Sorcer's Stone, Fire, and Secrets.

[Tigercat]

It seems to me that Snape had to kill Dumbledore as part of his "Unbreakable vow." Could he have not done it and have died himself and instead took the selfish way out, him instead of Dumbledore? Possible. I wonder if Snape perhaps thought he was strong enough to break the vow, but somehow the vow magically forced him to do the act?

Regardless I think anyone who thinks Snape has been and still is pure evil death eater is going to miss the mark. From this book alone, I think Snape's conversation at the begining of the book with the death eaters obviously outs him as not one. I don't even think he knew what Draco was up to, another reason he agreed to the vow. He was just saying that the Dark Lord told him the mission. In reality in HBP we are told that Voldy doesn't confide in anyone unless he has to. In other words Snape lied to get information for the order. Perhaps he never figured out Draco's mission was to kill Dumbledore until after he made the vow? I would assume as soon as Draco got close to Snape and had those discussions with Snape that Snape read his mind and knew Dumbledore was his target. He then went to Dumbledore with the information. Perhaps thats an added reason that Dumbledore stayed away from the school a good bit in this book(besides hunting down the objects), so that Snape would never be in a position to have to carry out Draco's mission?

[ISiddiqui]

• The reason Voldemort and Harry both didn't die when Voldemort tried to kill Harry, will be revealed.
• Never really thought about this one. Is there some reason other than the love bit?

Yeah, Voldemort didn't die because of horcruxes!

This book was a let down. Far too many pages were wasted giving Voldemort's background. Was it nice? Sure. Was it a major revelation worth the time it was given? Not so much.

This book felt as unnecessary as Goblet of Fire, without nearly as good of an ending. I continue to believe that Order of the Phoenix was the best, followed by Azkaban, Sorcer's Stone, Fire, and Secrets.

That's funny, because GoF and this one are tied for my 2nd place behind PoA. I enjoy the character building books, personally. OotP is somewhere in the mix, but personally I felt it was too long to be my fav. Chop a couple hundred pages from it and it'd work better.


I also have a feeling that Snape was acting under Dumbledore orders and when Dumbledore pleadingly says "Severus", what he is pleading for is that Snape kills him and continues his spying activity. In the choice to do what is right and what is easy, Dumbledore (and Snape) choose what is right... Voldemort is end prize.

[Katon]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I also have a feeling that Snape was acting under Dumbledore orders and when Dumbledore pleadingly says "Severus", what he is pleading for is that Snape kills him and continues his spying activity. In the choice to do what is right and what is easy, Dumbledore (and Snape) choose what is right... Voldemort is end prize.

I agree - especially considering the timing of the plea. Dumbledore starts pleading nearly as soon as Snape walks in the door, and BEFORE Snape actually does anything. If he still thinks Snape is on the side of good - and nothing's happened to suggest otherwise when Dumbledore first speaks up - then there's no reason to plead for his life. This is especially true since Dumbledore has never seemed frightened of death before, and was calling himself "expendable" when discussing who ought to drink the potion. The only thing he would plead for Snape to do at that point would be to kill him, because that's the one thing a good Snape really wouldn't want to do.

[terpkristin]

Yeah, Voldemort didn't die because of horcruxes! [img]../../%7Efof/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Ah, I meant, I never really thought about them BOTH dying. Love for Harry and horcruxes for Voldemort, but I never even remotely considered them both dying (especially given the prophecy in book 5).

/tk

[ntndeacon]

Snape is gonna have a heck of a time relaying any info he gets from the other side. Most on the side of good would want to kill him on sight. At the very least they would perform the perfect immobilation charm.

On another note. Did any one else take note of Dumbledore offering deathto Draco and his mother if they switched to good.

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by ntndeacon

Snape is gonna have a heck of a time relaying any info he gets from the other side. Most on the side of good would want to kill him on sight. At the very least they would perform the perfect immobilation charm.

My line of thinking goes something like this, if we assume for a moment, Dumbledore ordered Snape to kill him if a situation like this occurred.

Snape is being set up so he is at Voldemort's right hand during the moment of truth, so Snape can (somehow) betray Voldemort and give Harry the exact edge he needs to defeat Voldy, at just the right time.

[Bearcat729]

Originally Posted by ntndeacon

On another note. Did any one else take note of Dumbledore offering deathto Draco and his mother if they switched to good.

I've seen that this is supposedly different in the British text compared to the American.

However the way I read into it was that Dumbledore offered to fake Draco and and his parents death.

[Coffee Warlord]

Originally Posted by Bearcat729

However the way I read into it was that Dumbledore offered to fake Draco and and his parents death.

Ditto that.

....which ya know what. What's to say they DIDN'T fake Dumbledore's death?

[Bearcat729]

Originally Posted by Coffee Warlord

Ditto that.

....which ya know what. What's to say they DIDN'T fake Dumbledore's death?

Its possible. I tend to believe that since Dumbledore's picture went up on the wall in the headmasters office that he is dead.

I do wonder why his picture didn't speak when they were talking about closing the school and sending the kids home early in the end of the book. All the other pictures of former headmasters are able to talk and give opinons when needed.

[Tigercat]

That is an interesting thought (Dumbledores picture not talking) and may point the possibility of him not being dead. We have only seen pictures of the dead really able to carry on conversations(and perform complex actions via other pictures/paintings), while pictures of the living seem to just move around and make the occational noise.

[gkb]

I'm not convinced Dumbledore is dead either. Snape is obviously a very skilled wizard and perhaps he cast a different spell than the one he verbalized. One of his parting shots at Harry, "Blocked again and again and again until you learn to keep your mouth shut and your mind closed, Potter!", might be a hint about what really happened (and some excellent advice for Harry regardless).

[Celeval]

Interesting theories re: Dumbledore. But wouldn't Snape's Unbreakable vow prevent that?

I also think Snape is still honest, due to careful reading of his finale - iirc, it states that Snape's look is (something to the effect of) "hatred and revulsion" - but why revulsion? Who does he have to be revolted at.. other than himself, when it comes down to it, being forced by the Unbreakable Vow to kill DD; much as Harry felt when feeding DD the potion?

[ISiddiqui]

I think Dumbledore is dead. I don't think he comes back. It'd be cheap for him to come to life, IMO. And as Celeval mentioned, Snape's Unbreakable Vow means he has to kill Dumbledore or else Snape dies.

Btw, my prediction (which has been bitterly contested in other forums) is that Harry dies at the end. He makes the ultimate sacrifice. I can't see him continue to live a 'normal' life after Voldemort dies and the way to avoid that is to kill off the last Potter.

[Airhog]

It does make sense to have dumbledore die. If you think about it, he would just get in the way of harry in the last book, since he is much more powerful...

[Airhog]

dola, but look at all of the symbols of life at the end. The pheonix was there, and I can't shake the feeling that this meant something...

[Bearcat729]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I think Dumbledore is dead. I don't think he comes back. It'd be cheap for him to come to life, IMO. And as Celeval mentioned, Snape's Unbreakable Vow means he has to kill Dumbledore or else Snape dies.

Btw, my prediction (which has been bitterly contested in other forums) is that Harry dies at the end. He makes the ultimate sacrifice. I can't see him continue to live a 'normal' life after Voldemort dies and the way to avoid that is to kill off the last Potter.

I don't want to believe that she would kill Harry off. I could easily see Hary living a somewhat normal life almost in the Dumbledore role at Hogwarts.

That being said I wouldn't put anything past Rowling, and it would be the ultimate twist.

As for all the signs that point to Dumbledore possibly being alive. She had to put those in just for debate. I can't see how Dumbledore survived.

[kserra]

Good book. I really like the 4th-5th-6th installments most.

This would rank third among those however, due to too much time discussing the romantic trappings of our favorite characters. I understand that it may have been necessary, and it wasn't a waste of time, I just could have done with less of it.

On top of that, how many more times will people continue to discount Harry's suspicions?

The last hundred pages were great, and I plan on re-reading them again soon. I'd expect the 7th book would have the same action, drama, and revealing moments throughout.

To me, it seems like Harry has to make a big jump in the 7th book. He's going to go from a child, protected by many, to a hunter, seeking revenge and justice against all those who have wronged him and those he's loved...

I think this transformation can be done, I'll just be very interested to see how Rowlings goes about it. To me, this is key, and Harry needs to turn darker and more aggressive to succesfully pull off his task--finding the hidden souls of Voldy and then killing the man himself.

Snape...that will be interesting...I kept expecting DD to wake up...that there was no way Snape would have done this...this NEEDS to be spelled out better in book 7...

Anyways, great book...now my wife is about to read it...I'll be interested to see her reactions. It's a fun book to share, and certainly a much needed "spell" from the grind of adulthood and the working life.

Kevin

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Bearcat729

I don't want to believe that she would kill Harry off. I could easily see Hary living a somewhat normal life almost in the Dumbledore role at Hogwarts.

That being said I wouldn't put anything past Rowling, and it would be the ultimate twist.

As for all the signs that point to Dumbledore possibly being alive. She had to put those in just for debate. I can't see how Dumbledore survived.

Yeah, that's the reason I think it'll happen. The twists have been getting bolder and bolder as the series goes on and this would be the final twist in the series, so it's gotta be massive. It may not happen, but I think it will.

I also think the pressure on Rowling for a sequal if Harry survives will be immense. You get rid of two birds with one stone by killing off Harry.

Originally Posted by kserra

On top of that, how many more times will people continue to discount Harry's suspicions?

Remember, Harry's suspicions in OotP resulted in Sirius' death. So he's not perfect in that regard.

Originally Posted by kserra

To me, it seems like Harry has to make a big jump in the 7th book. He's going to go from a child, protected by many, to a hunter, seeking revenge and justice against all those who have wronged him and those he's loved...

Yeah, I'm interested to see how he does that as well. Especially after getting ONE horcrux (or fake horcrux) weakened Dumbledore to the point that a weaker wizard would have probably died. Harry isn't even close to Dumbledore's power. How is that going to work?

And he'll have to kill... I'd assume. But can Harry really say the Unforgivable Curses?

[Vince]

Well, I think Harry's relentless pursuit and 'obsession' with Draco was supposed to hint towards the beginning of that 'hunter' mentality. I was a little disappointed that NO ONE (especially Ron and Hermione) seemed to be willing to help him, after all the crap that the Death Eaters, and especially Lucius Malfoy himself, had done already. Didn't seem too believable to me.

EDIT to clarify -- because of the end, I understand why DD didn't really do anything...he expected/knew about it all along. But Ron and Hermione (at least in my opinion) should have been a little more willing to believe that Malfoy was up to no good.

[Bearcat729]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Yeah, that's the reason I think it'll happen. The twists have been getting bolder and bolder as the series goes on and this would be the final twist in the series, so it's gotta be massive. It may not happen, but I think it will.

I also think the pressure on Rowling for a sequal if Harry survives will be immense. You get rid of two birds with one stone by killing off Harry.

Yeah, I'm interested to see how he does that as well. Especially after getting ONE horcrux (or fake horcrux) weakened Dumbledore to the point that a weaker wizard would have probably died. Harry isn't even close to Dumbledore's power. How is that going to work?

And he'll have to kill... I'd assume. But can Harry really say the Unforgivable Curses?

There is going to be pressure to continue the stories no matter what. The Harry Potter books could spawn just like the Star Wars novels if she would let them.

I wonder how Harry thinks he will be able to do this. There is no way that someone like Mrs Weasley allows Ron to go off with Harry to potential death, I would believe Hermione's parents would be the same way. Not to mention that apparently these three would have no idea how to get around some of the enchantments guarding the horcruxes(Harry struggled to remember how to fight off the inferi despite Dumbledore telling him a few moments earlier)

Something tells me that at the wedding a large group of the OOTP if not every one of them will go off to aid Harry in his quest.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Bearcat729

There is going to be pressure to continue the stories no matter what. The Harry Potter books could spawn just like the Star Wars novels if she would let them.

I wonder how Harry thinks he will be able to do this. There is no way that someone like Mrs Weasley allows Ron to go off with Harry to potential death, I would believe Hermione's parents would be the same way. Not to mention that apparently these three would have no idea how to get around some of the enchantments guarding the horcruxes(Harry struggled to remember how to fight off the inferi despite Dumbledore telling him a few moments earlier)

Something tells me that at the wedding a large group of the OOTP if not every one of them will go off to aid Harry in his quest.

It'll be like the Fellowship!

As for pressure on Rowling. I think there will be faaaar less pressure if Harry dies. And in that case, will allow her to give spin-offs to other writers without eliciting howls of protest from the fans.

[Airhog]

It might be nice if she wrote the final book in a different way. Maybe something like the book "The stand" Where there are several groups, and each group has a few chapters.

[AZSpeechCoach]

I see this as something like the break between Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Much like Luke continued his training in secret, I see Harry spending time making himself more powerful (prehaps at the Black house). I also see the picture of Dumbledore being like the spirit of Obi-Wan, as a guide and advisor, while not being able to interfere.

[JeeberD]

I'm in the group that thinks that DD made Snape kill him...I'm not convinced that Snape is evil. Of course, like other have mentioned, it's gonna be hard for him to contribute when the entire Order wants him dead now.

Originally Posted by terpkristin

I assume, then, that in book 7, Harry will find the REAL locket in 12 Grimuald Place, provided Mundungus didn't take THAT too. Hence I think book 7 has a real shot of having Mundungus feature more prominently, especially if there are any other horcruxes hidden in Sirius' old place...

There was a mention of "a heavy, old locket that none of them could open" in OotP when they were all cleaning out the sitting room. I bet you that Kreacher stole it from them and has it hidden away somewhere...will he obey his new master and give it to Harry if he asks? Also, RAB almost certainly has to be Regulus Black...

[Bearcat729]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

I'm in the group that thinks that DD made Snape kill him...I'm not convinced that Snape is evil. Of course, like other have mentioned, it's gonna be hard for him to contribute when the entire Order wants him dead now.



There was a mention of "a heavy, old locket that none of them could open" in OotP when they were all cleaning out the sitting room. I bet you that Kreacher stole it from them and has it hidden away somewhere...will he obey his new master and give it to Harry if he asks? Also, RAB almost certainly has to be Regulus Black...

Someone on the Mugglenet boards pointed out that one of the possibilities that it is Regulus is that to cross the pool of water you couldn't have more than 1 wizard in the boat, which means that Kreacher probably could have made it past with him.

It still seems like it is too easy for her to go with him as the guy who stole the locket, but all the signs are pointing towards Regulus.

[terpkristin]

Mugglenet has been insanely slow for me, so I haven't been frequenting over there as much...

That said, I thought of something else that stuck out to me and didn't "get," was wondering if any of y'all did. In the chapter, "The Secret Riddle," why was the mouth organ significant? It was one of the items that the young Voldemort/Tom Riddle had stolen while at the orphanage, but then at the end of the chapter Harry asks about it. Was wondering if there was some symbolism to the mouth organ or something otherwise important about it that I'd missed...

/tk

[ISiddiqui]

Kreacher may not have it. I have a feeling that perhaps Mundungus may have stolen it and sold it to someone else... maybe even back to the Death Eaters.

[JeeberD]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

Mugglenet has been insanely slow for me, so I haven't been frequenting over there as much...

That said, I thought of something else that stuck out to me and didn't "get," was wondering if any of y'all did. In the chapter, "The Secret Riddle," why was the mouth organ significant? It was one of the items that the young Voldemort/Tom Riddle had stolen while at the orphanage, but then at the end of the chapter Harry asks about it. Was wondering if there was some symbolism to the mouth organ or something otherwise important about it that I'd missed...

/tk

You're basically asking the same thing that Harry asked.

Harry expected to see the mouth organ after that trip into the pensieve because he saw the ring on DD's desk after the first trip. DD said that the mouth organ was just a mouth organ...while the ring, obviously, was much, much more. So in other words, there was a reason for DD to have the ring...but no reason for him to have the organ. Make sense?

[terpkristin]

NO!

I guess I was expecting a more complex meaning to the mouth organ. I mean, I always assumed that that item would never be something brought back again, it wasn't TR/Voldy's to begin with, so I assumed he gave it back to its owner as Dumbledore instructed...

/tk

[TRO]

Originally Posted by Bearcat729

There is going to be pressure to continue the stories no matter what. The Harry Potter books could spawn just like the Star Wars novels if she would let them.

I wonder how Harry thinks he will be able to do this. There is no way that someone like Mrs Weasley allows Ron to go off with Harry to potential death, I would believe Hermione's parents would be the same way. Not to mention that apparently these three would have no idea how to get around some of the enchantments guarding the horcruxes(Harry struggled to remember how to fight off the inferi despite Dumbledore telling him a few moments earlier)

Something tells me that at the wedding a large group of the OOTP if not every one of them will go off to aid Harry in his quest.

Hermione and Ron are both 17 now and of age, there is nothing their parents can do really if they want to help Harry.

[wbatl1]

The murder of somebody on the 'good' side was much, much too obvious with the Unbreakable Vow. However, I thought the person Draco and then Snape were to kill was Harry.

[Bearcat729]

There is a very interesting interview on Mugglenet

[ISiddiqui]

Very interesting indeed. Thanks for the heads up!

[JeeberD]

Thanks, I didn't know that part 2 was up yet...

[OldGiants]

Okay, I know you'll all disagree, but reread the end of chapter 27 from the perspective I'm outlining.

Dumbledore arrives at the tower in terrible shape. In fact, he's dying and is beyond all magical help. He's got the withered hand and is staggered by the potion, which is every bit as powerful as he dreaded. Harry wants to get Madame Pomfrey from the hospital but Dumbledore says "It is...Professor Snape whom I need."

Then there is the explanation of Snape healing Malfoy and others to justify the need for Snape.

Dumbledore is not afraid of Malfoy because he knows Malfoy does't have the heart for it (and makes one last attempt to save Malfoy) but also because he knows Malfoy isn't powerful enough to kill Dumbledore. He also doubts the other Deatheaters will kill him, even in his weakened condition. that's why he stunned Harry, so the deatheaters can't threaten Dumbledore with damage to Harry. they could, however, capture him, and a worse strategic reversal for the Phoenix would be harder to imagine.

So when Snape shows up, Dumbledore pleads with him, not to spare his life, but to kill him, because:

1) Dumbledore does not want to become a prisoner of Voldemort. Death is preferable.
2) Dumbledore is dying and cannot be cured
3) Snape is the only wizard powerful enough to kill Dumbledore, and who is willing to do it.
4) It will be excellent cover for Snape to stay close to Voldemort and help Harry when the reader least expects it in book 7.
5) If Snape saved Dumbledore, the Phoenix would no longer have an inside man with Voldemort.

[JeeberD]

I agree competely that DD was pleading with Snape to kill him, not to spare him...

[Katon]

Originally Posted by OldGiants

2) Dumbledore is dying and cannot be cured

He may or may not be dying, but he's doomed whatever Snape does. In order for Dumbledore to survive, at the point when Snape enters the room all the following things have to be true:

1) The potion is either curable or non-fatal. I don't buy the concept of Voldemort keeping non-lethal defences on one of his horcruxes; it could be curable, the way the ring's defences were, but Dumbledore isn't as strong as he was before he ran into the ring.

2) Snape and a wandless Dumbledore have to be able to beat the Death Eaters without sustaining any major damage

3) Snape, immediately after a tricky fight from which he's probably wounded, has to discover the cure to the potion before Dumbledore succumbs. Which should happen fairly soon since Dumbledore's been fighting non-stop ever since drinking it.

4) Snape has to not get killed by his Unbreakable Vow to help Draco during all of this.

Not happening. The best Snape can do for Dumbledore is to give him a painless death and use said death to support his double-agent role.

[Buccaneer]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

Alright, if this is the spoiler version of this thread...

I (and others, I belive) think RAB is Regulus Black, Sirius' brother. Could this knowledge of his be part of the reason Snape hated Sirius so much, because he knew Voldemort did?

I assume, then, that in book 7, Harry will find the REAL locket in 12 Grimuald Place, provided Mundungus didn't take THAT too. Hence I think book 7 has a real shot of having Mundungus feature more prominently, especially if there are any other horcruxes hidden in Sirius' old place...

I really do wonder what will happen to Draco. Obviously, he didn't exactly do what Voldemort asked him to do, and Snape had to bail him out...I don't think that will exactly "please" Voldemort.

Based on what Harry has left to do in book 7 (find 4 horcruxes and fight Voldemort in a final show-down), I imagine 7 will be quite a bit longer than expected.

Now, for what was said at Mugglenet (http://www.mugglenet.com/books/futur...ok6facts.shtml) in terms of "facts" and rumors about books 6 and 7 (my comments in red)...

• We will learn a lot more about Voldemort in this book.
• Yes, yes we did. We know more about Voldemort's past than we do Harry's!!
• HBP will be an intense book, but with light-hearted moments.
• OK, I agree. Mostly dark with some funny times...
• Harry will leave Privet Drive early again, for a "much pleasanter" reason than in book 5.
• Yep, this is true.
• The opening chapter of book 6 was originally planned for the early parts of book 1, perhaps we get a more in-depth story of what happened the night Harry's parents died.
• Obviously, we didn't get this "in-depth story" of what happened. The opening chapter of book 6 would have been fine in book 3 (Prisoner of Azkaban), in my opinion, as it was sort of out of place in HBP.
  
  
• Neither Harry or Voldemort (including Tom Riddle) are the Half-Blood Prince
• Duh. I never thought they were. I actually thought Snape had a good possibility of being him before the book came out, though I was leaning towards one of the kids (like Seamus or Dean).
• Arthur Weasley will not be the new Minister of Magic
• Duh again. Interesting that the new Minister is somebody we've never heard of.
• By the ends of books 6 and 7 "you'll have all the back story you'll need", says JK Rowling, and a prequel will not be necessary
• Um, ok.
• There will be a new Minister of Magic, no more Mr. Fudge.
• See above comment under "Arthur Weasly..."
• We will find out what happened to Hagrid's half brother Grawp. He will be a bit more controllable in book 6.
• I guess, though Grawp was really not part of the story here in book 6. Maybe he'll play a more prominent role in book 7, but I somehow doubt it. If you remember from book 5, the other giants didn't care much for him because he was smaller than they were.
• The Dursleys are in the next book, but Harry's stay with them will be the shortest yet. In book 5 he stayed for 4 weeks, so we know his stay will be less than 4 weeks.
• Yep.
• Cho Chang will not be a romantic interest of Harry in Book 6, however there will be a "little romance" for Harry says JK.
• Who didn't see Harry's romance with Ginny coming? Who thinks it'll re-ignite in book 7, even though he's pushed Ginny away for now?
• In books 6 and 7 we will find out exactly why JK killed off Sirius.
• Didn't figure it out in book 6, guess we'll have to wait for book 7. Unless it was solely so Harry could inherit his house and thus his posessions which likely include a horcrux (maybe more than one?)...
• Harry becomes even more powerful in book 6.
• He's become more powerful in every book, this seems like a no-brainer.
• In books 6 and 7 we will find out why Dumbledore trusts Snape.
• I suppose we found out SOMEWHAT why in book 6, but boy do I hope this is resolved in book 7. I felt that the entire "old mans mistakes" and "too trusting bit" were a bit of a wash-over.
• We will find out what happened to Wormtail AKA Peter Pettigrew
• Again, I hope we find out more about what happened, other than him just going to live with Snape...
• More about the animosity between Snape and Sirius will be revealed in the last 2 books.
• I hope it's revealed in book 7, didn't get much of a feeling for it in book 6.
• JK has said that giving away the form of Snape's boggart and patronus says too much. We'll definitely find out what Snape's worst fear is, and it'll be important.
• I think this must be a book 7 thing.
• Hermione and Draco will NOT end up together in book 6 or 7.
• Well isn't that a relief?
• We will find out what exactly Dudley saw when he looked at the dementors.
• Didn't find it out in 6, hopefully that will come out in 7. What could a kid like Dudley be consciously afraid of?
• The reason Voldemort and Harry both didn't die when Voldemort tried to kill Harry, will be revealed.
• Never really thought about this one. Is there some reason other than the love bit?
• We will see more of Draco's mother, Narcissa Malfoy, now that Lucius is busy.
• Guess we did see a bit of her, but again, I wonder what's going to happen to Draco.
• We'll learn more about Harry's scar in the last 2 books.
• I didn't think there was much particularly revealed about it in book 6.
• Moaning Myrtle will make an appearance again, as will Tonks.
• I love both of these characters.
• More about Voldemort's birth will be revealed, thus helping us understand why he is so evil.
• Book 6 gives a lot of background, but no real reason for him being evil other than it's just his personality, in my opinion...
• Muggles begin to notice "more and more odd" occurrences in book 6, says JK.
• Yep.
• The wizarding world is really at war in the sixth book.
• Yep.
• Harry will tell his dearest friends about the prophesy after it sinks in to him.
• Yep.
• We will learn more about Harry's relatives, including his grandparents (though JK says they aren't really important to the story)
• Guess that's for book 7.
• We will find out what happened to Sirius's motorbike.
• Guess that will happen in book 7, too. I assume this means we'll find out what happened to it AFTER he lent it to Hagrid, because it's revealed in book 3 that Sirius lent Hagrid his bike to get Harry to safety.
• Book 6 will be shorter than the 5th book (or at least JK's 99% sure, but will not swear on her children's lives)
• Yep. It was a bit shorter.
• There will be no "new" nationalities of children at Hogwarts. Hogwarts is a British school, and JK says that adding foreigners for the sake of it is not in her plans.
• Not sure where this came from.
• During an interview, when JKR was asked in which Hogwarts room she'd like to be for 1 hour, she said it would be a room in which Harry has been before, but doesn't know its importance. Yet. (this could have happened in book 5, but we're unsure)
• Could this be the Room of Requirement?
• It's very important in the plot that Harry has his mother's eyes, and that her wand was very good for charms.
• I'm intrigued by this. Especially because it didn't come up too much in book 6, except that Lily was also good at potions (at least according to Slug)

So yeah. Feel free to discuss/disparage. My mom and sister still haven't started it (well, I guess my sister STARTED it but only just), so I'm looking for others to discuss it with.

/tk

Nice work.

Without reading any of the other comments so far, I think the HBP did plod too much in the middle and we never did (nor will?) find out why Dumbledore trusted Snape. Just believing that there is "good in him" (like Darth Vader) seemed pretty weak.

[Buccaneer]

Ok, I did a quick scan of the remaining posts and have to go along with DD wanted Snape to kill him.

[JeeberD]

The third part of the Rowling interview is up on Mugglenet.

http://www.mugglenet.com/jkrinterview3.shtml

This part caught my eye:

MA: Oh, here’s one [from our forums] that I’ve really got to ask you. Has Snape ever been loved by anyone?

JKR: Yes, he has, which in some ways makes him more culpable even than Voldemort, who never has.

Soooo...does that mean that Snape wasn't acting on DD's orders? Does it mean that Snape truly IS a Death Eater?