Chapter 24 - Sectumsempra

[cheeringcharm]

Harry tells Ron and Hermione about the horcruxes during charms. Ron is so astounded that he makes it snow which leads to the first time JKR uses a non-aggressive adverb in describing Hermione talking to Ron. SCORE! Of course, Lavender can tell that Hermione is talking "patiently" instead of snapping, berating, or otherwise belittling Ron and she

Comments

[___eyesonfire]

This is my favourite chapter in HBP.

#1. Draco has gotten depth. DEPTH. FINALLY. Haven't 99% of us in the fandom been waiting for this? This is my absolute SQUEEing moment, because this cleared the doubt I always had. I'm no Draco fangirl, but I really, really, really liked how JKR portrayed Draco here. Crying, putting his defences down and "confiding" in the unlikiest person ever. That said, *SQUUEEEEEE*!

#2. Roonil Wazlib is mentioned here again! The exchange between Harry and Snape totally cracked me up for some reason! XDDDDD

#3. VINDICATED. Who endured the fandom taunts of being the "n00b/weak" ship? The H/G 'shippers. Man, I totally am in love with the H/G kiss. What's more, Hermione was there, as ever so supportive! And poor Ron, if he only had a clue about his bestmate fancying his sister, he'd have reacted like Hermione! Pity Luna wasn't in the scene! It's not a bad thing JKR's leaving us the Walk to our imaginations, is it? SUNLIT-DAYS, people, not wet and salty!!! =DD

And I can't help it:

[shocolate]

Yes on all counts.

oh, except the Draco-lurve!

[___eyesonfire]

OH, Draco needs love! Man, I can't wait for the Lightning Tower chapter... he's really human then. ;)

[dim54]

Emo Draco is love. I really liked him in HBP.

[bohemianvixen]

I love this chapter. In this, Draco shows his vulnerable and scared side, making him three-dimensional (finally). And let's not forget about Harry. He hates Draco so much but he obviously didn't want to hurt Draco in that way. Harry shows us just how different he really is from Voldemort, and how his heart is still more or less pure after all he went through.

And of course, the H/G kiss. *sighs happily* I love how it's so spontaneous and fun. Several sunlit days! This is the closest Harry is to being a poet so far in the books--and we all know he is nowhere near being a bard. So that means he's really smitten and happy with GINNY.

Several sunlit days... *sighs happily*

[shocolate]

Yes, Harry scared himself to death - silly, silly boy.

I never imagined him kissing her in the crowded common room - what a Gryffindor!

[bohemianvixen]

I never imagined him kissing her in the crowded common room - what a Gryffindor!

*giggles like a schoolgirl* I'm glad he did, because his and Ron's silent exchange is priceless! :D

[dim54]

I really liked the description of the kiss. It wasn't like "Their lips met. His tongue asked for entrance and she obliged. Dueling tongues clashed as the earth spun around them" but it wasn't non-descript either. It fell into the happy medium between bland and melodramatic. It was beautiful.

[millieweasley]

Harry looked around; there was Ginny running toward him; she had a hard, blazing look in her face as she threw her arms around him. And without thinking, without planning it, without worrying about the fact that fifty people were watching, Harry kissed her

[shocolate]

*hugs you very, very tight*

Hermione was beaming, but Harry's eyes sought Ron. At last he found him, still clutching the Cup and wearing an expression appropriate to having been clubbed over the head. For a fraction of a second they looked at each other, then Ron gave a tiny jerk of the head that Harry understood to mean, Well - if you must.

*sobs on your neck*

The fact that Ron matters that much to Harry just makes me want to cry.

[tehgiantsquid]

The fact that Ron matters that much to Harry just makes me want to cry.

You mean Ron isn't gonig to turn evil and join the ranks of Voldemort and try to kill Harry?!!?! Surely you jest!!!11!

[miss_celestine]

God I love this chapter.

There are two things in this chapter that happen and that I've been waiting for since book 1 : Draco dropping the mask and making me, the reader, actually feel for him, and Harry and Ginny finally sharing a kiss.

That kiss was extremely sweet and spontaneous. I can just imagine the "hard, blazing" look Ginny gives Harry just before running into his arms. She's loved him for so long - truly that's the best girl he could ever hope for, gutsy, fun and understanding. I felt as if Hermione was chaneling my feelings in that scene, beaming like crazy after rooting for Harry and Ginny to get together.

Harry's monster "roaring in triumph" was appropriate too - I can just imagine those two Gryffindors (and Leos) embracing in the midst of a red and gold haze of victory. A very nice image indeed.

[shocolate]

Yes, wasn't it the perfect moment for them to kiss?

I felt as if Hermione was chaneling my feelings in that scene, beaming like crazy after rooting for Harry and Ginny to get together.

Oh, yes - that's it exactly - especially with my poor Ronniekins looking utterly stunned - bless every freckle!

[miss_celestine]

*icon love* Ron is adorable when he's clueless like that. I'm surprised Hermione didn't pick that moment to snog him as well. How could she resist him??

[shocolate]

Oh, you are right!

But I want Harry to be fully aware of it when it happens, so we get a good description - he was too busy drifting off for several sunlit days here!!

[daksian]

Harry looked around; there was Ginny running toward him; she had a hard, blazing look in her face as she threw her arms around him. And without thinking, without planning it, without worrying about the fact that fifty people were watching, Harry kissed her

[shocolate]

Exactly, all year he's realised how he feels about her - he's agonised about how it'll change things with Ron - it's just perfection.

[greyashowl]

tw, it wouldn't have been attempted murder, but attempted manslaughter, and Harry's still a minor. Harry was shocked and aghast at what he had done. Granted, if he had done it to McClaggen, he would have felt greater remorse, but we are talking about a kid who broke Harry's nose earlier in the year, an act which could have killed Harry as well (if it had been pushed into his head, no more Boy-Who-Lived). Fair's fair. And Ginny had a point: Draco was two syllables away from an Unforgivable Curse on Harry.People tend to forget that sort of stuff very quickly I have noticed. Draco almost killed Harry in the beginning of the book and on purpose, but it's evil!Harry when Harry says a spell that he doesn't even know what it does causing serious harm but actually feels immediate remorse. There was no remorse from Draco. It seems only certain characters have the ability to pull of serious crimes (ie kidnapping) and be able to get away with it because of the 'greater' good. Killing Malfoy would have been a service to society, IMO, it's not as