HBP: Chapter One

[amanuensis1]

Warning: Do not post any comments here if you have read beyond chapter 1 of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

This is the discussion post for Chapter 1 of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (and for all chapters prior to chapter 1). SPOILERS are expected to be contained in these comments for all of these chapters--though not for later

Comments

[deerlike]

Is it a bad thing I think Scrimgeour is rather sexy?

NobecauseIdotoo.

[cellia]

Wow! I'm actually feeling pretty hopeful about the book now! A much cleverer way of bringing us up to speed... and it dealt with one of my main peeves ie if the PM knew about Black, doesn't most of the UKgov know about magic how is it such a big secret? (though she still hasn't explained how all the nonpureblood's families keep Hogwarts a secret). And actually making me feel sorry for Fudge!

I can't quite trust Scrimgeour though. Just seems like a name that had its letters rearranged. Or perhaps with the yellowish eyes and the limp he's a werewolf or lion animagus or somesuch.

I find all the memory-charming a bit creepy though. Does this mean that all muggles have just forgotten Voldemort's reign of terror 15 years ago and thought it was a really bad flu season or something? And I wonder if there's never been a PM that thought he could use the wizard community for his own gain.

[garillama]

Well, have there been PMs that have been assassinated/died unexpectedly in office? That might answer your question ;)

And I would imagine muggle families have to make up alibis for their friends and relatives. Perhaps there's some magical contract that holds them to their word, or maybe it's just the "Who would believe us?" syndrome. Hopefully she'll cover that issue later on.

[biichan]

I am amused by the thought of Margaret Thatcher throwing Fudge out the window :D

[amanuensis1]

*dies* It didn't even occur to me to visualize a real person. I must be slipping.

And your icon's fab. Inspired by that rant of Hobb's, no doubt!

[biichan]

Nope. It's fanart by redscharlach parodying the DADAists. But I do so love it. It shall be my icon forever.

[e_dork]

Hahahaha. YES.
:D

[own_me_buy_me]

YAY Fudge is sacked, new Prime Minister.

I'm so glad we get to see how the things behind the wizarding world work, this is just great!!!

I'm so glad I got my copy! I was first in line!!!

[marginaliana]

I, too, love the interaction between the Muggle and Wizarding worlds, and I love that it's such a half-assed interaction. It really shows the magical world's unconscious disdain for all things Muggle - sure, let's just pop out every once in a while and tell whoever they've got leading them how it's gonna be. Not only that, but they treat Muggles like children without any of the actual benefits of being a child: they condescend, withhold information, never think of asking advice from the Muggles, etc., and yet still don't seem to take responsibility for the well-being of those they see as inferior. Ingrained prejudices ahoy!

I also noticed Fudge letting slip that he believed Voldie was back as early as Sirius' escape from Azkaban. Believed it and yet did nothing about it!

I really like the idea of dementors breeding - I've always been interested in them as an idea, and I hope we'll get more magical theory in this book. What exactly are dementors and how do they breed and how do they DIE?

[e_dork]

I also noticed Fudge letting slip that he believed Voldie was back as early as Sirius' escape from Azkaban.

Yeah, I noticed that too and was like 'ahah!'
I do still feel slightly bad for Fudge even though he was being an asshat and did deserve to be sacked.

I also like your observations about the half-assed Muggle/Wizarding world interaction. :)

[pocketroxy]

icon-love!

[marginaliana]

Thanks! It's by active_apathy who is a very very funny person.