BOOK DISCUSSION: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

[cmere]

“Why are you worrying about YOU-KNOW-WHO, when you should be worrying about YOU-NO-POO? The constipation sensation that's gripping the nation!”Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was published in 2005. Clocking in at slightly shorter than its predecessor, the book nevertheless contained a wealth of new information for fans. Book Six included new

Comments

[cmere]

What did you think of the scenes with Dumbledore, Harry, and the pensieve, eventually leading up to the reveal of Voldemort's horcruxes?

[philstar22]

I thought those scenes were mostly well done and some of the best parts of the book. I loved the developing relationship between Harry and Dumbledore and Dumbledore's decision to tell Harry more things.

[zorb]

I thought those scenes were mostly well done and some of the best parts of the book. I loved the developing relationship between Harry and Dumbledore and Dumbledore's decision to tell Harry more things.

Absolutely! This was my favorite part of it, too. It was Time in the hero's journey sense for Dumbledore to go, so I'm glad it was with a very dramatic bang.

[drinkingcocoa]

Thrilling. Culminating in that absolutely oh-shit moment entering the cave when Dumbledore claims Harry is more important but then gets them into the cave by doing grown-up magic stuff Harry's never even heard of. Ack! What on earth does Dumbledore mean that Harry is equal to all of this? I knew the bearded wizard would have to die before the hero was ready, but seriously? This is terrifying! None of us has any idea whatsoever about how to do the stuff Dumbledore's doing! Why isn't there wizarding university? How on earth is any 17-year-old supposed to go from N.E.W.T.s to doing this level of magic????

[cmere]

Whether Draco Malfoy was truly evil or just kind of a jerk easily influenced by his family (beloved by many, of course) was a subject of hot debate throughout the series. What did you think of the role Draco played in Book Six and his inability to follow through with killing Dumbledore?

[philstar22]

To me his inability to kill Dumbledore didn't say that he was a good person. I think he wanted Dumbledore dead and totally believed in the cause but was just too scared to do the deed himself. But then, I've never been a fan of Draco.

To me he has always been a bully, not a villain per say, and this book showed that for me. He was way out of his depth.

[kate34books]

My thoughts exactly.

[author_by_night]

This may be an unpopular opinion, but I'd never liked fics where Draco was all sad and remorseful, yet I thought it worked here. And I really felt Draco was doing it for his family. I mean, sure, I think he was always a bully, but I also think that's just it - he was mostly talk, and then he realized he actually had to make hard decisions. So I liked his role, though I wish Harry had felt more guilt over... was it sectresumpra? I forget the spell, but that should've been a good kick in the ass for Harry, and while he did get upset and call for help IIRC, and it bothered him afterwards... I dunno, I guess I felt he got off easy?

[cmere]

What was your opinion on Snape as the Half-Blood Prince? Did you have other suspicions of who you thought it would be?

[philstar22]

This was one thing that wasn't surprising at all. I guessed it before the book even came out.

[author_by_night]

I honestly had no idea. I think I was leaning towards it possibly being Snape? But I'm not sure. I think after OoTP I tried not to have any expectations or assumptions*, so I wasn't even guessing much.

*Not in terms of quality, but when I read OoTP I was so influenced by fandom I think it affected how much I enjoyed it, so while I speculated like crazy before HBP and DH, when I actually sat down to read the book, I filtered out all theories and speculation.

[drinkingcocoa]

It's all about Snape, isn't it.

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3

I don't even remember if I thought it could possibly be anyone else for even a moment. I'm so mad with love for this character. I don't even know.

[cmere]

What did you think of Scrimgeour as the new Minister of Magic? How did he compare to Fudge?

[philstar22]

I think he was smarter than Fudge and maybe less willing to prioritize himself over the greater good, but he was still a politician. Which made him a really interesting character.

[kate34books]

Same.

[drinkingcocoa]

Both of them are brilliant fictional portraits of politicians. I liked his characterization as leonine and gruff, and a lot less disingenuous about the need to use people.

[cmere]

Dumbledore memorial thread - love him or hate him, his death was significant. How did you take it? What did you think of this incredibly complex man who was Harry's mentor and guide, for better or for worse?

[philstar22]

I think that ultimately Dumbledore was a good person and that ultimately he did care for Harry even if he put the greater good first. He bore so much responsibility, some that the wizarding world put on him and some that he put on himself.

I loved that he trusted Harry in this book. He knew what was coming and he knew that Harry was going to have to face Voldemort alone, so he chose to let Harry in on what was going on.

His death made me sad, though not as sad as Sirius' death. I was expecting it, though, way back from book 1. Dumbledore is the mentor, and the mentor always dies. Plus, if Harry was going to face Voldemort alone, that would only happen with Dumbledore out of the way.

[drinkingcocoa]

For some reason, I never felt the slightest sadness over his death, although I know many people cried at that point. I was wild to find out what he was seeing when the potion was torturing him, though! Fawkes's farewell song got me right in the gut, though.

[portkey]

I think he's a great character precisely because he is so incredibly flawed. He's in a completely untenable position, and I do sympathize with how impossible the decisions he has to make are, even if arguably he put himself into that position.

I know a lot of people compare him with Gandalf, and it's true they both seem to fit that archetypal "wise old wizard" mold, but the reason I think Dumbledore is an infinitely better character than Gandalf (as much reverence as I have for Tolkien's work) comes down to a very simple divergent path:

When presented with an all-powerful ring, Gandalf, though tempted, resists the urge. Dumbledore, of course, grabs it. And that very human flaw is what eradicates any and all doubt about him being this the all-knowing character that Harry and the others naively believe him to be (and granted, how Dumbledore tries to portray himself). And is also what makes him so much more fascinating