<p>For those of you who have finished, what did you think of it? Did you expect any of it?</p>
<p>It was definitely depressing.</p>
<p>But it's clear, now, what Harry must do in book 7 to defeat Voldemort. It's pretty daunting, though; I just don't see how it can be done. And my biggest lingering question after finishing book 6 is: what's going to happen to Hogwarts?!</p>
<p>As far as the death . . . I knew it'd happen eventually. I just didn't expect it to happen in book 6.</p>
<p>The romances were perfect! Just what I had imagined for the main characters- but I hated to see Harry's decision regarding Ginny at the end. He shouldn't be afraid to love.</p>
<p>The death and betrayal were so sad. I never thought that Dumbledore could actually be so wrong in his judgement of someone, and never thought that anyone less than Voldemort himself could really harm him.</p>
<p>I really preferred the tone of this book to the fifth... I disliked the fifth partly because everything was so laden with meaning, you knew that everything you read in the beginning was put there so that it'd show up in the end (thank God I never joined mugglenet or any other sites, I would've driven myself mad analysing). I mean, in this one, it was almost surprising to not find anyone come to a tragic end because they forgot to ask each other the safety question, and Neville's plant and gum wrappers never made an appearance, and no one found themselves defenseless because they picked up a joke wand, and so forth. I mean, even I, who've never read the HP books more times than necessary (=once), was subconsciously keeping track of names and clues because it's what I've come to expect. </p>
<p>I was happy to hear a good explanation regarding Voldemort - I'd expected something similar since the beginning (don't know if he had enough human left in him to die... etc), and I was particularly glad to hear Dumbledore's sensible explanation about the prophecy. I still don't understand why Lily's death would give HP any protection without any other magic involved - Lily isn't, afterall, the only person who's ever died for anyone. As for the characters, I thought there were some good moments, Harry and Dumbledore's relationship was touching, but some things were just ridiculous. Tonks? Gimme a break. Ron and Lavender, Ginny and Harry, Hermione and that guy? Have they learned nothing? Some things also felt off - I mean, Harry basically cheated to win that first Quidditch game, it was very low. Second, he almost killed Malfoy, and yet his guilt and everyone else's reactions lasted minutes. (Dumbledore never thought to mention, "Oh, by the way, since we're good guys, you're not allowed to slash people up.") After the initial descriptions of hard work and intense magic, including the rather interesting non verbal magic and human transfiguration (when will wandless magic show up?), they seemed to only spend time in classes when it was convenient. </p>
<p>Personally, I don't think we've seen the last of Snape. I think his redemption is essential to the story and it seemed pretty clear that he wasn't happy about it. It is pretty cool that the only person who has a reason to trust Snape (as far as we know) is dead. Poor guy, really.</p>
<p>Oh yeah, and who the hell's RAB? I'm way too lazy to look it up. The only name I could come up with off hte top of my head was Regulas Black, but since I don't know his middle name, and he was never described as the type of wizard who would be capable of such a thing, I really doubt it.</p>
<p>Also - Draco? The Dark Lord must've been pretty freakin desperate. Overall I'm glad the story is on understandable levels (i.e. love instead of a secret power, splitting one's soul instead of some complicated potion), but I thought it was a little rough (the characters seemed to have run out of personality halfway through). I just think they overdosed a little on the touchy-feely.</p>
<p>(I realize I've thought about this far too much already)</p>
<p>What exactly is Dumbledore being forced to relive when he drinks the contents of the basin? I mean, "It's all my fault, all my fault... Please make it stop, I know I did wrong, oh please make it stop and I'll never, never again... Don't hurt them, please, please, it's my fault, hurt me instead..." Who is he pleading to, and what the hell is in his past?</p>
<p>and what abt the glimpse of a phoenix that Harry catches in the end??</p>
<p>could it point to "somebody" not being really dead??esp if that "somebody" has a phoenix patronus??</p>
<p>Just finished... I really liked it, but now I feel sad. Still kinda in shock... I mean my friends and I had tried to guess who it was that would die in this book, and Dumbledore came up, but it was assumed he would be needed for Hogwarts to continue in Book7. </p>
<p>Agh. These books are getting progressively more depressing. I really liked Dumbledore. Poor Harry... poor Malfoy (with less sympathy)... poor Dumbledore. </p>
<p>Well... reading this reminded me of why HP is so popular. Guess I'll be mourning and resigning myself to a very long wait.</p>
<p>are you guys serious? wait the book came out yesterday or last night at midnight. and you harry potter fans have ALREADY finished the book? you are crazy.</p>
<p>I definitely think Harry has to die. I suspect that HE is a horcrux (sp), and that he will have to die for Voldemort to do. I think that Voldemort gave Harry a piece of his soul when he tried to kill him. THAT's why harry's Parseltongue, etc etc etc. Harry has to die in the end, I just don't see it happening any other way.</p>
<p>I was reeeeally disappointed that Dumbledore already died, because, well, he's Dumbledore. Or at least I expected something more dramatic than "Expelliarmus!.... Snape.... AVADA KEVADRA!", something a little more grandiose. But still, plot-wise it definitely didn't disappoint. I definitely didn't expect Harry to not return to school in the final book. I mean, I'd had a thought or two along those lines, but I figured he'd probably leave mid-year, just to get some last Hogwartiness in.</p>
<p>The Half-Blood Prince... well, I didn't think it would be Snape (although I did figure it out, maybe... ten pages before it was revealed), but I didn't really like the connection of the secret cool textbook to Snape, or at least I thought it would have something more revealing in it about Snape's character than just "Add one clockwise stir after every seven counterclockwise ones." That said, at least it featured in the plot more than the Goblet of Fire in the fourth book. (I always hated that title, and keep hoping the Goblet will come back and show how amazingly cool and important it really is, so I've got my fingers crossed for book 7.)</p>
<p>The new minister... totally sucked. I was really unimpressed with his character's role in the plot. Sure, he's a take-charge guy (in theory), but how did his actions show that at all besides his arresting a few obvious non-Death Eaters?</p>
<p>My main complaint with this book was its lack of any one real villain. Voldemort didn't appear at all. With Bellatrix and Narcissa in the beginning, it seemed like they might play major roles in this one, but no, we only ever see Narcissa once more, and Bellatrix not at all. Snape, in the end, is the one who does "the deed," but he's not enough of a player in the rest of the plot, and I was definitely hoping the Unbreakable Oath would really come into play (i.e. he can't do it and sacrifices himself to save Dumbledore, or at least the UO is mentioned later on). Malfoy seems to be the antagonist, does lots of plotting, and definitely shows up more than any other bad guy, but in the end he just opens the door to let the big boys in and can't finish his job and kill Dumbledore. After the climax of book 4 (still my favorite), plus all the interaction with Voldemort in book 5, it was a bit of a comedown to be facing smaller players as the primary villains in this book.</p>
<p>Reading this, it seems like I hated the book, but I swear, I loved it almost as much as my favorites, books 1 and 4 (and of course more than 2, 3, or 5). I'm just mad that a) I didn't see a lot of this coming and b) IT'LL BE YEEEEEEARS BEFORE SHE FINISHES THE NEXT ONE, GOSHDARNIT!</p>
<p>I'm not venturing any plot guesses for the final book, but I think Dumbledore somehow secretly being alive would be too much to hope for. Also, I've always sort of interpreted the prophesy as that one of them wil live, and the other has to die, not that at least one of them will die. Who knows?</p>
<p>Anyone else find this one a lot quicker read than the others? I woke up at 2:30, found the book on my doorstep, and was finished by 5:15, and I even made and ate lunch while reading.</p>
<p>Sax - I thought that too, and I'm surprised neither Harry nor Dumbledore mentioned that... I mean, they've been going on for years about how Voldemort gave Harry a part of him, and no one dares speak the obvious?</p>
<p>Haha, Cremedelame, I like Snape more and more with each book (beginning with book 3 - my favourite). One of the things that frustrates me about reading HP is that none of the characters, except Hermione to a small degree, are really all that interested in magic. And then along comes Snape, who by the look of things, is really out there. I would've been like Snape - and Fred & George, and Riddle, and Dumbledore - experimenting with potions and spells all the time.</p>
<p>I didn't think Dumbledore would die (I figured he would in the 7th), I thought it would be Lupin, because I knew it would be whoever the father figure was.</p>
<p>I still can't really believe Harry's going to suddenly give up Hogwarts (if it's still there), get away from most of his friends, and start hunting down heavily guarded items. Someone should slap him while he's still underage. Where the heck would he even start?</p>
<p>Any idea on who R.A.B. is? The best clue I could find is "..and the Half-Blood Prince" on the cover page is written in the same font as his letter...not much of a help, but maybe it has something to do with Severus?</p>
<p>I believe that Snape is essentially good. I believe that it was a plan to kill DD, keep Draco from becoming a murderer, and keep Snape alive by not breaking his Vow. He gave a very half-hearted effort to fight Harry in his flight. He even screamed, "No, Potter!" which to me implies "Stop it right now, you don't know the whole story!" I think that the look of "repulsion" on his face as he killed DD was repulsion at the act, not the person. I think that's what they were arguing about when Hagrid overheard them--Snape wanted him to give up the idea of even attempting to kill him.</p>
<p>I think Snape is stuck between a rock and a hard place. I don't think anyone else knew (but one board, Leaky Lounge, has suggested that Moody is a Secret Keeper for this secret) and that if Snape ever attempts to go near the Order again, he will be killed on sight. I think he was trying to give Harry some last-minute advice, "Shut your mouth and close your mind." I mean, in a fight, you don't give your enemy hints!</p>
<p>I agree. Draco? I mean, come on. That is sinking to a new level.</p>
<p>Like how we didn't have a Voldemort confrontation--builds up the pressure for book 7. </p>
<p>I don't see Hermione giving up Hogwarts, either, Psyche. Maybe Harry and Ron, but Hermione? That would take a lot of courage on her part. She is a Gryffindor, after all, and maybe she realizes that a Hogwarts without Dumbledore is no Hogwarts at all.</p>
<p>This book was definitely dark. The sectumsempra (sp?) spell REALLY freaked me out. Goes to show how dark Snape is/was?</p>
<p>I thought it was so cool that VOLDEMORT jinxed the DADA post! I never saw that one coming (but neither did I see SNAPE killing DUMBLEDORE)!</p>
<p>RAB = Regulus Black?</p>
<p>I'm still wondering about the death of James and Lily. When Voldemort's wand misfired and the spirits of the people who had been killed by that wand were released, it clearly indicated that James died AFTER Lily. What's up with that?</p>
<p>I agree with EuropeGirl... Snape's flight was confusing. Very, very confusing. Why didn't he curse him back? He could've stunned him or done the slashing thing, couldn't he have? No, he just deflected them. I really hope that wasn't what he and Dumbledore were arguing about. I hope Dumbledore wasn't that noble. Why the hell do we need Snape? Snape should have died instead of Dumbledore, if that's what it comes down to!!!</p>
<p>Questions I put together immediatly after reading. A few have been mentioned.
(spoilers like all hell) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince QUESTIONS </p>
<p>1) Harry not going back to school?!? How determined does he seem? Do you think he'll be forced into going back? Didn't JKR always talk about the seven years as in the seven years at Hogwarts? The thought of him wandering aimlessly to Godric's Hollow and then for the objects seems absolutley foolish -- but necessary, nonetheless.
2) Did Dumbledore leave him anything to finish the fight with? Will the portrait be any help? Is Harry really expected to finish everything alone? I don't think McGonagal can help. She just doesn't seem like a leader to me. Well, she seems like.... the assistant leader. Deputy headmistress. I don't think she's cut out for the top position.
3) R.A.B? People have mentioned Sirius's younger brother. What if Sirius was wrong in thinking that his brother was foolish and unimportant? Sirius said he panicked -- so what if he somehow found out about the locket and THAT'S how he died? Maybe he's one of the corpses in there. Er-- but then he couldn't have it destroyed... Ugh. I dunno. Whoever it was had to be extremley powerful to do it by themselves and get out of there. Would it even be possible? Checked the Lexicon. Apart from Regulus Black, the only other possible "R(A)B" character is Rudolf Brand (?) OR -- one of the founders from Borgin & Burkes? UGHH -- This part is annoying. What if RAB has already collected all of the objects and Harry goes after them?
4) Where the hell was Mad-Eye during everything?! He's mentioned one time in the book. That was sincerley annoying.
5) When and how did Harry get his Firebolt back from Umbridge? I don't think he got it at the end of book 5, did he? I HATE plot holes like these. It happened with the fake Moody having the map and Harry mysteriously got it back, too. It wouldn't take much to explain these little things, really.
6) (Chandler from Friends imitation:) Could Harry BE anymore surreptitious? Did JKR use that word way too often or was it just me who noticed?
7) Why did Dumbledore assume that he had to trust Snape? Could it have been a spell? Was it the Wizard's debt? He realized that the information he leaked would be the end of James - who had saved his life - so he had to switch sides?
8) Is there something more to the new Minister? Is the description of a lion supposed to be misleading or can we safely assume that he has SOMETHING to do with Gryffindor? Perhaps he knows of an old heirloom that Voldie could've stuck his soul into? He can't have the unmistakable description of a lion for no reason!
9) How much influence have the movies had on our books? Incase you didn't catch it - which I'm hoping all of you did - Slug couldn't get Ron's name right and he called him Rupert. If I was Rupert Grint right now I'd be crying tears of joy - what an honor, yanno? I'm sure it was a small tribute to him. But I hope to God that JKR had Dumbledore's departure planned well before the death of Richard Harris.... While I respect his acting (haven't seen him in anything but HP) -- he wasn't Dumbledore.
10) WHY DUMBLEDORE?????????????????????? I cried from the moment he was loosing it in the boat all the way to the last page. WHY???????? I hated when Harry had to keep him drinking. The bravest person you know pleading and saying "KILL ME!"? How horrific. Worst feeling ever. My heart sunk. It hasn't come back to it's normal spot. Dumbledore. ='( Seeing (er, reading) him plead with Snape! Dumbledore!!!!</p>
<p>Unless it's really what they were arguing about - Dumbledore telling Snape to kill him if he had to save himself and Draco. Though I don't know why in the world he'd want to save Draco. So maybe the pleading with Snape was "you know you have to do this." But, I for one hope Snape is 100% Death Eater, because the thought of Dumbledore dying to save Snape is horrific.</p>
<p>Well, just about everyone that's posted has summed up my feelings. I feel a bit off, right now, as if a Dementor just sucked out a bit of my soul. Makeyourselfxo's point about Dumbledore trying to save Snape is....terrifying. I'd never forgive Snape for letting it happen. It was an amazing book, and I really like how all of the pairings turned out. Even though Harry's and Ginny's relationship ended similarly to how Dumbledore was in Order of the Phoenix. Dumbledore tried to distance himself from Harry in order to protect him, and we all know how THAT turned out. Harry should realize that people like Ginny just don't want to be protected....</p>
<p>I think I'll just go back to my room and cry now.</p>
<p>I thought it was initially annoying how Voldemort never appeared, and the climax was kind of...not as good as #5, but this book definitely makes a great setup for #7, which had better be damn good since we have to wait YEARS for it.</p>
<p>Someone mentioned wandless magic somewhere in one of these threads, and it has me thinking. I don't think that Dumbledore's character really seemed like him toward the end, especially with the pleading. People on other messenge boards have mentioned that perhaps Wormtail had taken polyjuice and it was him that was killed and not Dumbledore. While at first I thought this was farfetched, it now is seeming more realistic. Dumbledore can do wandless magic, can he not? Why then, when he was facing Snape in his last moments, did he not do something? It makes me feel that there is something fishy going on. It just doesn't seem right. Wormtail, I know, would never be able to do wandless magic. It could fit... </p>
<p>I was expecting Dumbledore to die, though I figured it would be in book 7.
I've always hated Snape. I knew he was evil from book 1. </p>
<p>Regalus Black seems in a way, too obvious, but someone at leakylounge.com mentioned that one of the item in that cabinet in Grimmauld place was a gold locket. Connection?</p>
<p>As for the general feeling of the book, I've only read it once so far, but it didn't impress me. In fact, many times I felt that I just wanted to kind of get it over with. As of now, it's probably my 2nd least favorite, after Sorcerer's Stone. The plot seemed weak, too covered in lovey-dovey fluff, and more like a fact-filled thing, than a running story with a developing plotline. There really was too much shipping brought in. However, it did have it's good moments. There were a lot of times where I found myself laughing out loud, and I liked the little Rupert thing. Overall, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't quite as I expected. I always knew I was right in hating Snape, though.</p>
<p>On Snape killing Dumbledore: the quote was that he killed with "revulsion and HATRED etched in the harsh lines of his face." If Snape was playing along with the Death Eaters and did it out of immediate necessity, then why would the author describe it that way? I think it's indisputable that he was in with Voldemort the entire time. Dumbledore was naive indeed.</p>