Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince-SPOILERS!!!!

[mojo1701]

I haven't read this entire thread, so I apologize in advance if this theory has been placed, but:

My theory on Dumbledore's death is that it was an Obi-Wan Kenobi death, in which he sacrificed himself so that the Order of the Phoenix can have knowledge on Voldemort. Dumbledore knew that he doesn't have much left to give to the world (so to speak), so he feels that a death like this will win in the end.

 

[Vocenoctum]

I knew the "secrets" the Half-Blood Prince book before I started reading it - both who the half-blood prince was, and who got killed and by whom (and pretty much under what circumstances). It didn't spoil the book for me at all, any more than knowing that only Chris, Vin, and Chico survive when I'm watching the Magnificent Seven.

I knew who the HBP was, and Who Died when I started. I don't think the Death mattered, given he's been pretty much foretold since Book1 as dead. ("we're safe as long as he's here!") I do think knowing who the HBP is, detracted from the book for me though.

That aside, the shirt is pure spite towards folks that want to enjoy the book their way, IMO. I would never wear a shirt like that, simply to ruin a book for other people, and I'm widely regarded as a soulless bastard.

But, removing all that, how is it FUNNY? That's what I don't see. It seems funny in the sense of tripping some lady holding her son's Birthday cake, then laughing at her. Except not that clever.

 

[Storm Raven]

I knew who the HBP was, and Who Died when I started. I don't think the Death mattered, given he's been pretty much foretold since Book1 as dead. ("we're safe as long as he's here!") I do think knowing who the HBP is, detracted from the book for me though.

I found that the entire half-blood prince plot was pointless and boring. I knew who he was, but that's not what made it boring. What made it boring was that finding the identity of the half-blood prince appears to have been of no consequence whatsoever to anything of any importance.

 

[MaxKaladin]

I am reminded of the gag on the rerun of David Letterman I saw last night. It dated from before the latest HP book was released and they had a spoiler moment where they released a spoiler about the book. The spoiler? The book's ISBN number.

 

[Lobo Lurker]

I figured out early on that the Half-Blood Prince was Snape (tiny cramped handwriting... anyone remember Snape's memory of that OWL or NEWT test that Harry experienced?).

I also can't see Snape as being bad all along... it just feels like too much of a cop out, too simple.

I'll have to chck this when I get home, but doesn't Snape remember Lily fondly? I too think that he wanted James dead but was mortified to find out that Lily had died too. Therefore, Snape doesn't hate Harry for his father's actions, but because Snape has somehow convinced himself that it's Harry's fault that Lily died.

I CAN see Harry learning to sympathize with Draco. After all, Draco's doing what he's doing to save his family. Harry's lost his family and I doubt he'd want to inflict that pain on his worst enemy (which, arguably, Draco is). I can see them teaming up in the end despite thier mutual dislike for one another.

As far as Hogwart's future goes, I think that McGonagal will be Headmistriss, Slughorn will be Slytherin head and either potions or DADA teacher... though I can see the Ministry of Magic stepping in and appointing an Auror to do this as well.

But, in all honesty, I don't think Harry, Ron, & Hermione will be doing much at Hogwarts in the next book, though Hogwarts will undoubtedly figure prominantly into the book somehow.

And yes, I think JKR made a mistake with the House Elves apparating (didn't Dobby do that in the 2nd book though?)

 

[Vocenoctum]

I'll have to chck this when I get home, but doesn't Snape remember Lily fondly? I too think that he wanted James dead but was mortified to find out that Lily had died too. Therefore, Snape doesn't hate Harry for his father's actions, but because Snape has somehow convinced himself that it's Harry's fault that Lily died.

The timing for it is off though, assuming we've heard the truth. Dumbledore testified that Snape had been providing the Order info before the fall of Voldemort. Lily died the night Voldemort fell. So, I can't see Lily's death being the cause of Snape's betrayel.
Of course, it seems that BOTH Voldemort and Dumbledore KNEW that Snape was completely loyal to their side only. Someone has to be wrong, don't they?

I think Snape dispises Harry because he is identical to James. James made Snape feel weak, and now that he's stronger, he wants to make sure he never feels weak again. The fact he folows Dumbledore and/or Voldemort the way he does makes that a bit odd, so maybe Snape is only in it to become his own man. He's killed Dumbledore, now he just needs to kill Voldemort, and he's Free!

I CAN see Harry learning to sympathize with Draco. After all, Draco's doing what he's doing to save his family. Harry's lost his family and I doubt he'd want to inflict that pain on his worst enemy (which, arguably, Draco is). I can see them teaming up in the end despite thier mutual dislike for one another.

I can see Harry not wanting Draco dead, but that's about the extent of his sympathy really.

As far as Hogwart's future goes, I think that McGonagal will be Headmistriss, Slughorn will be Slytherin head and either potions or DADA teacher... though I can see the Ministry of Magic stepping in and appointing an Auror to do this as well.

But, in all honesty, I don't think Harry, Ron, & Hermione will be doing much at Hogwarts in the next book, though Hogwarts will undoubtedly figure prominantly into the book somehow.

I'm of the mind that the books formula is part of their success, so I hope they're at an open Hogwarts for a good portion of the book, but it'll make the Horcrux Hunt a bit odd. I'm still pretty sure one of the Horcrux is a Ravenclaw item at Hogwarts, but who knows? Rowling herself might not have even decided yet.

And yes, I think JKR made a mistake with the House Elves apparating (didn't Dobby do that in the 2nd book though?)

Yeah, he teleported quite a bit. Maybe natural powers are psionics, and she's not using the Psionics Transparency Rule?

It's not like the HP World is that greatly thought out anyway. You can kill people with Abra Cadabra after all!

 

[Vocenoctum]

I found that the entire half-blood prince plot was pointless and boring. I knew who he was, but that's not what made it boring. What made it boring was that finding the identity of the half-blood prince appears to have been of no consequence whatsoever to anything of any importance.

Well, I should have said that knowing who the HBD detracted from my reading of the book in an unknown way. I can't unremember who it is before I read, so some elements of the book are read differently, but there's no way for me to know how the revelation would have been (for me) since I already knew.
It seemed very sudden to me, the revelation. He just kind of yells it out, without much reason to.

That said, the titles aren't all central to the book. The Philosophers Stone is an item in the story, as is the Goblet of Fire, but neither is really central IMO. Prisoner of Azkaban and Order of the Phoenix are more central, but again they're nothing revealing. Chamber of Secrets as well. HBP is important because of Snapes role in the book, but it's not central, no. I'd say it's more central than Goblet of Fire was to HP4 though.

Besides, it's not hard to imagine why she chose it over "Harry Potter and Dumbledore DIES!", the cover could have been a big tombstone for Dumbledore!

 

[Hijinks]

Quote:
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=alt2 style="BORDER-RIGHT: 1px inset; BORDER-TOP: 1px inset; BORDER-LEFT: 1px inset; BORDER-BOTTOM: 1px inset">And yes, I think JKR made a mistake with the House Elves apparating (didn't Dobby do that in the 2nd book though?) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Yeah, he teleported quite a bit. Maybe natural powers are psionics, and she's not using the Psionics Transparency Rule?

I am 95% sure I recall a conversation between Ron and Hermoine where Ron asked about the house elves disapparating, and Hermoine saying they were an exception because they're not using magic, but a natural ability. If I had ambition, I'd go back and try to find the passage, but I ... don't.

 

[WizarDru]

Yeah, he teleported quite a bit. Maybe natural powers are psionics, and she's not using the Psionics Transparency Rule?

From the alt.Harry_potter FAQ:

"It is clear that Dobby and Fawkes do teleport within the castle, but since we have some very firm statements claiming that Apparating is impossible, the question then is whether what they are doing is Apparating or some other kind of teleportative magic, or in other words: is it correct that they can't Apparate or Disapparate inside Hogwarts, or is it not correct?

The answer to this obviously depend to some degree on how you read the books; it has at times been debated heatedly in AFH-P where some hold that if it looks and sounds like Apparating, then it must be Apparating. Against this is held that it is extremely unlikely that both Hermione (who is, according to Rowling herself, normally very reliable when citing information from her books [1]) and Snape should be wrong. The majority of the posters in AFH-P does seem to think that house-elves (and by extension, Phoenixes) are exceptions from the Apparition ban at Hogwarts; either because they are specifically exempted from the protection, or because what they are doing isn't Apparating [<cite>AFH-P 030721</cite>] [<cite>AFH-P 030218</cite>]. In the latter case it is usually argued that Disapparating/Apparating specifically is the wizard spell or ability, while other kinds of magical teleportation is called by other names (Portkeying, Floo-travelling etc.) [<cite>AFH-P 030822</cite>] [<cite>AFH-P 030819</cite>] [<cite>AFH-P 010521</cite>] [<cite>AFH-P 000715</cite>] [<cite>AFH-P SDATE</cite>].

The question of Dobby's teleportations also came up in an on-line chat with World Book Day on March 4, 2004[<cite>WBD-17</cite>]:

<table style="margin-bottom: 0em; margin-top: 0em;" class="noborder" align="center" cellpadding="3" width="65%"> <tbody><tr><td class="noborder" valign="top">Question (Rorujin):

</td> <td class="noborder" valign="top"><q>How is Dobby able to Apparate inside Hogwarts if no one else can?</q>

</td></tr> <tr><td class="noborder" valign="top">Answer:

</td> <td class="noborder" valign="top"><q>He's a house-elf, they've got powers wizards haven't got (but wizards have also got powers that house-elves haven't).</q>

</td></tr> </tbody></table> The implication is here clearly that the power (or ability) of the house-elves is different from that of the wizards whether we call them both Apparating or not. While Rowling did not actually correct Rorujin's use of "Apparate" for Dobby, she does point out he (and other house-elves) is using a power which "wizards haven't got" — and as wizards very clearly has the power to Apparate ...

While the above isn't definite with regards to the linguistic side of the argument (whether house-elf teleportation is really called "Apparating"), it is quite clear that whatever it is called, the power is different from wizardly Apparating and that it is this difference which allows house-elves to teleport within Hogwarts."

 

[billd91]

I am 95% sure I recall a conversation between Ron and Hermoine where Ron asked about the house elves disapparating, and Hermoine saying they were an exception because they're not using magic, but a natural ability. If I had ambition, I'd go back and try to find the passage, but I ... don't.

And even if there isn't something on that in the books, how surprising would it be for the people who put the anti-apparating wards around Hogwarts to have overlooked house elves? It's not like the wizarding community looks on them as much more than servants, certainly not a threat by any stretch of the imagination.