Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

[orangerful]

So, I did it. I finished HBP last night.



So, it turns out I did get spoiled. And no by someone I knew, but a random jerk on LJ who decided to make their current icon just be the big surprise ending. I read it when going through icon tutorial posts or something. I saw it, and hoped that it was not true, just because I was looking forward to being surprised. But it was true. so the shock wasn't there. I did, however, feel myself tearing up in the moments after that, as we saw each characters reaction to the death. Hagrid and Lupin especially. And when Harry declared that he would not return to Hogwarts next year, and told Ginny that they could not be a couple anymore...just so sad.

Ever since JK Rowling said that someone would die, I figured it had to be Dumbledore at some point. He's the Obi-Wan, the Gandalf, Buffy's first watcher. For our hero to truly understand what he/shes facing, their teacher/parent figure has to go.

I didn't want Snape to be evil though. What I liked about Snape was that he was a good guy, even though he didn't like Harry. Now, he's just a coward, someone who follows whoever seems to be winning the fight. I don't like that. I liked having his character around, but not he's evil. I don't think she would try to redeem him in the next book either, I think he's gone to far. I think she'll attempt to bring Malfoy back to the light side, but Snape is too far gone. But I do not believe that Harry can/should kill him. Just like Buffy, Harry should only kill the big bad evils, and not humans. And let's face it, after this book and the talk of Horcruxes, we've discovered that Lord Voldemort is no longer human. Snape still is. If Harry killed Snape...no, I think it should be Lupin who does him in. Harry should only kill Voldemort.

I like how she's tied book 2 in. For the longest time, I couldn't figure out where book 2 really fit into the story arc of things. But now that we have an explaination for the diary, the book is far more important.

I hope Harry doesn't return to angsty-boy for book 7. But how could he not, with Dumbledore murdered before his eyes. And this RAB thing, that's just cruel. Wonder who it was. An Ex-Death Eater, one of the kids he picked on in school...won't know until book 7.

Oh, and I have to say I was underwhelmed by the Half-Blood Prince plot line. It was like she just needed something cool for the title, but really it meant nothing. So Snape made up some spells. And he's half muggle. I dunno, it wasn't jaw-dropping to me.

And I actually felt sorry for Malfoy, for once, as he stood there in front of Dumbledore. He was only trying to protect his family, what else could he do? But he's not a killer, he's all talk. I just hope he gets redeemed. He's a little bastard, but he's young enough to come back to the good side.

Comments

[dstntp1lgr1m.livejournal.com]

UGH, everything you are saying here about dumbledore's supposed death, RAB, all of it, this is why you must read faster so you could have talked with me, Laurel, and Matthew. Good theories brewing there, especially from those two.

WE have a pretty good Idea who RAB is also. Think back to book 5. Everything else is conspiracy, conspiracy, conspiracy.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

Laurel told me the RAB theory and I think that works. I was scanning my brain for last names that begin with B and I forgot that Sirius had a brother. :-P

The Harry Potter Scene It game just came out. We so gotta get that and have a party. Maybe when Goblet of Fire comes out.

[dstntp1lgr1m.livejournal.com]

you know I am totally game for harry potter games lol. :)

Snape and Harry

[jellibean.livejournal.com]

I read a theory (I forgot where..) that Snape really wasn't evil. The theorist thinks that Dumbledore, a skilled Legimens, was telling Snape (also a Legimens) to kill him, and that Snape's look of loathing wasn't because he hated Dumbledore, but because he didn't want to kill him. Also, when he was running away and battling Harry, Snape merely deflected his hexes; not only did he not fight back, but also he gave Harry hints/advice ("Keep your mind closed..") That's just someone's theory, but I think it's a good one. :) I don't want to think Dumbledore was wrong about Snape. Dunno why..

Maybe Snape's being Half-Blood will be important in Book 7.. but I agree, the HBP business didn't seem all that important, except that it made Harry slightly more conflicted. ^_^

Ugh, I really hope Harry doesn't angsty again, too. At least not in the same way he was in Book 5. He seems way more mature now, but I guess we'll just have to see. *keeps fingers crossed*

Re: Snape and Harry

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

I like that theory, and now that I've had time to think on it, I feel that really has to be the case because it would just be too simple to have him be the bad guy. And JK does not like to keep it simple, that's for sure!

just say no to Angsty Harry!!

[destertale.livejournal.com]

Yay!!! I can talk now! The gag order is relieved! Expect a call. ;)

[destertale.livejournal.com]

Of course a phone call would be completely unnecessary if I had noticed that you were standing right behind me while I typed this... *head-desk* duuuuuhhhhh lol

[blu-harvest.livejournal.com]

I do indeed have some theories. They are simialar to what Jess said. I 'll wait until I see you. I personally was choked up by the scene where Harry has to make him keep drinking the potion. Jk can really get to us emotianally. Btw wer'nt the main characters totally acting like asses? Cheating, using casual magic on other students, prostitution!? Okay, not that one ( although how did Ron pay for that diamond studded collor, eh??!?). But seriouslly, they was bad. I guess stress or hormones can cover it but still... hope you feel better.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

yeah, that whole chapter was rough. I was imaginging it with the actors and trying to figure out how to do this in a movie...I think like the books, the films will turn from PG to PG-13.

I wasn't too annoyed with the kids, no one was as bad as Harry in the last book. Plus, dating for the first time yadda yadda. I mean, I did want to smack them but not as hard as I wanted to smack Harry in OotP! haha.

[vertigozooropa.livejournal.com]

No, it's a good title, because you spend the whole book wondering who it is, and you're lead to believe it's either Voldemort (a true half-blood) or Lily Potter (who Prof. Slug never stops mentioning). Of course, JK Rowling told us it wasn't Voldemort, therefore spoiling her own red herring, which was dumb.

And at the very end, after Snape becomes THAT FUCKING BASTARD SNAPE, you realize that the whole book boils down to Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince.

[orangerful.livejournal.com]

hm...*ponders* true. Very true. d'oh!