WARNING: SPOILERS! …Read at your own risk if you have not completed HPB yet…
Oh. My. God.
I just finished reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince about an hour ago, and I’m still in shock over the events of the book. It was certainly…different, in many aspects, from the previous HP books. The tone of the book kind of jumped around alot. There was just something about the book in general that seemed off to me. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is…
Harry and Ginny? Too predictable. I always thought it’d be fitting if Harry ended up alone (the whole martyr thing, I suppose). At least J.K. didn’t make them all sappy and mushy (except when Harry was mooning over her, I just skimmed over those parts – urgh).
The whole thing with Malfoy was certainly interesting. He showed hope there at the end (I would have just thrown the book down in disgust if he had killed Dumbledore – again, that scenario would have been too predictable, but J.K. sure put a twist on that scene, didn’t she?) Heh, I’m a diehard Draco/Ginny shipper, and a semi-Draco fan. I always thought there had to be more to him than just the two-dimensional character featured in previous books.
Dumbledore’s death, while not unexpected, was a complete shocker in the way that happened. Never in a million years would I have thought it’d be Snape who would deal the blow. I always imagined, that if Dumbledore had to die, it would be at Voldemort’s hands, and he would go in a blaze of glory, not toppling off a tower. But Snape? I mean, everyone’s always speculated on why exactly Dumbledore trusts Snape so much, and Harry’s explanation for that was weak. There has to be something more, unless Dumbledore really was too much of a trusting fool. And Snape’s a half-blood?! And he lives in a run-down shack?! There goes all those theories about him being some pure-blood lord and living in style in a manor like the Malfoys.
Perhaps it’s just wishful thinking on my part, but I can’t help but have this nagging feeling that there’s more to what happened in that final scene between Snape and Dumbledore. Maybe this is part of some grand master plan, and Dumbledore had to die for some reason. This is just speculation also at this point, though I know theories will be swirling around before long. See this fanfiction for more insight. The thing is, it just – doesn’t – feel – right that Snape would turn out to be the predictable bad guy. And I really can’t imagine Albus Dumbledore as the type to be begging for his life. He has more dignity and bravery than that mockery we saw. I’m hoping J.K. will have a few surprises and twists left in the last book, including why exactly Dumbledore had to die. I still don’t see how Sirius’ death was necessary either, and hopefully both of those deaths will be addressed in the next, and final, book.
Here’s a snippet from a Fanfiction.net review to support my Snape theory:
Duj: Cecelle suggested to me that the argument Hagrid heard was Dumbledore telling Snape that he’d have to fulfil the Vow and kill him when the time came and that killing Dumbledore was the only sure way of saving Harry from the Death Eaters (and BTW, the other students from Fenrir who’d have been happy for an excuse to linger). The only question then is why did Snape make the Unbreakable Vow? Does he owe some binding obligation to the Malfoys or is Draco more important than we’ve ever been given reason to suppose?
Go Remus and Tonks! I’ve always supported that particular ship, too, and now it’s officially canon. Ron and Hermione? Same old dance, they fight, they bicker, they make up, but they still haven’t officially hooked up. And of course, the Ministry is being as stupid as ever, even with the new Prime Minister (who I really don’t like, by the way. In some ways, he’s even worse than Fudge. I started feeling kinda sorry for Fudge in the first chapter when he was talking with the Muggle PM. Almost.)
About Harry not coming back to Hogwarts, I find that idea very intriguing. But if the 7th book really is going to be the last one ever, it had better be longer than HPB, at least as long as OOTP. I don’t see any other way J.K.’s going to be able to wrap up everything. I mean, there are still four Horcruxes left to be found, not to mention Harry and Voldemort have to duke it out, with one (or both) dying.
Ooh, one last thing. About the fake Horcrux and the note, I think R.A.B is Regulus Black. Just speculation on my part, but the initials fit, don’t they? And Regulus did die long before Voldemort did (or will). I remember Remus mentioning something earlier in HPB about how Regulus only lasted a few days before old Voldie killed him. Maybe that’s why Voldemort offed him; he had to have known Regulus had betrayed him in some fashion or another.
Man, there’s going to be a ton of fanfiction once everyone’s read the book. There is a whole bunch of ideas just waiting to be explored from HPB now…
Rating: 
I just finished reading HP too! I think HBP was a little too dark then I would have perfered but of course it was going to get that way after Voldemort came back. I can’t believe Harry doesn’t fight Voldemort in this book. I guess the 7th is the one where the big show down beings.
Ugh, I totally DESPISE the whole Harry/Ginny thing. I don’t like how they are together. I was glad when he wanted to break up with her in the end, even if it was because he wanted to protect her. I kinda wanted Harry to end up alone, because I think that would have been a bit cooler. Plus, it seems as if Ginny grew up a whole lot since the 2nd book.
Ugh, Draco. I’m kind of disappointed in him. But then again, I feel sorry for him because he was kinda blackmailed into it. If he didn’t do it, then his parents would die. I thought he would surely die trying, but I didn’t think that he kill DUmbledore. He didn’t seem to have it in him.
I couldn’t believe Snape ended up being the traitor! I was upset, because I was a huge Snape fan, but now I know he can’t be trusted. I always wondered why Dumbledore trusted him so much. Could there be another reason? I don’t know, but I think Dumbledore put too much trust in him, and I still wonder why he gave Defense Against the Dark Arts position to Snape even after he didn’t want to tempt him with the Dark Arts and since he’s always been shot down from that position. I thought DUmbledore would also die at Voldemort’s hands. I kinda knew he would die eventually, but not by Snape.
I agree with you. I think there is more to it, but we don’t really know for sure. I couldn’t believe that Snape was the Half-Blood Prince. I always assumed it would be Harry’s mother, Lilly, because Slughorn always raved about how Lilly was so good at Potions.
Hmm, I wasn’t very happy about the whole Tonks/Remus thing. I definetely didn’t suspect it. It seemed like all of a sudden, the series focuses on their love lives and it’s pretty interesting. I guess I’m okay with the whole Tonks/Remus thing. As for ROn and Hermione. I was kind of mad at Ron for dropping Lavender so quick when all he wanted to do with her was kiss her. It’s obvious that Ron and Hermione are going to fall for each other. WEll, at least I think they will. I don’t know if I like the new Minister because he wasn’t mentioned a whole lot in the book. I was very please with the whole Fleur/Bill thing. I thought Fleur was going to dump Bill when he got attacked by the werewolf, but she has a good heart to still love Bill anyways. It proves she was marrying him because she truely loved him.
Exactly my thoughts on the 7th book. I was sure Harry was going to destroy at least on of the Horcruxes at the end of the HBP, but I was surprised when he didn’t. The 7th book is going to be pretty long, and I was surprised when Harry said he wasn’t going back to Hogwarts, I thought it was like a second home to him and he would rather be there than anywhere else.
Hmm, that’s very interesting about the whole Regulus thing. I never considered that. Maybe it was him, I don’t know. I can’t wait for the 7th book, althought it will probably be a couple of years before that’s out.
I absolutley agree on everything you said… especially the whole Regulus Black thing. After I re-read this part of the book I found it kind of obvious.
I agree. After reading those initials the only person who I could think of who had turned his back on Voldemort was Sirius’ brother. Snape’s name doesn’t fit and right now, I would like nothing more than to kill him.
I waited so long for Ginny to get with Harry that when they split, I was really upset. I understand why he did it, though. I wish he was going back to school next year, even if a lot of it was destroyed. Seven books for seven school years; it would only make sense if he stayed.
yea i thinks its regulus black, after all he is dead, and knows that he would die..
Great! So I was thinking Regulus as well, it has to be him, she would never set an entirely brand new character this late in the game, just expand and those which we’ve heard of. And he is definitely R.A.B. Can’t wait for the seventh!
RAB is definitely Regulus Black. If you remember the last book, when they were clearing out sirius’s house, they found a locket that noone could open, and threw it away. Chances are Kreacher rescued it and they’ll find it in his den, which is why Harry had to inherit Grimmauld Place.
As for the 6th Horcrux. I have heard suggestion that Harry is the 6th, accidentally created when Voldemort’s curse backfired. After the 4th book, i thought it might take the ultimate sacrifice (if you’ve seen a film called Dragonheart you’ll understand where i’m coming from in terms of magical bonds etc). However, after the prophecy in book 5, I wasn’t so sure, it seems like a one-or-other type deal. I reckon the final showdown is gonna involve them both dying but maybe Harry getting resurrected like Voldemort was? Only in a less evil way (i.e. without the blood of an enemy, forcibly taken, bone of father, flesh of servant, etc, etc). The prophecy in Book 5 seems to rule out HP dying properly, cos it suggests that one will remain, but I think it would be a good way (from JKR’s point of view) to finish the series cos she always stipulated she would write 7 books, and Harry dying would prevent people from pestering her to write prologues about his life after he’s saved the world.
If you were wondering why Snape made the unbreakable vow with Narcissa, it is definitely not cos he owes the Malfoys. Either he couldn’t blow his cover (the whole idea that him killing Dumbledore was pre-arranged in order to protect Harry, but keep Snape in with Voldy as a spy), or he is actually just the evil slimeball he always makes out to be.
I read the entire the book the day it came out and I was ready to burst about the ending. Of course, I couldn’t because my friends would have killed me for spoiling everything.
I agree with you on all accounts. I don’t think this book was as well-written as the others. I was reading the 4th one over and it was a lot better. I found the Half-Blood Prince to be a slight disappointment. It seemed more like a Fanfiction really.
Harry and Ginny? I really don’t see where that sprang up from. In the previous book, Harry was fine with Ginny dating someone else. Now, when he isn’t interested in Cho anymore, he suddenly has feelings for Ginny? I don’t know. I don’t think there’s enough substance in that relationship.
I can’t believe Dumbledore died! ;_; Like you, I always thought that if he would die, it would be by the hands of Voldemort. The way he was pathetically killed just doesn’t fit in my mind. As I continued reading, I always figured it was some kind of trick and that he would come back to life. But I guess with the funeral, JK Rowling was serious.
Wow. The last book will have to be gigantic to conclude everything. I’m not quite sure if that’s a good thing or not. Oh well. I look forward to reading it.
Ugh. I was so disgusted with the sixth book. My friend and I both agree that we think she was high when she wrote this book. I, myself, am also a diehard Ginny/Draco fan. I hate the idea of Harry and Ginny. Grr… And Dumbledore was my absolute favorite character and she just kills him off!!!!! And Ron and Hermione??? *rolls eyes* Plus, I knew almost automatically that Snape was the Half Blood Prince.
*sighs*