Hmmm, I just finished it. That was a lot like a teen summer movie, with the whole Harry and Ginny thing . That was out of the blue. Also, most depressing Harry Potter book to date. Dumbledore does indeed die .

WTF??? The Spoiler tags worked backwards. They showed "snape kills dumbledore", but when i moved the mouse cursor over it it went blank...
Wish I hadn't seen that.

hmm, I kind of disagree, seeing as how the whole harry and Ginny thing wasn't really the main focus. It was actually a relatively small part of the book.

I loved the humor in first half of it, but I ended up bawling at the end, definitely the most depressing

You shouldn't have been in this thread. :p

This book had some of the funniest moments out of the series. IE "There's no need to call me sir, Professor," "Roonil Wazlib," etc.

I opened the book saturday evening and finished it sunday.

As for Roonil Wazlib - Ron wrote that on his book with a spell-checking quill. This quill was produced by Fred and George; naturally everything written with that quill would spontanously change to terribly incorrect spellings at the most appropriate time. Some of JK Rowlings genius shows in that; she actually shows that happening before Snape reads the name inside the potions book harry pretends is his own.

Snape might of killed Dumbledore, but the jury is still out on him. He probably didn't know what Draco's task was when he swore to help him.

It is quite clear to me that Snape is still "good". The argument he had with Dumbledore, the hesitation when he makes the unbreakable vow, the look on his face when he says the curse, his reaction to being called a coward, the fact that Dumbledore didn't fear death and would never plead for his life, all point to this.

Well I started the book at 8:00 Sunday night, and finished it at 2:15, taking roughly about 4 1/2 hours in all after some ice cream and Family Guy. I think it needs a few more reads, but I did enjoy it quite a bit. Much like the previous novels, it gains momentum as the plot unravels, making it a difficult book to put down. Harry was not as whiny in this book, which was GREATLY appreciated. The hints and threads that have been developing throughout the series are comning to fruition. However, Rowlings introduced a new twist involving Voldemort that seemed to suggest she is running out of ideas, but book 7 will reveal whether that is the case.

Warlord; I agree completly. Unfortunatly none of the characters know any of that, or are likely to give Snape the chance to explain. Snape is toast, either way. Hopefully he will atleast have the chance to make peace with the memory of James Potter before Harry blasts his ***.

This actually felt like one of the slower books so far. It doesn't have nearly as much action as we got in books four and five. I suppose that's because Rowling has to finish it all in the next one, so she had a lot to set up in this one. Calm before the storm and all that.
I'm terribly dissapointed that Ron and Hermi-ninny still havn't gotten together. It's obvious to everyone else in the story, and all the readers, that they have the hots for each other.
Harry and Ginny was surprising, but if you look back at the series so far you can see that it was probably planned from the getgo.

I definately think Snape is/was still loyal to Dumbledore, but now he has no choice but to go to Voldemort, who I'm sure will reward him greatly.

In Azkaban, Sirius said he'd rather die than betray his friends. I wonder if JKR will bring that back up, considering Snape did the opposite: betraying Dumbledore so the Unbreakable Oath wouldn't kill him.

Has anyone any ideas who this R.A.B. character could be? I'm thinking it's that relative of Sirius' that was mentioned in book 5, I think.

RAB - Hrm. Sirius had a brother who joined with Voldermort. His name was 'Regelus'. So, Regelus A Black does indeed fit. I can't find anything about Regelus' middle name, so... We'll see.

My collegue just told me that Regelus is dead. I've got to read the books again.

Regelus Black joined Voldemort and then was killed by Voldemort when he tried to leave the death eaters. It makes sense that he knew that he'd die if he left the death eaters, so he stole the horcrux as a last effort to help out the side against Voldy.

There are a bunch of theories going around that Harry himself is a horcrux. o_O

Still, it kind of touched me more than any other part in the book... I'm not sure why... O_o

I thought this, too. But it doesn't work together with the prophecy.

the SCAAAAAAAAAR, it burns afterall!

So Harry will have to kill himself to kill Voldemort. Mwahaha.

I liked it too, I just don't think it made it like a teen movie. Though I would have to say that the most touching part of the book was Dumbledore's reaction to Harry saying that he was "Dumbledore's man through and through"

And to be honest, I don't really think that Snape is still good. It's definitely possible, especially given the Unbreakable Vow and Dumbledore's trust in him (the man isn't stupid), but I still somehow disagree. Did it occur to anyone that Snape's Occlumency lessons in book 5 were actually doing more harm than good? it's hinted at once or twice. And then there's the fact that Snape had a look of utmost revulsion when he killed Dumbledore. And also the fact that anyone else in Dumbledore's service would have died in Snape's position rather than kill him. He was never really "part" of the staff, not like most of the teachers were in any case, and I can see him going over to the "Dark Lord" after years of being bullied by James Potter, who also happened to be very close to Dumbledore. I may have to think on this a little more though

I think Draco will somehow end up helping Harry in some way, (possibly even putting their old animosity to rest) because it's clear that he's not really "bad" (and also that Voldemort will kill him) And I tihnk Harry or someone close to him will end up killing Snape.

Yeah, the "Dumbledore's man" part brought a tear to my eye. I was also touched by the part with Fleur and Bill, when she's like "What do I care how he looks? I am good enough looking for the both of us, I theenk! All these scars show is zat my husband is brave! And I shall do that!"
Fleur was annoying throughout the rest of the series, but that moment just made her character.

Anyway, about Snape: if you were killing someone you hated, wouldn't you have a look of triumph on your face? If you were being forced to kill your friend and ally, wouldn't you be upset, angry, and revulsed?

He dies a few days after leaving Mister Voldemort. He possibly died destroying the horcrux a few days after discovering it's whereabouts.

I think I liked it more than OOTP, but I still have to say 3 and 4 together are still so damn ace. Anyhow, can't wait for the seventh one :/

It's like ESB! It ends on a question!

This was the most touching thing for me:




It's subtle, but amazingly touching for me. It shows that at that point, Dumbledore stops being the wizard to look to for safety, and now Harry is the one hope has to be placed in.

Wormtail still has a part to play in all this... Dumbledore said in book 3 that Harry saved is life, and Voldemort would not want someone in his service who was indebted to his enemy. So We'll see when Pettigrew finally repays Harry...

[QUOTE=Vincent Valentine]It's subtle, but amazingly touching for me.[/QUOTE]

You call that subtle? :p

Someone should synopsisize what happens in the book for me. (Who the half-blood prince is/what's his deal, what happens with Snope, etc.)

You know, if I had really wanted to.. I could have ganked one of the books from K-marts back room, and read it.. We got them like three days early.

I should have.

Then spoiled it for everyone.

Doing.

OK SPOILERS... dont read this post if... yea.

Basically when the book starts you find out Fudge was sacked and replaced by a guy named Scrimgeour, who used to be the head of the Auror's office and was more appropriate to lead the war on Voldemort.

Then in the next chapter, Bellatrix and Narcissa (Malfoy's mom) visit Snape at his "summer home" and we only find out that Voldemort has given Draco a difficult task that he will probably die doing, so Narcissa begs Snape to help Draco and they persuade him to make an "unbreakable vow" to help him.

Then Dumbledore goes to pick up Harry from the Dursleys, and he gets out of that house faster than he has in the previous books. They go to try and talk Slughorn, a retired teacher in hiding from Voldemort, to come out of retirement and teach at Hogwarts again. There is a surprise though... you are meant to think he will teach defense against the dark arts, but he actually teaches potions, and Snape gets the DADA class he has longed to teach.

So then the book gets underway in its usual fasion, and because Slughorn is teaching potions now, Harry is allowed to take it, despite getting an "e" on his OWL exam, allowing him to continue his persuit of being an Auror. On the first day of potions, Harry did not have his own book since he did not buy one from Diagon Alley, figuring he wouldnt need a potions book because Snape was supposed to teach. So he gets a loaner book for a few days, and this book happens to have all kinds of tricks and shortcuts and new spells written in it, done so by someone calling himself the "Half Blood Prince". Because of the helpful hints in the book, he wins a bottle of Felix Felicis, a potion that causes very good luck, on the first day of class.

Oh yea, and Harry is made Quidditch captain.. thought I'd throw that in there quick.

So throughout the book Harry suspects Malfoy is up to something, which he is, but no one really listens to Harry, thinking Malfoy isnt clever enough to do any harm. Harry is also given private lessons by Dumbledore throughout the book, each lesson a trip into a memory in the pensieve, so that Harry can learn more about Voldemorts history. His mother was a raggedy type of witch who was oppressed by her father. She used love potions on a boy named Tom Riddle to make him fall in love with her, and eventually they had a child, the baby Voldemort. She stopped using love potions thinking Tom would really love her now, but he didnt and he abandoned her to go back to his parents house. She died sometime after Vodlemort was born and he was raised in an orphanage. When he got older he sought revenge on his family and started to delve into evil.

One task set for Harry was to get a memory from Slughorn concerning Voldemort, which Slughorn would not give up easily. Harry uses some Felix Felicis to help Harry luck his way into getting the memory from Slughorn. It turns out Slughorn had given the 16 or 17 year old Tom Riddle some information about Horcruxes. Horcruxes are basically objects or animals that someone as evil as Voldemort has "stashed" a peice of their soul inside of, in order to try and remain immortal. It is finally revealed how Voldemort survived the night he attacked Harry, and it is also revealed what they must do to destory Voldemort forever. They must destory the 6 Horcruxes, and then destroy Voldemort. They have already destroyed 2, one was Riddle's diary from Book 2, and another was a ring that Dumbledore destroyed sometime before the book started, badly injuring Dumbledore's hand. And so now we know there are 4 left. Dumbledore promises Harry that Harry can come along to destroy the next Horcrux they find.

So the day comes when Dumbledore finds the location of another Horcrux, and it is not a day to be forgotten. Harry knows if Dumbledore leaves the school, it will be vulnerable to attack, so he leaves the Marauders Map and whats left of his Felix potion to Ron, Hermione, and Ginny (who he is going out with at this point) and tells them to keep an eye on the map, to watch out for Malfoy and Snape, and drink the Felix if anything bad happens.

Harry and Dumbledore go to get the Horcrux, and they succeed, but in doing so, Dumbledore is forced to drink a potion that weakens him drastically.. but he is glad to do it to destroy a peice of Voldemort's soul. Harry and Dumbledore apparate back to Hogsmeade (Harry had to do the apparating, for the first time ever, and is successful), but they find that the Dark Mark has been set on the castle. Harry and Dumbledore fly to where the Dark Mark was set, atop the Astronamy tower, and Harry has his invisibility cloak on, Dumbledore's orders. They are about to open the door into the school when they hear someone behind it. Dumbledore immediatly uses a freezing charm on Harry, in order to protect him, I guess, under the invisibility cloak. Because Dumbledore did this, it left him vulnerable to a Disarming hex that Malfoy used as he opened the door. Dumbledore is disarmed and weakened, and is at Malfoy's mercy, because Harry is still frozen.

It turns out Malfoy didnt have the guts to kill Dumbledore himself, even after several Death Eaters arrived and encouraged him to do it. A short while after, Snape comes up the stairs, which have been hexed to allow no one without a Dark Mark to pass. Snape sees the situation, sees Dumbledore in such a vulnerable position, and Malfoys inability to finish his task, and the fact that Snape is a traitor is revealed. He uses the Avada Kedavra curse on Dumbledore, and Dumbledore's body falls from the Astronomy tower (this kind of reminded me of the Mace Windu death scene, with Palpy lightning-ing him from a high building).

Because Dumbledore is now dead, Harry is unfrozen, and chases after Snape and Malfoy, trying to catch them before they can get off the Hogwarts grounds so that they can Disapparate. Harry eventually catches up to Snape, and tries to use one of the hexes he found in his Potions book. Snape says something like "How dare you try to use that hex on me, I invented it! I am the Half Blood Prince!" And the identity is revealed. Snape and Malfoy get away of course, and during the conclusion Hermione discovers that Snapes mothers maiden name was Prince, and Snapes father was a muggle... therfore Snape was a half-blood Prince (it was not a title of royalty).

So basically McGonagall becomes Headmistress (for now at least... who knows?) and Harry is deciding if he wants to go back to Hogwarts, or start a search for Voldemort's Horcruxes. By the end of the book it appears that he will not go back to Hogwarts, but I am sure he will change his mind in the beginning of the next book.

Thats about all I can think of. If I've missed any key elements, then fill in the blanks. And yes, I was VERY bored when I wrote this, and I just finished the book today, so its still fresh in my mind. I kept thinking while reading the book "ok Snape cant REALLY be a traitor to Dumbledore...." but then he goes and murders him.... oh well. Oh yea Ron finally gets snogged (kissed) by Lavender Brown... some girl I have no idea what she looks like but has been in every book so far. Surely she's no Emma Watson though... :em321:

[edit] stupid "quote in reply" button moved from the top to the bottom of the post... meh

ZOMG huge post

OMFG LEIK SPOILERS!!!!

(Yeah.. thanks. :p I'm vaguely interesting in the plotline, but not enough to read all the books.)

Anyone know about differences in the British and American versions this time around?

I thought it was cool that Harry wasn't able to defeat Snape because Snape could read his mind and predict his attacks. Reminded me of Psycho Mantis from MGS.

[QUOTE=The Last True Evil]I thought it was cool that Harry wasn't able to defeat Snape because Snape could read his mind and predict his attacks. Reminded me of Psycho Mantis from MGS.[/QUOTE]

So Harry should just plug the controller in the other port?

If only Colonel Dumbledore had been alive to tell him...

I somewhat enjoyed the book, but it's definitly no longer a "fantasy" series. A lot more along the lines of drama, or soap opera - it seems like for the past few books the author has just been trying to come up with the most ridiculous plot twists.

This book especially hardly focused on magic and all things magical - it also seemed like nothing happened in the entire first half of the book. Most of it was just drama with the now numerous love-plots.

http://pottercrash.ytmnd.com/

Language warning.

Rob, you lose. Already posted :p

This one is still better:

SPOILER - Book 6 will be ruined if you read this!!!!!!!!!11

http://hankspotter.ytmnd.com/

SPOILER - Book 6 will be ruined if you read this!!!!!!!!!11

(as if you needed me to tell you - :p )