Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
Camilla Send a noteboard - 19/10/2010 01:07:59 AM
The Other Minister: I love, love, love this chapter. I think it is a clever way to present the recap and I love viewing all this from the view of the Prime Minister. The recounting of Fudge's first visit when he gave away the gerbil to try to forget about it makes me laugh every time. I love the Prime Minister's responses to everything. And Fudge is more likable here than in any other book in the series, IMHO. We're introduced to Scrimgeour, who apart from being quite brusque I like very much at this point, although this won't last. I love Fudge's line as he leaves that the other side can do magic too.
I do adore the gerbil moment. I wonder whether Fudge is likeable here because he doesn't have to keep up the pretence as much with another minister -- it is someone who has to deal with, well, if not similar things, at least things of a somewhat similar magnitude, and more importantly, he has no influence on Fudge's own position.
Spinner's End: I finally start to respect Narcissa here a little. I don't really understand her, whether she is a supporter of Voldemort's of her own volition or if she is simply following Lucius in the beginning until Voldemort goes after Draco, but she has gone all mamma bear now and I like that. I have no idea why Snape lives in his parent's old house considering how miserable he was there, but I love Snape in this chapter. I love how he is so kindly to Narcissa but lays into Bellatrix when she continues to interrupt the conversation. Part of me wishes I felt sorry for Wormtail, but I can't say that I do. I do feel sorry for the fox though, which is really kind of messed up when I think about it.
I suspect Snape just hasn't moved because he spends all his time at Hogwarts anyway, and he just needs somewhere to store his books (I sympathis with that). I agree about Narcissa as well. And about Snape's differing attitudes to the two sisters. And I agree about the fox. That was quite shocking.
Will and Won't: One of my favorite chapters of the series. Dumbledore messing with the Dursley's is awesome. I think now that he knows his days are numbered he feels a certain amount of freedom about calling things like he sees them. One of the defining aspects of Dumbledore's character is his focus on being polite at all times, while here he is still polite he is "instructing" them throughout this chapter and I think it's brilliant. I won't quote all the lines here, but his exchanges are full of wonderful one liners. I love the glasses bouncing off the Dursley's heads (and a subtle introduction to the fact that Dumbledore likes that mead for later in the book). And then he gets so serious. It really has a lot more gravity because we've been laughing our way through the situation until now. He really lets them have it with both barrels while remaining calm. No one has really called them out yet and it is beautiful. This is a defining Dumbledore chapter, and you really walk away with the impression of his power and the fact that he just gets things.
Yes, the first time I read the book I was glad Dumbledore came to pick up Harry, but it did not strike me how odd it was that he took the time to put them in their place. It is clear in retrospect, however, that he is getting things off his chest. It is a farewell speech of sorts. I should have seen the signs.
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
structured procrastinator
The Great Harry Potter Re-read: Book Six, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
18/10/2010 06:12:40 PM
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General comments on the book.
18/10/2010 06:14:10 PM
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Suggestions.
18/10/2010 06:18:46 PM
- 1545 Views
*cough*
09/11/2010 09:24:21 AM
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Chapters 1-3: The Other Minister, Spinner's End, Will and Won't.
18/10/2010 06:21:55 PM
- 1765 Views
Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
18/10/2010 06:25:12 PM
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Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
18/10/2010 06:55:06 PM
- 1770 Views
Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
19/10/2010 01:07:59 AM
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*spoilers for book 7* an assortment of characters
19/10/2010 01:01:35 AM
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Plotting and writing.
18/10/2010 06:27:40 PM
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*spoilers for book 7* focalisation and why I'l accept it this time, the power/powerless issue &stuff
19/10/2010 01:02:53 AM
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Re: *spoilers for book 7* focalisation and why I'l accept it this time, the power/powerless issue
20/10/2010 02:58:54 PM
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Re: *spoilers for book 7* focalisation and why I'l accept it this time, the power/powerless issue
20/10/2010 03:14:35 PM
- 1600 Views
Anything else? *NM*
18/10/2010 06:28:16 PM
- 748 Views
Dumbledore-centered.
19/10/2010 01:03:05 AM
- 1631 Views
Chapters 4-6: Horace Slughorn, An Excess of Phlegm, Draco's Detour. *NM*
20/10/2010 03:44:39 PM
- 900 Views
Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
20/10/2010 03:46:47 PM
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Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
20/10/2010 05:27:26 PM
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(Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
20/10/2010 09:25:20 PM
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Re: (Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
20/10/2010 09:46:08 PM
- 1633 Views
Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
20/10/2010 10:15:58 PM
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Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
20/10/2010 09:23:04 PM
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Re: Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
20/10/2010 09:56:28 PM
- 1522 Views
Re: Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
20/10/2010 10:17:23 PM
- 1691 Views
Anything else? *NM*
20/10/2010 03:48:07 PM
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So. Inferi are zombies aren't they? I just realised. Ick. Do they eat brains? *NM*
20/10/2010 09:24:03 PM
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I was kind of disappointed that Harry didn't remark on that fact. *NM*
22/10/2010 07:24:11 PM
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Chapters 7-9: Slug Club, Snape Victorious, The Half-Blood Prince *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:03 PM
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Characters *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:24 PM
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Harry, Romilda, Malfoy (in luuuve), Snape, Lavender Brown, McGonagall, Hermione and Slughorn.
22/10/2010 07:26:19 PM
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Love is in the air, evidently.
22/10/2010 07:54:35 PM
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Slytherin had been in need of new blood for a long time. (And assorted other comments.)
22/10/2010 10:34:49 PM
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Re: Slytherin had been in need of new blood for a long time. (And assorted other comments.)
25/10/2010 10:33:04 AM
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Plotting and writing. *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:37 PM
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Dumbledore, patronuses and the DADA job.
22/10/2010 07:27:23 PM
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Anything else? *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:50 PM
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I believe in Wrackspurts, too. And some questions.
22/10/2010 07:28:04 PM
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I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
22/10/2010 09:58:27 PM
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Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
23/10/2010 05:34:25 PM
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Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
25/10/2010 10:35:43 AM
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Chapters 10-12: The House of Gaunt, Hermione's Helping Hand, Silver and Opals. *NM*
25/10/2010 05:00:02 PM
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Characters: The Gaunts, the Trio, Hagrid, and many more. *NM*
25/10/2010 05:02:07 PM
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Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right).
25/10/2010 06:15:23 PM
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*lol*
25/10/2010 06:39:19 PM
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Re: Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right).
26/10/2010 09:23:09 AM
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Trelawny, Ogden, Gaunt, Ron, Hermione, Ron and Harry
25/10/2010 10:23:55 PM
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Plotting and writing.
25/10/2010 05:03:16 PM
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Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
25/10/2010 05:37:28 PM
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Re: Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
26/10/2010 09:46:47 AM
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Anything else? *NM*
25/10/2010 05:03:32 PM
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Dumbledore still sounds like Stephen Fry. And reflections on the nature of Potions class.
25/10/2010 05:11:24 PM
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It's like baking, I think.
25/10/2010 05:32:42 PM
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Yes, exactly like baking - and advanced baking involves experimenting, substituting, improvising.
25/10/2010 06:42:42 PM
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Also, Parseltongue - is Harry that thick, or is it a magic thing?
25/10/2010 05:18:41 PM
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I think it's a magic thing.
25/10/2010 05:34:09 PM
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It can be learned actually. Dumbledore implies he knows it and Ron uses it in book 7
25/10/2010 05:55:28 PM
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Re: It can be learned actually. Dumbledore implies he knows it and Ron uses it in book 7
27/10/2010 04:31:45 PM
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parseltongue
25/10/2010 10:24:46 PM
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Interesting how many of our remarks are along similar lines. *NM*
25/10/2010 10:27:30 PM
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Chapters 13-15: The Secret Riddle, Felix Felicis, The Unbreakable Vow *NM*
27/10/2010 04:16:28 PM
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Characters: The Trio, Ginny, Tom Riddle, Draco,... *NM*
27/10/2010 04:17:12 PM
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Dumbledore, Voldemort, Ron & Hermione, Harry, Ginny, Luna
27/10/2010 10:31:39 PM
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My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
29/10/2010 01:47:20 PM
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Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
29/10/2010 09:06:16 PM
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Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
29/10/2010 11:02:15 PM
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Plotting and writing. *NM*
27/10/2010 04:17:26 PM
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plot and writing.
27/10/2010 10:30:14 PM
- 1541 Views
Anything else? *NM*
27/10/2010 04:17:42 PM
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Re: Anything else?
27/10/2010 10:30:55 PM
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I wonder if that's actually true, though.
28/10/2010 10:39:20 AM
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Re: I wonder if that's actually true, though.
28/10/2010 10:44:22 AM
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Crabbe and Goyle show us what happens when you fail (most of? all of?) your OWLs.
29/10/2010 02:10:39 PM
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Chapters 16-18: A Very Frosty Christmas, A Sluggish Memory, Birthday Surprises *NM*
29/10/2010 05:40:39 PM
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Characters: The Trio, Fleur, Scrimgeour, Percy, Remus, Slughorn,... *NM*
29/10/2010 05:43:02 PM
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Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour
29/10/2010 08:51:58 PM
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Re: Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour
02/11/2010 06:23:04 PM
- 1553 Views
Anything else? *NM*
29/10/2010 05:44:04 PM
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Chapters 19-21: Elf Tails, Lord Voldemort's Requests, The Unknowable Room *NM*
01/11/2010 02:00:22 PM
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Characters: The Trio, the elves, Draco, Dumbledore,... *NM*
01/11/2010 02:00:56 PM
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the twins, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Voldemort, Draco and Tonks
01/11/2010 02:08:32 PM
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Anything else? *NM*
01/11/2010 02:01:27 PM
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I want to hear the joke about the hag, the Healer and the Mimbulus mimbletonia. *NM*
01/11/2010 02:10:11 PM
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Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
03/11/2010 09:52:12 PM
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Re: Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
03/11/2010 09:54:05 PM
- 1865 Views
Re: Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
08/11/2010 01:54:59 PM
- 1564 Views
Chapters 22-24: After the Burial, Horcruxes, Sectumsempra
03/11/2010 09:50:17 PM
- 1801 Views
Characters. *NM*
03/11/2010 09:50:33 PM
- 863 Views
Malfoy, Ron & Hermione, Slughorn, Voldemort, Snape and Ginny.
04/11/2010 12:12:57 AM
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Plotting and writing. *NM*
03/11/2010 09:50:50 PM
- 751 Views
Harry wrong again, house elves, horcruxes, free will, well hidden clues and some irony *DH spoiler*
03/11/2010 10:35:20 PM
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Re: Stuff.
04/11/2010 04:28:04 AM
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Re: Stuff. *spoilers for book 7*
04/11/2010 09:10:19 AM
- 1586 Views
This "we'll see in book seven" thing is getting old, but still that's what I have to say here...
04/11/2010 01:23:01 PM
- 1427 Views
Chapters 25-27: The Seer Overheard, The Cave, The Lightning-Struck Tower
05/11/2010 05:37:42 PM
- 1414 Views
Characters: Harry, Trelawney, Dumbledore, Draco, Snape. And maybe some other people. *NM*
05/11/2010 05:38:19 PM
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Romilda, Snape, Trelawny, Draco, Dumbledore, Voldemort, Harry *spoilers book 7*
05/11/2010 07:34:01 PM
- 1512 Views
Anything else? *NM*
05/11/2010 05:39:43 PM
- 763 Views
I like how good magic is not flashy. Also, a Tolkien thing
05/11/2010 07:55:27 PM
- 1505 Views
I didn't take the comparison as far, but the gate thing did remind me of Moria, yes. (DH spoilers)
05/11/2010 10:03:16 PM
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Chapters 28-30: Flight of the Prince, The Phoenix Lament, The White Tomb. *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:12 PM
- 869 Views
Characters. *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:25 PM
- 701 Views
Snape, Lupin, Hermione & Ron, the Order, Mrs Weasley & Fleur, Luna & Neville, Scrimgeour, Ginny *DH*
09/11/2010 02:20:01 PM
- 1431 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:40 PM
- 835 Views
Spoilers.
09/11/2010 02:26:38 PM
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Re: Spoilers.
09/11/2010 04:49:06 PM
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I'm assuming not even the Ministry knows 100% what she did.
13/11/2010 12:26:14 AM
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Very true.
15/11/2010 01:48:36 PM
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Not much, no, but there's one fairly crucial mention.
15/11/2010 04:37:23 PM
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With my keen attention to detail, I somehow missed that. Another good catch!
15/11/2010 09:36:37 PM
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Anything else? *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:53 PM
- 714 Views
We did the Harry Potter marathon thing on Sunday
09/11/2010 02:28:08 PM
- 1565 Views
This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies.
09/11/2010 04:34:33 PM
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Re: This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies.
09/11/2010 04:36:29 PM
- 1542 Views
I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
15/11/2010 04:45:48 PM
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Re: I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
15/11/2010 04:50:57 PM
- 1506 Views