Slughorn...while he is the kind of person I detest in real life I find Slughorn oddly charming even when he is quite clearly only out for himself. I think he is the one who gives Harry the most information about Lily he's ever had. Well, until book 7, but definitely up to this point. Maybe I like Slughorn because he is clever. He is quick thinking and demonstrates it here in more than one way. Maybe I find it understandable that he would want to lay low, just not noble like most of our heroes in the series are. The musing can continue later I suppose.
He really incarnates the spirit of Slytherin, in a way. Ambitious, manipulative, preferring to pull the strings from the shadows instead of taking risks in the limelight. But unlike nearly everybody else in Slytherin (which is a big mistake on Rowling's part imho, but we'll get to that in due time, end of book seven), he's not on the evil side. He evidently has some remains of prejudice against Muggleborns, but isn't really set against them - kind of like how older people back in the day had this slightly dubious yet not really malevolently racist view of black people.
What's remarkable is that he has been on the run for a year, he says. So he must have expected Voldemort would try to recruit him long before Voldemort gave up his secrecy... interesting.
That is a very good point. So he must have taken on Dumbledore's warnings as soon as he made them.
Dumbledore...I feel a little conflicted about his dealing with Slughorn. We are clearly witnessing Dumbledore at his most manipulative, but I don't know what else he is to have done. He needs Slughorn close for a variety of reasons and the decision is ultimately left to Slughorn...I don't know. I like him a lot better in his broom closet conversation with Harry.
Manipulative isn't necessarily evil. Dumbledore plays dirty, perhaps, but Slughorn is old and wise enough to know he's being played, and takes the bait anyway. The choice is his. So I don't think Dumbledore is to blame here.
Agreed.
I wind up feeling sorry for Fleur. She's trying really hard. I think I feel sorry for her because I see some of myself in her actions. She tries really hard and then she puts her foot in her mouth. Like when she says there is nothing really to do if you don't like cooking. Totally true, and there is no way Mrs Weasley is sharing that responsibility, but still not the right thing to say here.
I don't know about trying really hard. The female Weasleys (which might as well include Hermione) are too hard on her, yes, but it's not as if she's entirely innocent in the matter. Fleur *is* arrogant, but then she has every reason to be, and she has a good heart. I imagine her attitude towards Bill's family isn't meant to be as rude as it ends up coming across, but she probably could have done more effort if she had bothered.
I'm not sure if we're really meant to infer here that Mrs. Weasley, Ginny and Hermione are really wrong with their initial attitude. There will be that reconciliation at the end of the book, but that isn't really presented as them being proven wrong, more as Fleur showing an unexpected side. Which isn't actually unexpected to the readers which remember her from book four. But yes, Harry is the one who has the best and most justified attitude towards her (no wonder, he's the one who knows her best apart from Bill).
Narcissa. I take it back, she is awful. Whatever devotion to her son she expresses she is clearly in line with at least some of Voldemort's aims with her reaction to Hermione. I'm thinking Draco never really stood a chance to be a decent human being.
She's a bigot, yes, certainly. But personally I'm not losing all sympathy for her here. Snape's oath seems to have lessened her worries about Draco greatly, but she still must be fearing for him, while he is clearly still quite confident at this point about it, and trying to escape her protectiveness. Someone as proud as Narcissa is always going to show her worst side in a confrontation like that one, she has a reputation to uphold, and of course Harry does hit her rather hard with the Lucius comments, probably harder than he realizes because he doesn't know about her fears Voldemort might kill or otherwise punish Lucius for his failure.
Good point.
I love our introduction to Fred and George's shop. They really are good businessmen and talented wizards even though we've been led to believe in the early books that they were screw ups.
It's interesting that Molly never brings up the matter of Harry having given them the initial loan, which Ron supposedly told her in a letter during book five. And she seems to have come to terms with it. It is an awesome scene ("Mr. Weasley and Mr. Weasley" is great), but I can't agree we've been led to believe that they were screw ups. Every time we've seen them, or very nearly, they were confident, capable and in control of the situation.
I had forgotten she knew. Are you sure he told her?
And I agree about the twins.
Draco. Every time I read this chapter I'm reminded of how we've been so misled. Harry is right about Draco for the entire book. He gets the specifics wrong sometimes, but he knows this trip is important and doesn't let it go. Harry has been wrong so many times we dismiss it like everyone in the book does but he is so, so very right.
Yeah, Harry is like a broken clock that way.

Yes.
*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
- 2730 Views
General comments on the book.
18/10/2010 06:14:10 PM
- 1582 Views
Suggestions.
18/10/2010 06:18:46 PM
- 1623 Views
*cough*
09/11/2010 09:24:21 AM
- 1500 Views
Chapters 1-3: The Other Minister, Spinner's End, Will and Won't.
18/10/2010 06:21:55 PM
- 1842 Views
Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
18/10/2010 06:25:12 PM
- 1847 Views
Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
18/10/2010 06:55:06 PM
- 1848 Views
Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
19/10/2010 01:07:59 AM
- 1863 Views
*spoilers for book 7* an assortment of characters
19/10/2010 01:01:35 AM
- 1802 Views
Plotting and writing.
18/10/2010 06:27:40 PM
- 1343 Views
*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
- 1614 Views
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
- 1579 Views
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
- 1677 Views
Anything else? *NM*
18/10/2010 06:28:16 PM
- 786 Views
Dumbledore-centered.
19/10/2010 01:03:05 AM
- 1720 Views
Chapters 4-6: Horace Slughorn, An Excess of Phlegm, Draco's Detour. *NM*
20/10/2010 03:44:39 PM
- 935 Views
Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
20/10/2010 03:46:47 PM
- 1760 Views
Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
20/10/2010 05:27:26 PM
- 1763 Views
(Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
20/10/2010 09:25:20 PM
- 1796 Views
Re: (Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
20/10/2010 09:46:08 PM
- 1718 Views
Re: (Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
20/10/2010 10:20:28 PM
- 1705 Views
Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
20/10/2010 10:15:58 PM
- 1736 Views
Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
20/10/2010 09:23:04 PM
- 1618 Views
Re: Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
20/10/2010 09:56:28 PM
- 1602 Views
Re: Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
20/10/2010 10:17:23 PM
- 1780 Views
Anything else? *NM*
20/10/2010 03:48:07 PM
- 777 Views
So. Inferi are zombies aren't they? I just realised. Ick. Do they eat brains? *NM*
20/10/2010 09:24:03 PM
- 844 Views
I was kind of disappointed that Harry didn't remark on that fact.
*NM*
22/10/2010 07:24:11 PM
- 886 Views

Chapters 7-9: Slug Club, Snape Victorious, The Half-Blood Prince *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:03 PM
- 929 Views
Characters *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:24 PM
- 873 Views
Harry, Romilda, Malfoy (in luuuve), Snape, Lavender Brown, McGonagall, Hermione and Slughorn.
22/10/2010 07:26:19 PM
- 1758 Views
Love is in the air, evidently.
22/10/2010 07:54:35 PM
- 1697 Views
Slytherin had been in need of new blood for a long time. (And assorted other comments.)
22/10/2010 10:34:49 PM
- 1713 Views
Re: Slytherin had been in need of new blood for a long time. (And assorted other comments.)
25/10/2010 10:33:04 AM
- 1426 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:37 PM
- 875 Views
Dumbledore, patronuses and the DADA job.
22/10/2010 07:27:23 PM
- 1641 Views
Anything else? *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:50 PM
- 895 Views
I believe in Wrackspurts, too. And some questions.
22/10/2010 07:28:04 PM
- 1517 Views
I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
22/10/2010 09:58:27 PM
- 1606 Views
Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
23/10/2010 05:34:25 PM
- 1611 Views
Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
25/10/2010 10:35:43 AM
- 1651 Views
Chapters 10-12: The House of Gaunt, Hermione's Helping Hand, Silver and Opals. *NM*
25/10/2010 05:00:02 PM
- 930 Views
Characters: The Gaunts, the Trio, Hagrid, and many more. *NM*
25/10/2010 05:02:07 PM
- 900 Views
Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right).
25/10/2010 06:15:23 PM
- 1789 Views
*lol*
25/10/2010 06:39:19 PM
- 1649 Views
Re: Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right).
26/10/2010 09:23:09 AM
- 1567 Views
Trelawny, Ogden, Gaunt, Ron, Hermione, Ron and Harry
25/10/2010 10:23:55 PM
- 1585 Views
Plotting and writing.
25/10/2010 05:03:16 PM
- 1648 Views
Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
25/10/2010 05:37:28 PM
- 1686 Views
Re: Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
26/10/2010 09:46:47 AM
- 1584 Views
Anything else? *NM*
25/10/2010 05:03:32 PM
- 720 Views
Dumbledore still sounds like Stephen Fry. And reflections on the nature of Potions class.
25/10/2010 05:11:24 PM
- 1500 Views
It's like baking, I think.
25/10/2010 05:32:42 PM
- 1634 Views
Yes, exactly like baking - and advanced baking involves experimenting, substituting, improvising.
25/10/2010 06:42:42 PM
- 1686 Views
Also, Parseltongue - is Harry that thick, or is it a magic thing?
25/10/2010 05:18:41 PM
- 1616 Views
I think it's a magic thing.
25/10/2010 05:34:09 PM
- 1604 Views
It can be learned actually. Dumbledore implies he knows it and Ron uses it in book 7
25/10/2010 05:55:28 PM
- 1568 Views
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
- 1599 Views
parseltongue
25/10/2010 10:24:46 PM
- 1718 Views
Interesting how many of our remarks are along similar lines.
*NM*
25/10/2010 10:27:30 PM
- 761 Views

Chapters 13-15: The Secret Riddle, Felix Felicis, The Unbreakable Vow *NM*
27/10/2010 04:16:28 PM
- 889 Views
Characters: The Trio, Ginny, Tom Riddle, Draco,... *NM*
27/10/2010 04:17:12 PM
- 875 Views
Dumbledore, Voldemort, Ron & Hermione, Harry, Ginny, Luna
27/10/2010 10:31:39 PM
- 1587 Views
My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
29/10/2010 01:47:20 PM
- 1562 Views
Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
29/10/2010 09:06:16 PM
- 1555 Views
Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
29/10/2010 11:02:15 PM
- 1613 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
27/10/2010 04:17:26 PM
- 691 Views
plot and writing.
27/10/2010 10:30:14 PM
- 1615 Views
Anything else? *NM*
27/10/2010 04:17:42 PM
- 725 Views
Re: Anything else?
27/10/2010 10:30:55 PM
- 1749 Views
I wonder if that's actually true, though.
28/10/2010 10:39:20 AM
- 1740 Views
Re: I wonder if that's actually true, though.
28/10/2010 10:44:22 AM
- 1603 Views
Crabbe and Goyle show us what happens when you fail (most of? all of?) your OWLs.
29/10/2010 02:10:39 PM
- 1730 Views
Chapters 16-18: A Very Frosty Christmas, A Sluggish Memory, Birthday Surprises *NM*
29/10/2010 05:40:39 PM
- 862 Views
Characters: The Trio, Fleur, Scrimgeour, Percy, Remus, Slughorn,... *NM*
29/10/2010 05:43:02 PM
- 950 Views
Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour
29/10/2010 08:51:58 PM
- 1746 Views
Re: Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour
02/11/2010 06:23:04 PM
- 1635 Views
Anything else? *NM*
29/10/2010 05:44:04 PM
- 759 Views
Chapters 19-21: Elf Tails, Lord Voldemort's Requests, The Unknowable Room *NM*
01/11/2010 02:00:22 PM
- 655 Views
Characters: The Trio, the elves, Draco, Dumbledore,... *NM*
01/11/2010 02:00:56 PM
- 981 Views
the twins, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Voldemort, Draco and Tonks
01/11/2010 02:08:32 PM
- 1477 Views
Anything else? *NM*
01/11/2010 02:01:27 PM
- 779 Views
I want to hear the joke about the hag, the Healer and the Mimbulus mimbletonia. *NM*
01/11/2010 02:10:11 PM
- 1361 Views
Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
03/11/2010 09:52:12 PM
- 1674 Views
Re: Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
03/11/2010 09:54:05 PM
- 1956 Views
Re: Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
08/11/2010 01:54:59 PM
- 1609 Views
Chapters 22-24: After the Burial, Horcruxes, Sectumsempra
03/11/2010 09:50:17 PM
- 1883 Views
Characters. *NM*
03/11/2010 09:50:33 PM
- 902 Views
Malfoy, Ron & Hermione, Slughorn, Voldemort, Snape and Ginny.
04/11/2010 12:12:57 AM
- 1642 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
03/11/2010 09:50:50 PM
- 794 Views
Harry wrong again, house elves, horcruxes, free will, well hidden clues and some irony *DH spoiler*
03/11/2010 10:35:20 PM
- 1606 Views
Re: Stuff.
04/11/2010 04:28:04 AM
- 1661 Views
Re: Stuff. *spoilers for book 7*
04/11/2010 09:10:19 AM
- 1668 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
- 1505 Views

Chapters 25-27: The Seer Overheard, The Cave, The Lightning-Struck Tower
05/11/2010 05:37:42 PM
- 1497 Views
Characters: Harry, Trelawney, Dumbledore, Draco, Snape. And maybe some other people. *NM*
05/11/2010 05:38:19 PM
- 767 Views
Romilda, Snape, Trelawny, Draco, Dumbledore, Voldemort, Harry *spoilers book 7*
05/11/2010 07:34:01 PM
- 1599 Views
Anything else? *NM*
05/11/2010 05:39:43 PM
- 803 Views
I like how good magic is not flashy. Also, a Tolkien thing
05/11/2010 07:55:27 PM
- 1588 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
- 1815 Views
Chapters 28-30: Flight of the Prince, The Phoenix Lament, The White Tomb. *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:12 PM
- 903 Views
Characters. *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:25 PM
- 740 Views
Snape, Lupin, Hermione & Ron, the Order, Mrs Weasley & Fleur, Luna & Neville, Scrimgeour, Ginny *DH*
09/11/2010 02:20:01 PM
- 1520 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:40 PM
- 869 Views
Spoilers.
09/11/2010 02:26:38 PM
- 1519 Views
Re: Spoilers.
09/11/2010 04:49:06 PM
- 1572 Views
I'm assuming not even the Ministry knows 100% what she did.
13/11/2010 12:26:14 AM
- 1670 Views
Very true.
15/11/2010 01:48:36 PM
- 1659 Views
Not much, no, but there's one fairly crucial mention.
15/11/2010 04:37:23 PM
- 1628 Views
With my keen attention to detail, I somehow missed that.
Another good catch!
15/11/2010 09:36:37 PM
- 1800 Views

Anything else? *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:53 PM
- 750 Views
We did the Harry Potter marathon thing on Sunday
09/11/2010 02:28:08 PM
- 1643 Views
This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies.
09/11/2010 04:34:33 PM
- 1663 Views
Re: This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies.
09/11/2010 04:36:29 PM
- 1643 Views
I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
15/11/2010 04:45:48 PM
- 1755 Views
Re: I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
15/11/2010 04:50:57 PM
- 1572 Views