Malfoy: he is showing the strain. And we know Harry is wrong that the mission is going badly. The paleness and thinness are therefore signs that he is not happy about the mission progressing as planned. The swagger and self-assurance is gone, not because he is failing, but probably because the horror of what he has to do is getting to him. This is confirmed, of course, in the bathroom scene.
Agreed. There were indications before that Malfoy wasn't entirely as Harry saw him, but these few paragraphs here completely alter our view of his character (well, okay, not ours because we knew it was coming, but that of the new reader). Draco's reaction mirrors that of his mother early in the book in terms of lashing out to hide his pain from outsiders, but there are limits to his self-control so he can't do so coldly and calmly as no doubt he'd like to do. And it's tempting to see the influence of aunt Bellatrix - who he must have been distancing himself from over the course of the year as he starts to realize he's really not cut out to be a DE - resurface in his attempted use of the Cruciatus.
Indeed.
What's interesting is that Draco mentions that "unless I do it soon, he says he'll kill me". That's even worse than what Narcissa had been fearing early on in the book - which was that Draco would die trying, one supposes by the hand of Dumbledore (which also makes one wonder just how badly Narcissa knows Dumbledore, but I digress). It's also a bizarre kind of threat, something that as far as I'm aware we don't see Voldemort telling anyone else. It would have made far more sense if he'd said "unless I do it soon, he'll kill my father", but no. Strange.
Yes, I was wondering about that, too.
And on the topic of the Cruciatus, it does make psychological sense in the scene, but still in a way it's Rowling letting Harry off easy. He had been intending to use Sectumsempra on an "enemy" who annoyed or irritated him, which would've essentially been unprovoked attempted murder, but now ends up merely doing it in reaction to an Unforgiveable curse. The result still shakes him up rather badly, but it's a far cry from what it would've been if he had done it to McLaggen for nagging at him, or to Draco during an exchange of more innocent hexes.
I agree. Just the idea of using it on McLaggen...
It's a good lesson to Harry on the meaning of the word "enemy", though. Evidently, Snape has rather more serious enemies as a schoolboy than just people annoying him, or at least expects to have such serious enemies in the future.
Yes. Or, rather, I think Harry does not imagine that anyone else could have enemies like he does. His idea of the Prince is one of schoolboy pranks (like the levitating spell). Not of someone needing to hurt someone bad. There are enemies outside of Hogwarts (evil, that will try to kill him), and then there are enemies inside Hogwarts (who will give him some sort of unpleasant but ultimately harmless trouble). His problem is that he confuses the two.
Ron and Hermione: their being in the boys' dormitories apparently alone must look suspicious to Lavender. While I am glad the whole absurde relationship is over, Hermione is right that Ron is a bit of a coward. Still, it is nice to see her cheery. And she so knows that Harry has a crush on Ginny. Hermione knows. And I like their reactions when Harry and Ginny finally get to it.
She definitely knows - he did give her a few hints even apart from his wandering eyes. Hermione's gloating over Ron and Lavender breaking up is a tad mean, but understandable.
I wouldn't say it is mean. There was never really anything there, I think.
Slughorn: he is such a delightful mix of the good and the bad. I like him. He is horrible in his calculating and downright greedy approach to Hagrid's grief. And his reference to having had house elves taste all the bottles in case they were poisoned is horrible. And the casual nature of it makes it worse. He is apparently not aware that it is wrong. But then he does give Harry the memory. Pressed and drunk, yes. But I am not sure that is to be held against him here. I like how he in contradictory. There is too much good vs evil in fantasy writing. His reason for keeping it secret is also interesting. Guilt or shame clearly plays a part. But it would also seem that he is reluctant to help kill Voldemort. Probably because he remembers Tom as a good student who treated him well. And his horror at the thought of Horcruxes show that while he is perhaps not a thoroughly decent fellow, he has a moral compass.
It is rather heartless to abuse Hagrid's confidence so, though on the other hand he does show his worth in exchange, by doing the little speech and joining Hagrid in his drinking binge. His prejudices show again in the memory scene (the "decent wizarding stock" remark), and again with the house elves thing. Quite grey character, yes.
Yes.
Snape: Using that type of deep legilimency (not just a surface skim to see if someone is lying or not) on a student without permission seems like a violation which should not be permitted. Still, the situation is quite singular. And he is surprisingly lenient when it comes to punishment, considering.
He is, isn't he? Especially considering how he wanted Harry expelled in earlier books - this is his best chance yet. I think we have to conclude he realizes it's too dangerous to expel Harry at this point.
Yes. It is now about protecting Lily's son again, I think.
He so knows about the HBP book thing, now. Or suspects, at least.
Oh, he knows.
I also noticed that the problematic spell checker quill in the beginning of the book finally had a plot point: the name is not recognisable as Ron's.
What I like about Harry there is that he doesn't look for excuses. He does of course say that he didn't know what the spell would do, but he doesn't mention the Cruciatus at all, nor does he use that as an excuse to justify his action to himself.
True.
Ginny: why is her face described as hard when she is approaching Harry to embrace him?
I think it just means she's determined.
Probably. It didn't work for me, though.
*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
3101 Views
General comments on the book.
- 18/10/2010 06:14:10 PM
1756 Views
Suggestions.
- 18/10/2010 06:18:46 PM
1788 Views
*cough*
- 09/11/2010 09:24:21 AM
1671 Views
Chapters 1-3: The Other Minister, Spinner's End, Will and Won't.
- 18/10/2010 06:21:55 PM
2027 Views
Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
- 18/10/2010 06:25:12 PM
2019 Views
Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
- 18/10/2010 06:55:06 PM
2019 Views
Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
- 19/10/2010 01:07:59 AM
2021 Views
*spoilers for book 7* an assortment of characters
- 19/10/2010 01:01:35 AM
1979 Views
Plotting and writing.
- 18/10/2010 06:27:40 PM
1518 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
1795 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
1756 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
1854 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 18/10/2010 06:28:16 PM
905 Views
Dumbledore-centered.
- 19/10/2010 01:03:05 AM
1898 Views
Chapters 4-6: Horace Slughorn, An Excess of Phlegm, Draco's Detour. *NM*
- 20/10/2010 03:44:39 PM
1056 Views
Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
- 20/10/2010 03:46:47 PM
1935 Views
Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
- 20/10/2010 05:27:26 PM
1962 Views
(Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
- 20/10/2010 09:25:20 PM
1991 Views
Re: (Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
- 20/10/2010 09:46:08 PM
1891 Views
Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
- 20/10/2010 10:15:58 PM
1907 Views
Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
- 20/10/2010 09:23:04 PM
1808 Views
Re: Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
- 20/10/2010 09:56:28 PM
1774 Views
Re: Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
- 20/10/2010 10:17:23 PM
1965 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 20/10/2010 03:48:07 PM
907 Views
So. Inferi are zombies aren't they? I just realised. Ick. Do they eat brains? *NM*
- 20/10/2010 09:24:03 PM
961 Views
I was kind of disappointed that Harry didn't remark on that fact. 
*NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:24:11 PM
1008 Views
*NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:24:11 PM
1008 Views
Chapters 7-9: Slug Club, Snape Victorious, The Half-Blood Prince *NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:23:03 PM
1051 Views
Characters *NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:23:24 PM
1001 Views
Harry, Romilda, Malfoy (in luuuve), Snape, Lavender Brown, McGonagall, Hermione and Slughorn.
- 22/10/2010 07:26:19 PM
1926 Views
Love is in the air, evidently.
- 22/10/2010 07:54:35 PM
1867 Views
Slytherin had been in need of new blood for a long time. (And assorted other comments.)
- 22/10/2010 10:34:49 PM
1893 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
1604 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:23:37 PM
997 Views
Dumbledore, patronuses and the DADA job.
- 22/10/2010 07:27:23 PM
1832 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:23:50 PM
1009 Views
I believe in Wrackspurts, too. And some questions.
- 22/10/2010 07:28:04 PM
1686 Views
I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
- 22/10/2010 09:58:27 PM
1760 Views
Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
- 23/10/2010 05:34:25 PM
1775 Views
Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
- 25/10/2010 10:35:43 AM
1817 Views
Chapters 10-12: The House of Gaunt, Hermione's Helping Hand, Silver and Opals. *NM*
- 25/10/2010 05:00:02 PM
1049 Views
Characters: The Gaunts, the Trio, Hagrid, and many more. *NM*
- 25/10/2010 05:02:07 PM
1025 Views
Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right).
- 25/10/2010 06:15:23 PM
1967 Views
*lol*
- 25/10/2010 06:39:19 PM
1814 Views
Re: Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right).
- 26/10/2010 09:23:09 AM
1727 Views
Trelawny, Ogden, Gaunt, Ron, Hermione, Ron and Harry
- 25/10/2010 10:23:55 PM
1736 Views
Plotting and writing.
- 25/10/2010 05:03:16 PM
1820 Views
Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
- 25/10/2010 05:37:28 PM
1856 Views
Re: Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
- 26/10/2010 09:46:47 AM
1750 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 25/10/2010 05:03:32 PM
835 Views
Dumbledore still sounds like Stephen Fry. And reflections on the nature of Potions class.
- 25/10/2010 05:11:24 PM
1671 Views
It's like baking, I think.
- 25/10/2010 05:32:42 PM
1802 Views
Yes, exactly like baking - and advanced baking involves experimenting, substituting, improvising.
- 25/10/2010 06:42:42 PM
1880 Views
Also, Parseltongue - is Harry that thick, or is it a magic thing?
- 25/10/2010 05:18:41 PM
1778 Views
I think it's a magic thing.
- 25/10/2010 05:34:09 PM
1769 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
1720 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
1772 Views
parseltongue
- 25/10/2010 10:24:46 PM
1895 Views
Interesting how many of our remarks are along similar lines. *NM*
- 25/10/2010 10:27:30 PM
883 Views
*NM*
- 25/10/2010 10:27:30 PM
883 Views
Chapters 13-15: The Secret Riddle, Felix Felicis, The Unbreakable Vow *NM*
- 27/10/2010 04:16:28 PM
1008 Views
Characters: The Trio, Ginny, Tom Riddle, Draco,... *NM*
- 27/10/2010 04:17:12 PM
992 Views
Dumbledore, Voldemort, Ron & Hermione, Harry, Ginny, Luna
- 27/10/2010 10:31:39 PM
1780 Views
My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
- 29/10/2010 01:47:20 PM
1726 Views
Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
- 29/10/2010 09:06:16 PM
1711 Views
Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
- 29/10/2010 11:02:15 PM
1809 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 27/10/2010 04:17:26 PM
805 Views
plot and writing.
- 27/10/2010 10:30:14 PM
1786 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 27/10/2010 04:17:42 PM
844 Views
Re: Anything else?
- 27/10/2010 10:30:55 PM
1934 Views
I wonder if that's actually true, though.
- 28/10/2010 10:39:20 AM
1920 Views
Re: I wonder if that's actually true, though.
- 28/10/2010 10:44:22 AM
1778 Views
Crabbe and Goyle show us what happens when you fail (most of? all of?) your OWLs.
- 29/10/2010 02:10:39 PM
1907 Views
Chapters 16-18: A Very Frosty Christmas, A Sluggish Memory, Birthday Surprises *NM*
- 29/10/2010 05:40:39 PM
990 Views
Characters: The Trio, Fleur, Scrimgeour, Percy, Remus, Slughorn,... *NM*
- 29/10/2010 05:43:02 PM
1076 Views
Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour
- 29/10/2010 08:51:58 PM
1918 Views
Re: Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour
- 02/11/2010 06:23:04 PM
1797 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 29/10/2010 05:44:04 PM
875 Views
Chapters 19-21: Elf Tails, Lord Voldemort's Requests, The Unknowable Room *NM*
- 01/11/2010 02:00:22 PM
766 Views
Characters: The Trio, the elves, Draco, Dumbledore,... *NM*
- 01/11/2010 02:00:56 PM
1114 Views
the twins, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Voldemort, Draco and Tonks
- 01/11/2010 02:08:32 PM
1647 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 01/11/2010 02:01:27 PM
895 Views
I want to hear the joke about the hag, the Healer and the Mimbulus mimbletonia. *NM*
- 01/11/2010 02:10:11 PM
1498 Views
Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
- 03/11/2010 09:52:12 PM
1849 Views
Re: Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
- 03/11/2010 09:54:05 PM
2111 Views
Re: Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
- 08/11/2010 01:54:59 PM
1782 Views
Chapters 22-24: After the Burial, Horcruxes, Sectumsempra
- 03/11/2010 09:50:17 PM
2047 Views
Characters. *NM*
- 03/11/2010 09:50:33 PM
1023 Views
Malfoy, Ron & Hermione, Slughorn, Voldemort, Snape and Ginny.
- 04/11/2010 12:12:57 AM
1808 Views
Draco, Slughorn, Snape, the romance.
- 04/11/2010 02:02:04 PM
1840 Views
Re: Draco, Slughorn, Snape, the romance.
- 04/11/2010 02:16:17 PM
1868 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 03/11/2010 09:50:50 PM
908 Views
Harry wrong again, house elves, horcruxes, free will, well hidden clues and some irony *DH spoiler*
- 03/11/2010 10:35:20 PM
1782 Views
Re: Stuff.
- 04/11/2010 04:28:04 AM
1834 Views
Re: Stuff. *spoilers for book 7*
- 04/11/2010 09:10:19 AM
1866 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
1671 Views
- 04/11/2010 01:23:01 PM
1671 Views
Some comments inside. *DH Spoilers*
Chapters 25-27: The Seer Overheard, The Cave, The Lightning-Struck Tower
- 05/11/2010 05:37:42 PM
1658 Views
Characters: Harry, Trelawney, Dumbledore, Draco, Snape. And maybe some other people. *NM*
- 05/11/2010 05:38:19 PM
881 Views
Romilda, Snape, Trelawny, Draco, Dumbledore, Voldemort, Harry *spoilers book 7*
- 05/11/2010 07:34:01 PM
1794 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 05/11/2010 05:39:43 PM
914 Views
I like how good magic is not flashy. Also, a Tolkien thing
- 05/11/2010 07:55:27 PM
1749 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
1997 Views
Chapters 28-30: Flight of the Prince, The Phoenix Lament, The White Tomb. *NM*
- 09/11/2010 02:13:12 PM
1028 Views
Characters. *NM*
- 09/11/2010 02:13:25 PM
855 Views
Snape, Lupin, Hermione & Ron, the Order, Mrs Weasley & Fleur, Luna & Neville, Scrimgeour, Ginny *DH*
- 09/11/2010 02:20:01 PM
1709 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 09/11/2010 02:13:40 PM
986 Views
Spoilers.
- 09/11/2010 02:26:38 PM
1685 Views
Re: Spoilers.
- 09/11/2010 04:49:06 PM
1752 Views
I'm assuming not even the Ministry knows 100% what she did.
- 13/11/2010 12:26:14 AM
1825 Views
Very true.
- 15/11/2010 01:48:36 PM
1823 Views
Not much, no, but there's one fairly crucial mention.
- 15/11/2010 04:37:23 PM
1798 Views
With my keen attention to detail, I somehow missed that. 
Another good catch!
- 15/11/2010 09:36:37 PM
1989 Views
Another good catch!
- 15/11/2010 09:36:37 PM
1989 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 09/11/2010 02:13:53 PM
870 Views
We did the Harry Potter marathon thing on Sunday
- 09/11/2010 02:28:08 PM
1799 Views
This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies.
- 09/11/2010 04:34:33 PM
1849 Views
Re: This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies.
- 09/11/2010 04:36:29 PM
1808 Views
I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
- 15/11/2010 04:45:48 PM
1916 Views
Re: I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
- 15/11/2010 04:50:57 PM
1732 Views