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
3106 Views
General comments on the book.
- 18/10/2010 06:14:10 PM
1764 Views
Suggestions.
- 18/10/2010 06:18:46 PM
1794 Views
*cough*
- 09/11/2010 09:24:21 AM
1676 Views
Chapters 1-3: The Other Minister, Spinner's End, Will and Won't.
- 18/10/2010 06:21:55 PM
2029 Views
Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
- 18/10/2010 06:25:12 PM
2028 Views
Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
- 18/10/2010 06:55:06 PM
2030 Views
Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
- 19/10/2010 01:07:59 AM
2034 Views
*spoilers for book 7* an assortment of characters
- 19/10/2010 01:01:35 AM
1988 Views
Plotting and writing.
- 18/10/2010 06:27:40 PM
1527 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
1814 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
1760 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
1861 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 18/10/2010 06:28:16 PM
911 Views
Dumbledore-centered.
- 19/10/2010 01:03:05 AM
1909 Views
Chapters 4-6: Horace Slughorn, An Excess of Phlegm, Draco's Detour. *NM*
- 20/10/2010 03:44:39 PM
1061 Views
Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
- 20/10/2010 03:46:47 PM
1946 Views
Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
- 20/10/2010 05:27:26 PM
1969 Views
(Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
- 20/10/2010 09:25:20 PM
2001 Views
Re: (Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
- 20/10/2010 09:46:08 PM
1903 Views
Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
- 20/10/2010 10:15:58 PM
1919 Views
Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
- 20/10/2010 09:23:04 PM
1813 Views
Re: Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
- 20/10/2010 09:56:28 PM
1776 Views
Re: Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
- 20/10/2010 10:17:23 PM
1975 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 20/10/2010 03:48:07 PM
912 Views
So. Inferi are zombies aren't they? I just realised. Ick. Do they eat brains? *NM*
- 20/10/2010 09:24:03 PM
967 Views
I was kind of disappointed that Harry didn't remark on that fact.
*NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:24:11 PM
1013 Views
*NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:24:11 PM
1013 Views
Chapters 7-9: Slug Club, Snape Victorious, The Half-Blood Prince *NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:23:03 PM
1058 Views
Characters *NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:23:24 PM
1005 Views
Harry, Romilda, Malfoy (in luuuve), Snape, Lavender Brown, McGonagall, Hermione and Slughorn.
- 22/10/2010 07:26:19 PM
1935 Views
Love is in the air, evidently.
- 22/10/2010 07:54:35 PM
1877 Views
Slytherin had been in need of new blood for a long time. (And assorted other comments.)
- 22/10/2010 10:34:49 PM
1906 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
1616 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:23:37 PM
1001 Views
Dumbledore, patronuses and the DADA job.
- 22/10/2010 07:27:23 PM
1842 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:23:50 PM
1014 Views
I believe in Wrackspurts, too. And some questions.
- 22/10/2010 07:28:04 PM
1695 Views
I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
- 22/10/2010 09:58:27 PM
1774 Views
Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
- 23/10/2010 05:34:25 PM
1784 Views
Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
- 25/10/2010 10:35:43 AM
1826 Views
Chapters 10-12: The House of Gaunt, Hermione's Helping Hand, Silver and Opals. *NM*
- 25/10/2010 05:00:02 PM
1057 Views
Characters: The Gaunts, the Trio, Hagrid, and many more. *NM*
- 25/10/2010 05:02:07 PM
1032 Views
Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right).
- 25/10/2010 06:15:23 PM
1979 Views
*lol*
- 25/10/2010 06:39:19 PM
1821 Views
Re: Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right).
- 26/10/2010 09:23:09 AM
1740 Views
Trelawny, Ogden, Gaunt, Ron, Hermione, Ron and Harry
- 25/10/2010 10:23:55 PM
1744 Views
Plotting and writing.
- 25/10/2010 05:03:16 PM
1833 Views
Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
- 25/10/2010 05:37:28 PM
1864 Views
Re: Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
- 26/10/2010 09:46:47 AM
1759 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 25/10/2010 05:03:32 PM
837 Views
Dumbledore still sounds like Stephen Fry. And reflections on the nature of Potions class.
- 25/10/2010 05:11:24 PM
1686 Views
It's like baking, I think.
- 25/10/2010 05:32:42 PM
1805 Views
Yes, exactly like baking - and advanced baking involves experimenting, substituting, improvising.
- 25/10/2010 06:42:42 PM
1888 Views
Also, Parseltongue - is Harry that thick, or is it a magic thing?
- 25/10/2010 05:18:41 PM
1783 Views
I think it's a magic thing.
- 25/10/2010 05:34:09 PM
1776 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
1730 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
1782 Views
parseltongue
- 25/10/2010 10:24:46 PM
1899 Views
Interesting how many of our remarks are along similar lines.
*NM*
- 25/10/2010 10:27:30 PM
890 Views
*NM*
- 25/10/2010 10:27:30 PM
890 Views
Chapters 13-15: The Secret Riddle, Felix Felicis, The Unbreakable Vow *NM*
- 27/10/2010 04:16:28 PM
1013 Views
Characters: The Trio, Ginny, Tom Riddle, Draco,... *NM*
- 27/10/2010 04:17:12 PM
997 Views
Dumbledore, Voldemort, Ron & Hermione, Harry, Ginny, Luna
- 27/10/2010 10:31:39 PM
1792 Views
My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
- 29/10/2010 01:47:20 PM
1732 Views
Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
- 29/10/2010 09:06:16 PM
1726 Views
Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
- 29/10/2010 11:02:15 PM
1819 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 27/10/2010 04:17:26 PM
807 Views
plot and writing.
- 27/10/2010 10:30:14 PM
1797 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 27/10/2010 04:17:42 PM
849 Views
Re: Anything else?
- 27/10/2010 10:30:55 PM
1943 Views
I wonder if that's actually true, though.
- 28/10/2010 10:39:20 AM
1927 Views
Re: I wonder if that's actually true, though.
- 28/10/2010 10:44:22 AM
1788 Views
Crabbe and Goyle show us what happens when you fail (most of? all of?) your OWLs.
- 29/10/2010 02:10:39 PM
1912 Views
Chapters 16-18: A Very Frosty Christmas, A Sluggish Memory, Birthday Surprises *NM*
- 29/10/2010 05:40:39 PM
998 Views
Characters: The Trio, Fleur, Scrimgeour, Percy, Remus, Slughorn,... *NM*
- 29/10/2010 05:43:02 PM
1078 Views
Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour
- 29/10/2010 08:51:58 PM
1926 Views
Re: Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour
- 02/11/2010 06:23:04 PM
1808 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 29/10/2010 05:44:04 PM
881 Views
Chapters 19-21: Elf Tails, Lord Voldemort's Requests, The Unknowable Room *NM*
- 01/11/2010 02:00:22 PM
774 Views
Characters: The Trio, the elves, Draco, Dumbledore,... *NM*
- 01/11/2010 02:00:56 PM
1119 Views
the twins, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Voldemort, Draco and Tonks
- 01/11/2010 02:08:32 PM
1660 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 01/11/2010 02:01:27 PM
899 Views
I want to hear the joke about the hag, the Healer and the Mimbulus mimbletonia. *NM*
- 01/11/2010 02:10:11 PM
1503 Views
Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
- 03/11/2010 09:52:12 PM
1860 Views
Re: Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
- 03/11/2010 09:54:05 PM
2122 Views
Re: Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
- 08/11/2010 01:54:59 PM
1802 Views
Chapters 22-24: After the Burial, Horcruxes, Sectumsempra
- 03/11/2010 09:50:17 PM
2055 Views
Characters. *NM*
- 03/11/2010 09:50:33 PM
1028 Views
Malfoy, Ron & Hermione, Slughorn, Voldemort, Snape and Ginny.
- 04/11/2010 12:12:57 AM
1814 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 03/11/2010 09:50:50 PM
911 Views
Harry wrong again, house elves, horcruxes, free will, well hidden clues and some irony *DH spoiler*
- 03/11/2010 10:35:20 PM
1793 Views
Re: Stuff.
- 04/11/2010 04:28:04 AM
1841 Views
Re: Stuff. *spoilers for book 7*
- 04/11/2010 09:10:19 AM
1877 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
1674 Views
- 04/11/2010 01:23:01 PM
1674 Views
Chapters 25-27: The Seer Overheard, The Cave, The Lightning-Struck Tower
- 05/11/2010 05:37:42 PM
1668 Views
Characters: Harry, Trelawney, Dumbledore, Draco, Snape. And maybe some other people. *NM*
- 05/11/2010 05:38:19 PM
887 Views
Romilda, Snape, Trelawny, Draco, Dumbledore, Voldemort, Harry *spoilers book 7*
- 05/11/2010 07:34:01 PM
1801 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 05/11/2010 05:39:43 PM
916 Views
I like how good magic is not flashy. Also, a Tolkien thing
- 05/11/2010 07:55:27 PM
1758 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
2007 Views
Chapters 28-30: Flight of the Prince, The Phoenix Lament, The White Tomb. *NM*
- 09/11/2010 02:13:12 PM
1034 Views
Characters. *NM*
- 09/11/2010 02:13:25 PM
859 Views
Snape, Lupin, Hermione & Ron, the Order, Mrs Weasley & Fleur, Luna & Neville, Scrimgeour, Ginny *DH*
- 09/11/2010 02:20:01 PM
1717 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 09/11/2010 02:13:40 PM
988 Views
Spoilers.
- 09/11/2010 02:26:38 PM
1703 Views
Re: Spoilers.
- 09/11/2010 04:49:06 PM
1763 Views
I'm assuming not even the Ministry knows 100% what she did.
- 13/11/2010 12:26:14 AM
1837 Views
Very true.
- 15/11/2010 01:48:36 PM
1831 Views
Not much, no, but there's one fairly crucial mention.
- 15/11/2010 04:37:23 PM
1811 Views
With my keen attention to detail, I somehow missed that.
Another good catch!
- 15/11/2010 09:36:37 PM
1997 Views
Another good catch!
- 15/11/2010 09:36:37 PM
1997 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 09/11/2010 02:13:53 PM
878 Views
We did the Harry Potter marathon thing on Sunday
- 09/11/2010 02:28:08 PM
1808 Views
This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies.
- 09/11/2010 04:34:33 PM
1863 Views
Re: This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies.
- 09/11/2010 04:36:29 PM
1816 Views
I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
- 15/11/2010 04:45:48 PM
1921 Views
Re: I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
- 15/11/2010 04:50:57 PM
1739 Views


Some comments inside. *DH Spoilers*