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Re: (minor book seven spoilers) Seriana Sedai Send a noteboard - 19/10/2010 05:26:50 PM
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.

Yes, I noticed that too. One can see why Fudge did okay as a Minister until the chips started falling - he has this somewhat condescending but quite amiable way with people, very Minister-y.

Yes. I almost forget reading this passage what a terrible person Fudge became in the last book. Almost.

It's a bit of a shame there's no follow-up to this that I can remember, though, the Muggles are ignored again from here on out...

Muggles are referred to, but not talked to again. You're right, it's kind of a shame but considering everything that is in the next book I can see why there is no time for it. I think Rowling does a good job reminding us in places though.

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 think she and Lucius are actually pretty much on the same page - they are very alike in many ways, down to the hair colour. They were both brought up in Dark pureblood families, with the notion that they were better than most everyone else, and so they chose Voldemort's side, but never with the fanaticism or fervour that some of the others had. At the end of the day they're opportunists, moving with the flow. And because they care more about each other and about Draco than about their ideology, they end up on the good side in the end, more or less.

Kind of by default, you're right.

Bellatrix of course is the other extreme, she obviously has some affection for her sister, but other than that she's pretty much a psychopath, as is clear from her statements about sacrificing any sons she might have to Voldemort. Though of course Azkaban might have had a lot to do with that. I felt sorry for the fox, too, but it fits Bellatrix well: the paranoid and trigger-happy mentality, and her total lack of uneasiness about the AK.

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.

Yeah, the closing line especially was brilliant, as Camilla said. Good catch about the mead. As for the Dursleys sermon, yes, but I still have a somewhat uneasy feeling about the whole thing because of what I noted in the previous book - that their initial treatment of him was so over the top that it worked in a children's book, but feels off when the series grows to more adult levels. The Dursleys are made a bit more human in these later books, you sometimes feel sorry for them or see where they're coming from, but then there's that cupboard under the stairs thing that keeps making that difficult. I don't know, it bothers me.

With regard to your closing sentence, I find it interesting that you make that observation - which I don't disagree with - right after we'd agreed at the end of book five that Dumbledore's infallibility had ended for good with Sirius' death and his failure to keep Voldemort from possessing Harry. That was the end of Dumbledore the demi-god, this is the beginning of Dumbledore the kick-ass but quite human hero. If that makes any sense.

It makes a lot of sense, and I agree. He has lost his air of infallibility, but he is still without a doubt one of the wisest and most intelligent people in that world. And he knows it but isn't arrogant about it. He also knows and has been very painfully reminded that the fact that he is so brilliant means he is susceptible to much larger mistakes. He referred to this at the end of the last book and is very up front about it in this book. I think Dumbledore had to be humbled a bit so we would believe the end of this book. And frankly, the more human he is the more I respect what he has accomplished. I like the human Dumbledore a lot more.
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The Great Harry Potter Re-read: Book Six, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - 18/10/2010 06:12:40 PM 3354 Views
General comments on the book. - 18/10/2010 06:14:10 PM 1989 Views
I am enjoying this a lot more than I thought I would. - 22/10/2010 07:25:17 PM 2127 Views
Yes, I'm loving that I can read in English again. - 22/10/2010 10:10:32 PM 2215 Views
Me too - 01/11/2010 02:11:28 PM 1975 Views
Suggestions. - 18/10/2010 06:18:46 PM 2036 Views
Re: Suggestions. - 20/10/2010 03:20:18 PM 2167 Views
*cough* - 09/11/2010 09:24:21 AM 1900 Views
Oh yes. I'm being distracted by Towers of Midnight. *NM* - 09/11/2010 02:11:22 PM 1168 Views
Shocking. *NM* - 09/11/2010 02:13:43 PM 1115 Views
Are we having a break right now? - 12/11/2010 06:48:10 PM 2059 Views
Re: Are we having a break right now? - 12/11/2010 10:05:30 PM 2420 Views
Chapters 1-3: The Other Minister, Spinner's End, Will and Won't. - 18/10/2010 06:21:55 PM 2247 Views
Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys. - 18/10/2010 06:25:12 PM 2258 Views
Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys. - 18/10/2010 06:55:06 PM 2276 Views
(minor book seven spoilers) - 19/10/2010 11:27:53 AM 2236 Views
Re: (minor book seven spoilers) - 19/10/2010 05:26:50 PM 2026 Views
*spoilers for book 7* an assortment of characters - 19/10/2010 01:01:35 AM 2246 Views
Re: *spoilers for book 7* an assortment of characters - 19/10/2010 11:39:44 AM 2053 Views
Re: *spoilers for book 7* an assortment of characters - 19/10/2010 11:48:45 AM 2306 Views
I rather enjoyed the new characters. - 22/10/2010 07:30:03 PM 1990 Views
Re: I rather enjoyed the new characters. - 22/10/2010 08:33:44 PM 2141 Views
Anything else? *NM* - 18/10/2010 06:28:16 PM 1042 Views
Dumbledore-centered. - 19/10/2010 01:03:05 AM 2144 Views
Re: Dumbledore-centered. - 22/10/2010 07:31:56 PM 2116 Views
Re: Dumbledore-centered. - 22/10/2010 07:33:34 PM 2066 Views
Chapters 4-6: Horace Slughorn, An Excess of Phlegm, Draco's Detour. *NM* - 20/10/2010 03:44:39 PM 1176 Views
Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,... - 20/10/2010 03:46:47 PM 2171 Views
Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,... - 20/10/2010 05:27:26 PM 2197 Views
(Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur... - 20/10/2010 09:25:20 PM 2250 Views
Re: (Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur... - 20/10/2010 09:46:08 PM 2143 Views
Re: (Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur... - 20/10/2010 11:20:28 PM 2008 Views
Re: (Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur... - 21/10/2010 12:04:23 AM 1765 Views
Re: (Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur... - 20/10/2010 10:20:28 PM 2146 Views
Re: (Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur... - 20/10/2010 11:23:38 PM 2034 Views
Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,... - 20/10/2010 10:15:58 PM 2150 Views
On Ron's reaction to Fleur... - 20/10/2010 11:30:48 PM 2104 Views
Re: On Ron's reaction to Fleur... - 20/10/2010 11:58:45 PM 2101 Views
Fleur - 23/10/2010 05:11:08 PM 1993 Views
Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins. - 20/10/2010 09:23:04 PM 2035 Views
Characters. - 25/10/2010 03:10:35 AM 1972 Views
Plotting and writing. - 20/10/2010 03:47:55 PM 2049 Views
*minor spoilers for book 7* - 20/10/2010 09:23:44 PM 2110 Views
Anything else? *NM* - 20/10/2010 03:48:07 PM 1055 Views
Dumbledore's Stephen Fry moment... or maybe that's just me. - 22/10/2010 07:35:59 PM 1912 Views
It's not just you - 22/10/2010 08:34:25 PM 1909 Views
Chapters 7-9: Slug Club, Snape Victorious, The Half-Blood Prince *NM* - 22/10/2010 07:23:03 PM 1209 Views
Characters *NM* - 22/10/2010 07:23:24 PM 1139 Views
Harry, Romilda, Malfoy (in luuuve), Snape, Lavender Brown, McGonagall, Hermione and Slughorn. - 22/10/2010 07:26:19 PM 2165 Views
Thoughts about your thoughts. - 23/10/2010 05:28:10 PM 1936 Views
Re: Thoughts about your thoughts. - 24/10/2010 09:18:37 AM 1930 Views
More characters. - 25/10/2010 03:21:33 AM 1945 Views
Re: More characters. - 25/10/2010 10:27:33 AM 1974 Views
Love is in the air, evidently. - 22/10/2010 07:54:35 PM 2120 Views
Re: Love is in the air, evidently. - 22/10/2010 09:04:24 PM 2033 Views
Re: Love is in the air, evidently. - 22/10/2010 09:54:46 PM 1979 Views
Slytherin had been in need of new blood for a long time. (And assorted other comments.) - 22/10/2010 10:34:49 PM 2128 Views
Neville. - 23/10/2010 05:30:39 PM 2032 Views
Re: Neville. - 08/11/2010 02:35:57 PM 2106 Views
NEWT Potions - 24/10/2010 03:24:42 AM 2102 Views
Re: Characters - 24/10/2010 03:41:30 AM 2158 Views
Re: Characters - 25/10/2010 10:44:00 AM 1995 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM* - 22/10/2010 07:23:37 PM 1134 Views
Dumbledore, patronuses and the DADA job. - 22/10/2010 07:27:23 PM 2070 Views
Malfoy and the DADA job. - 22/10/2010 10:51:03 PM 2009 Views
Re: Malfoy and the DADA job. - 25/10/2010 11:31:57 AM 2027 Views
Re: Dumbledore, patronuses and the DADA job. - 23/10/2010 05:32:27 PM 1956 Views
Anything else? *NM* - 22/10/2010 07:23:50 PM 1173 Views
I believe in Wrackspurts, too. And some questions. - 22/10/2010 07:28:04 PM 1921 Views
Re: I believe in Wrackspurts, too. And some questions. - 23/10/2010 05:33:27 PM 2050 Views
Re: I believe in Wrackspurts, too. And some questions. - 25/10/2010 03:06:43 AM 2031 Views
Chapters 10-12: The House of Gaunt, Hermione's Helping Hand, Silver and Opals. *NM* - 25/10/2010 05:00:02 PM 1197 Views
Characters: The Gaunts, the Trio, Hagrid, and many more. *NM* - 25/10/2010 05:02:07 PM 1148 Views
Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right). - 25/10/2010 06:15:23 PM 2229 Views
*lol* - 25/10/2010 06:39:19 PM 2037 Views
I don't hide from my faults. - 25/10/2010 08:01:39 PM 1880 Views
Re: I don't hide from my faults. - 28/10/2010 04:59:54 AM 2064 Views
Re: *lol* - 26/10/2010 09:50:09 AM 2050 Views
~geeky moment~ - 26/10/2010 03:14:52 PM 1939 Views
Re: ~geeky moment~ - 26/10/2010 09:49:12 PM 1911 Views
Trelawny, Ogden, Gaunt, Ron, Hermione, Ron and Harry - 25/10/2010 10:23:55 PM 1963 Views
Re: Trelawny, Ogden, Gaunt, Ron, Hermione, Ron and Harry - 26/10/2010 11:56:59 PM 2100 Views
Re: Trelawny, Ogden, Gaunt, Ron, Hermione, Ron and Harry - 27/10/2010 08:14:42 AM 2077 Views
Plotting and writing. - 25/10/2010 05:03:16 PM 2068 Views
Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight. - 25/10/2010 05:37:28 PM 2102 Views
Re: Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight. - 26/10/2010 09:46:47 AM 1978 Views
The smuggling and Trelawney's rambling. - 27/10/2010 12:05:48 AM 2039 Views
Re: The smuggling and Trelawney's rambling. - 27/10/2010 08:10:46 AM 1961 Views
Things - 25/10/2010 10:24:19 PM 2111 Views
Re: Things - 27/10/2010 12:01:17 AM 2134 Views
Anything else? *NM* - 25/10/2010 05:03:32 PM 952 Views
Dumbledore still sounds like Stephen Fry. And reflections on the nature of Potions class. - 25/10/2010 05:11:24 PM 1952 Views
It's like baking, I think. - 25/10/2010 05:32:42 PM 2027 Views
Good analogy - 25/10/2010 05:52:38 PM 1894 Views
Yes, exactly like baking - and advanced baking involves experimenting, substituting, improvising. - 25/10/2010 06:42:42 PM 2126 Views
But not at high school. - 25/10/2010 07:57:44 PM 2006 Views
Also - 04/11/2010 09:29:47 AM 1989 Views
Also, Parseltongue - is Harry that thick, or is it a magic thing? - 25/10/2010 05:18:41 PM 2002 Views
I think it's a magic thing. - 25/10/2010 05:34:09 PM 2014 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 1995 Views
Huh. I completely missed that. Good thing we're doing a reread. - 25/10/2010 05:57:38 PM 2002 Views
Speaking of Dumbledore and Parseltongue. - 28/10/2010 05:03:10 AM 2281 Views
parseltongue - 25/10/2010 10:24:46 PM 2114 Views
Interesting how many of our remarks are along similar lines. *NM* - 25/10/2010 10:27:30 PM 1007 Views
Indeed - 26/10/2010 09:20:43 AM 2010 Views
Chapters 13-15: The Secret Riddle, Felix Felicis, The Unbreakable Vow *NM* - 27/10/2010 04:16:28 PM 1138 Views
Characters: The Trio, Ginny, Tom Riddle, Draco,... *NM* - 27/10/2010 04:17:12 PM 1150 Views
Dumbledore, Voldemort, Ron & Hermione, Harry, Ginny, Luna - 27/10/2010 10:31:39 PM 2044 Views
My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around. - 29/10/2010 01:47:20 PM 1976 Views
Girls. - 29/10/2010 05:54:25 PM 2017 Views
Draco: Not as confident as he appears, surely. - 29/10/2010 02:02:01 PM 2146 Views
Re: Draco: Not as confident as he appears, surely. - 29/10/2010 09:01:56 PM 2132 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM* - 27/10/2010 04:17:26 PM 915 Views
plot and writing. - 27/10/2010 10:30:14 PM 2034 Views
Re: plot and writing. - 28/10/2010 05:07:03 AM 2178 Views
Draco can dissemble rather well, just like his parents. - 29/10/2010 02:08:35 PM 2043 Views
Re: Draco can dissemble rather well, just like his parents. - 29/10/2010 09:00:36 PM 2058 Views
Anything else? *NM* - 27/10/2010 04:17:42 PM 974 Views
Re: Anything else? - 27/10/2010 10:30:55 PM 2165 Views
Re: Anything else? - 28/10/2010 04:56:10 AM 2083 Views
Harry comments on that when in Snape's memories in book five. - 28/10/2010 10:42:08 AM 1985 Views
I wonder if that's actually true, though. - 28/10/2010 10:39:20 AM 2186 Views
Re: I wonder if that's actually true, though. - 28/10/2010 10:44:22 AM 2022 Views
It's more than that, though. - 28/10/2010 10:55:49 AM 2102 Views
Re: It's more than that, though. - 28/10/2010 11:48:19 AM 1898 Views
Chapters 16-18: A Very Frosty Christmas, A Sluggish Memory, Birthday Surprises *NM* - 29/10/2010 05:40:39 PM 1131 Views
Characters: The Trio, Fleur, Scrimgeour, Percy, Remus, Slughorn,... *NM* - 29/10/2010 05:43:02 PM 1224 Views
Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour - 29/10/2010 08:51:58 PM 2165 Views
Re: Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour - 29/10/2010 11:24:02 PM 1983 Views
Re: Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour - 29/10/2010 11:51:06 PM 2000 Views
Re: Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour - 31/10/2010 09:14:46 PM 2222 Views
Re: Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour - 31/10/2010 09:07:19 PM 2131 Views
Re: Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour - 02/11/2010 06:23:04 PM 2066 Views
Re: Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour - 02/11/2010 07:20:26 PM 1727 Views
Re: Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour - 04/11/2010 04:03:02 AM 1981 Views
And - 04/11/2010 10:46:37 AM 2005 Views
Plotting and writing. - 29/10/2010 05:43:49 PM 1956 Views
Re: Plotting and writing. - 29/10/2010 08:52:34 PM 2089 Views
Anything else? *NM* - 29/10/2010 05:44:04 PM 1016 Views
My comments on Potions class were heeded! Excellent. - 29/10/2010 11:28:43 PM 1997 Views
Re: My comments on Potions class were heeded! Excellent. - 29/10/2010 11:52:12 PM 2066 Views
Chapters 19-21: Elf Tails, Lord Voldemort's Requests, The Unknowable Room *NM* - 01/11/2010 02:00:22 PM 889 Views
Characters: The Trio, the elves, Draco, Dumbledore,... *NM* - 01/11/2010 02:00:56 PM 1244 Views
the twins, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Voldemort, Draco and Tonks - 01/11/2010 02:08:32 PM 1887 Views
Re: the twins, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Voldemort, Draco and Tonks - 01/11/2010 05:10:11 PM 2134 Views
Re: the twins, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Voldemort, Draco and Tonks - 01/11/2010 05:16:30 PM 2209 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM* - 01/11/2010 02:01:13 PM 1001 Views
Dumbledore, little girls and the house-elf issue again. - 01/11/2010 02:09:35 PM 2231 Views
Anything else? *NM* - 01/11/2010 02:01:27 PM 1025 Views
Chapters 22-24: After the Burial, Horcruxes, Sectumsempra - 03/11/2010 09:50:17 PM 2263 Views
Characters. *NM* - 03/11/2010 09:50:33 PM 1153 Views
Malfoy, Ron & Hermione, Slughorn, Voldemort, Snape and Ginny. - 04/11/2010 12:12:57 AM 2084 Views
Draco, Slughorn, Snape, the romance. - 04/11/2010 02:02:04 PM 2115 Views
Re: Draco, Slughorn, Snape, the romance. - 04/11/2010 02:16:17 PM 2110 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM* - 03/11/2010 09:50:50 PM 1024 Views
Harry wrong again, house elves, horcruxes, free will, well hidden clues and some irony *DH spoiler* - 03/11/2010 10:35:20 PM 2022 Views
Re: Stuff. - 04/11/2010 04:28:04 AM 2059 Views
Re: Stuff. *spoilers for book 7* - 04/11/2010 09:10:19 AM 2122 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 1902 Views
Yes, I think you are right - 04/11/2010 01:24:41 PM 2061 Views
Well, I'm back. Some comments inside. *DH Spoilers* - 08/11/2010 02:28:11 PM 2098 Views
Anything else? *NM* - 03/11/2010 09:51:04 PM 1057 Views
Chapters 25-27: The Seer Overheard, The Cave, The Lightning-Struck Tower - 05/11/2010 05:37:42 PM 1909 Views
Plotting and writing. - 05/11/2010 05:39:27 PM 1752 Views
*spoilers for book 7* - 05/11/2010 07:55:07 PM 1964 Views
Anything else? *NM* - 05/11/2010 05:39:43 PM 1034 Views
I like how good magic is not flashy. Also, a Tolkien thing - 05/11/2010 07:55:27 PM 1990 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 2237 Views
yes - 05/11/2010 10:06:43 PM 1960 Views
Chapters 28-30: Flight of the Prince, The Phoenix Lament, The White Tomb. *NM* - 09/11/2010 02:13:12 PM 1158 Views
Characters. *NM* - 09/11/2010 02:13:25 PM 979 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM* - 09/11/2010 02:13:40 PM 1097 Views
Spoilers. - 09/11/2010 02:26:38 PM 1941 Views
Re: Spoilers. - 09/11/2010 04:49:06 PM 1980 Views
I'm assuming not even the Ministry knows 100% what she did. - 13/11/2010 12:26:14 AM 2087 Views
Very true. - 15/11/2010 01:48:36 PM 2070 Views
Not much, no, but there's one fairly crucial mention. - 15/11/2010 04:37:23 PM 2032 Views
Re: Spoilers. - 13/11/2010 12:22:22 AM 2196 Views
Re: Spoilers. - 13/11/2010 09:38:09 AM 2330 Views
Anything else? *NM* - 09/11/2010 02:13:53 PM 1006 Views
We did the Harry Potter marathon thing on Sunday - 09/11/2010 02:28:08 PM 2059 Views
I vaguely remember something of the sort, yes. - 09/11/2010 02:57:56 PM 2270 Views
Re: I vaguely remember something of the sort, yes. - 09/11/2010 02:58:56 PM 1932 Views
This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies. - 09/11/2010 04:34:33 PM 2087 Views
Re: This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies. - 09/11/2010 04:36:29 PM 2038 Views
Very true. - 09/11/2010 04:40:24 PM 2277 Views
Re: Very true. - 09/11/2010 04:43:45 PM 2526 Views
Agreed. - 09/11/2010 04:53:46 PM 2083 Views
Re: Agreed. - 09/11/2010 04:58:59 PM 2151 Views

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