I was trying to think of a way to say the same thing, the not malevolently racist bit, but couldn't come up with anything. It's like a general attitude he has but he doesn't hold to it when someone is gifted like Lily or Dirk Creswell. I find it odd.
I think it's not really odd, quite realistic in fact. Just think of all the racists who make exceptions for their personal friends.
Dumbledore refers to his "considerable talents" and I think Slughorn is aware that he may be useful to Voldemort. Do you think this is arrogance on Slughorn's part or an astute observation and reaction?
I think he certainly might be useful to Voldemort, but still it's interesting that he'd think he would be among Voldemort's first priorities, and that Voldemort would risk blowing his cover (well, to the extent he still has a cover). What I also want to know is what he did during the previous war - evidently he never became a DE, but did he spend all that time running away so they could never try to recruit him, too?
See, now I adore Ginny, but I think she's really unfair. I think Fleur is trying in the beginning and then as she gets the attitude she stops trying as hard (the Christmas radio broadcast comes to mind, hardly her most endearing chapter). I never understood why everyone was so shocked that she still wants to marry Bill by the end, if anything I'd think she'd want to call it off before to get away from a family that doesn't want her.
*I* think Ginny is unfair, too, but I'm not sure if Rowling does, which was my point about not being sure what to infer. And yes, agreed - I'm not sure if any reader really would've expected Fleur to go "no, I can't marry him anymore". She's shown a long time ago that she has her priorities straight.
I felt badly for her briefly after the Lucius remark, until she hits back just as hard about Harry being reunited with Sirius.
Heh, yes.
I didn't phrase that as well as I would have liked...I'll blame a lack of coffee.
I meant how Mrs. Weasley has always wanted them to be more like Percy and being disappointed with their behavior. It provides a nice counterpoint to this to see them be successful and later showing their mother how much they appreciate her. I think they are great sons.

Oh, yeah, I was glad to see her come around, too.
That's exactly it! He's right in the next book too about something big...so that's the second time a day, right? 

Indeed. I suppose it makes sense that he gets to be right more often later on in the books, older and wiser and all... but every once in a while he still has to get things totally and utterly wrong to not make the reader wonder who this guy is and what he's done with Harry Potter.
The Great Harry Potter Re-read: Book Six, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
18/10/2010 06:12:40 PM
- 2987 Views
General comments on the book.
18/10/2010 06:14:10 PM
- 1697 Views
Suggestions.
18/10/2010 06:18:46 PM
- 1739 Views
*cough*
09/11/2010 09:24:21 AM
- 1614 Views
Chapters 1-3: The Other Minister, Spinner's End, Will and Won't.
18/10/2010 06:21:55 PM
- 1978 Views
Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
18/10/2010 06:25:12 PM
- 1969 Views
Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
18/10/2010 06:55:06 PM
- 1962 Views
Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
19/10/2010 01:07:59 AM
- 1972 Views
*spoilers for book 7* an assortment of characters
19/10/2010 01:01:35 AM
- 1913 Views
Plotting and writing.
18/10/2010 06:27:40 PM
- 1460 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
- 1733 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
- 1695 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
- 1791 Views
Anything else? *NM*
18/10/2010 06:28:16 PM
- 878 Views
Dumbledore-centered.
19/10/2010 01:03:05 AM
- 1830 Views
Chapters 4-6: Horace Slughorn, An Excess of Phlegm, Draco's Detour. *NM*
20/10/2010 03:44:39 PM
- 1029 Views
Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
20/10/2010 03:46:47 PM
- 1876 Views
Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
20/10/2010 05:27:26 PM
- 1897 Views
(Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
20/10/2010 09:25:20 PM
- 1918 Views
Re: (Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
20/10/2010 09:46:08 PM
- 1832 Views
Re: (Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
20/10/2010 11:20:28 PM
- 1709 Views
Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
20/10/2010 10:15:58 PM
- 1848 Views
Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
20/10/2010 09:23:04 PM
- 1741 Views
Re: Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
20/10/2010 09:56:28 PM
- 1718 Views
Re: Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
20/10/2010 10:17:23 PM
- 1892 Views
Anything else? *NM*
20/10/2010 03:48:07 PM
- 871 Views
So. Inferi are zombies aren't they? I just realised. Ick. Do they eat brains? *NM*
20/10/2010 09:24:03 PM
- 933 Views
I was kind of disappointed that Harry didn't remark on that fact.
*NM*
22/10/2010 07:24:11 PM
- 981 Views

Chapters 7-9: Slug Club, Snape Victorious, The Half-Blood Prince *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:03 PM
- 1020 Views
Characters *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:24 PM
- 979 Views
Harry, Romilda, Malfoy (in luuuve), Snape, Lavender Brown, McGonagall, Hermione and Slughorn.
22/10/2010 07:26:19 PM
- 1870 Views
Love is in the air, evidently.
22/10/2010 07:54:35 PM
- 1811 Views
Slytherin had been in need of new blood for a long time. (And assorted other comments.)
22/10/2010 10:34:49 PM
- 1825 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
- 1545 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:37 PM
- 966 Views
Dumbledore, patronuses and the DADA job.
22/10/2010 07:27:23 PM
- 1757 Views
Anything else? *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:50 PM
- 983 Views
I believe in Wrackspurts, too. And some questions.
22/10/2010 07:28:04 PM
- 1624 Views
I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
22/10/2010 09:58:27 PM
- 1714 Views
Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
23/10/2010 05:34:25 PM
- 1726 Views
Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
25/10/2010 10:35:43 AM
- 1761 Views
Chapters 10-12: The House of Gaunt, Hermione's Helping Hand, Silver and Opals. *NM*
25/10/2010 05:00:02 PM
- 1023 Views
Characters: The Gaunts, the Trio, Hagrid, and many more. *NM*
25/10/2010 05:02:07 PM
- 990 Views
Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right).
25/10/2010 06:15:23 PM
- 1909 Views
*lol*
25/10/2010 06:39:19 PM
- 1762 Views
Re: Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right).
26/10/2010 09:23:09 AM
- 1673 Views
Trelawny, Ogden, Gaunt, Ron, Hermione, Ron and Harry
25/10/2010 10:23:55 PM
- 1697 Views
Plotting and writing.
25/10/2010 05:03:16 PM
- 1761 Views
Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
25/10/2010 05:37:28 PM
- 1799 Views
Re: Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
26/10/2010 09:46:47 AM
- 1696 Views
Anything else? *NM*
25/10/2010 05:03:32 PM
- 811 Views
Dumbledore still sounds like Stephen Fry. And reflections on the nature of Potions class.
25/10/2010 05:11:24 PM
- 1610 Views
It's like baking, I think.
25/10/2010 05:32:42 PM
- 1743 Views
Yes, exactly like baking - and advanced baking involves experimenting, substituting, improvising.
25/10/2010 06:42:42 PM
- 1815 Views
Also, Parseltongue - is Harry that thick, or is it a magic thing?
25/10/2010 05:18:41 PM
- 1726 Views
I think it's a magic thing.
25/10/2010 05:34:09 PM
- 1719 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
- 1677 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
- 1711 Views
parseltongue
25/10/2010 10:24:46 PM
- 1829 Views
Interesting how many of our remarks are along similar lines.
*NM*
25/10/2010 10:27:30 PM
- 851 Views

Chapters 13-15: The Secret Riddle, Felix Felicis, The Unbreakable Vow *NM*
27/10/2010 04:16:28 PM
- 981 Views
Characters: The Trio, Ginny, Tom Riddle, Draco,... *NM*
27/10/2010 04:17:12 PM
- 965 Views
Dumbledore, Voldemort, Ron & Hermione, Harry, Ginny, Luna
27/10/2010 10:31:39 PM
- 1699 Views
My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
29/10/2010 01:47:20 PM
- 1677 Views
Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
29/10/2010 09:06:16 PM
- 1665 Views
Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
29/10/2010 11:02:15 PM
- 1722 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
27/10/2010 04:17:26 PM
- 783 Views
plot and writing.
27/10/2010 10:30:14 PM
- 1731 Views
Anything else? *NM*
27/10/2010 04:17:42 PM
- 814 Views
Re: Anything else?
27/10/2010 10:30:55 PM
- 1876 Views
I wonder if that's actually true, though.
28/10/2010 10:39:20 AM
- 1853 Views
Re: I wonder if that's actually true, though.
28/10/2010 10:44:22 AM
- 1715 Views
Crabbe and Goyle show us what happens when you fail (most of? all of?) your OWLs.
29/10/2010 02:10:39 PM
- 1842 Views
Chapters 16-18: A Very Frosty Christmas, A Sluggish Memory, Birthday Surprises *NM*
29/10/2010 05:40:39 PM
- 955 Views
Characters: The Trio, Fleur, Scrimgeour, Percy, Remus, Slughorn,... *NM*
29/10/2010 05:43:02 PM
- 1039 Views
Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour
29/10/2010 08:51:58 PM
- 1856 Views
Re: Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour
02/11/2010 06:23:04 PM
- 1745 Views
Anything else? *NM*
29/10/2010 05:44:04 PM
- 846 Views
Chapters 19-21: Elf Tails, Lord Voldemort's Requests, The Unknowable Room *NM*
01/11/2010 02:00:22 PM
- 744 Views
Characters: The Trio, the elves, Draco, Dumbledore,... *NM*
01/11/2010 02:00:56 PM
- 1068 Views
the twins, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Voldemort, Draco and Tonks
01/11/2010 02:08:32 PM
- 1592 Views
Anything else? *NM*
01/11/2010 02:01:27 PM
- 869 Views
I want to hear the joke about the hag, the Healer and the Mimbulus mimbletonia. *NM*
01/11/2010 02:10:11 PM
- 1464 Views
Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
03/11/2010 09:52:12 PM
- 1785 Views
Re: Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
03/11/2010 09:54:05 PM
- 2066 Views
Re: Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
08/11/2010 01:54:59 PM
- 1732 Views
Chapters 22-24: After the Burial, Horcruxes, Sectumsempra
03/11/2010 09:50:17 PM
- 1997 Views
Characters. *NM*
03/11/2010 09:50:33 PM
- 991 Views
Malfoy, Ron & Hermione, Slughorn, Voldemort, Snape and Ginny.
04/11/2010 12:12:57 AM
- 1747 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
03/11/2010 09:50:50 PM
- 883 Views
Harry wrong again, house elves, horcruxes, free will, well hidden clues and some irony *DH spoiler*
03/11/2010 10:35:20 PM
- 1713 Views
Re: Stuff.
04/11/2010 04:28:04 AM
- 1783 Views
Re: Stuff. *spoilers for book 7*
04/11/2010 09:10:19 AM
- 1797 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
- 1626 Views

Chapters 25-27: The Seer Overheard, The Cave, The Lightning-Struck Tower
05/11/2010 05:37:42 PM
- 1611 Views
Characters: Harry, Trelawney, Dumbledore, Draco, Snape. And maybe some other people. *NM*
05/11/2010 05:38:19 PM
- 856 Views
Romilda, Snape, Trelawny, Draco, Dumbledore, Voldemort, Harry *spoilers book 7*
05/11/2010 07:34:01 PM
- 1712 Views
Anything else? *NM*
05/11/2010 05:39:43 PM
- 891 Views
I like how good magic is not flashy. Also, a Tolkien thing
05/11/2010 07:55:27 PM
- 1700 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
- 1944 Views
Chapters 28-30: Flight of the Prince, The Phoenix Lament, The White Tomb. *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:12 PM
- 992 Views
Characters. *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:25 PM
- 829 Views
Snape, Lupin, Hermione & Ron, the Order, Mrs Weasley & Fleur, Luna & Neville, Scrimgeour, Ginny *DH*
09/11/2010 02:20:01 PM
- 1642 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:40 PM
- 957 Views
Spoilers.
09/11/2010 02:26:38 PM
- 1628 Views
Re: Spoilers.
09/11/2010 04:49:06 PM
- 1689 Views
I'm assuming not even the Ministry knows 100% what she did.
13/11/2010 12:26:14 AM
- 1779 Views
Very true.
15/11/2010 01:48:36 PM
- 1779 Views
Not much, no, but there's one fairly crucial mention.
15/11/2010 04:37:23 PM
- 1742 Views
With my keen attention to detail, I somehow missed that.
Another good catch!
15/11/2010 09:36:37 PM
- 1921 Views

Anything else? *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:53 PM
- 839 Views
We did the Harry Potter marathon thing on Sunday
09/11/2010 02:28:08 PM
- 1748 Views
This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies.
09/11/2010 04:34:33 PM
- 1782 Views
Re: This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies.
09/11/2010 04:36:29 PM
- 1756 Views
I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
15/11/2010 04:45:48 PM
- 1874 Views
Re: I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
15/11/2010 04:50:57 PM
- 1684 Views