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.
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
3290 Views
General comments on the book.
- 18/10/2010 06:14:10 PM
1932 Views
Suggestions.
- 18/10/2010 06:18:46 PM
1987 Views
*cough*
- 09/11/2010 09:24:21 AM
1847 Views
Chapters 1-3: The Other Minister, Spinner's End, Will and Won't.
- 18/10/2010 06:21:55 PM
2193 Views
Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
- 18/10/2010 06:25:12 PM
2206 Views
Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
- 18/10/2010 06:55:06 PM
2219 Views
Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
- 19/10/2010 01:07:59 AM
2206 Views
*spoilers for book 7* an assortment of characters
- 19/10/2010 01:01:35 AM
2171 Views
Plotting and writing.
- 18/10/2010 06:27:40 PM
1728 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
1995 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
1950 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
2045 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 18/10/2010 06:28:16 PM
1011 Views
Dumbledore-centered.
- 19/10/2010 01:03:05 AM
2081 Views
Chapters 4-6: Horace Slughorn, An Excess of Phlegm, Draco's Detour. *NM*
- 20/10/2010 03:44:39 PM
1147 Views
Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
- 20/10/2010 03:46:47 PM
2120 Views
Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
- 20/10/2010 05:27:26 PM
2140 Views
(Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
- 20/10/2010 09:25:20 PM
2196 Views
Re: (Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
- 20/10/2010 09:46:08 PM
2089 Views
Re: (Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
- 20/10/2010 11:20:28 PM
1955 Views
Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
- 20/10/2010 10:15:58 PM
2095 Views
Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
- 20/10/2010 09:23:04 PM
1981 Views
Re: Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
- 20/10/2010 09:56:28 PM
1951 Views
Re: Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
- 20/10/2010 10:17:23 PM
2147 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 20/10/2010 03:48:07 PM
1002 Views
So. Inferi are zombies aren't they? I just realised. Ick. Do they eat brains? *NM*
- 20/10/2010 09:24:03 PM
1054 Views
I was kind of disappointed that Harry didn't remark on that fact.
*NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:24:11 PM
1112 Views
*NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:24:11 PM
1112 Views
Chapters 7-9: Slug Club, Snape Victorious, The Half-Blood Prince *NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:23:03 PM
1166 Views
Characters *NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:23:24 PM
1096 Views
Harry, Romilda, Malfoy (in luuuve), Snape, Lavender Brown, McGonagall, Hermione and Slughorn.
- 22/10/2010 07:26:19 PM
2113 Views
Love is in the air, evidently.
- 22/10/2010 07:54:35 PM
2065 Views
Slytherin had been in need of new blood for a long time. (And assorted other comments.)
- 22/10/2010 10:34:49 PM
2063 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
1825 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:23:37 PM
1096 Views
Dumbledore, patronuses and the DADA job.
- 22/10/2010 07:27:23 PM
2014 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 22/10/2010 07:23:50 PM
1113 Views
I believe in Wrackspurts, too. And some questions.
- 22/10/2010 07:28:04 PM
1864 Views
I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
- 22/10/2010 09:58:27 PM
1954 Views
Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
- 23/10/2010 05:34:25 PM
1959 Views
Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
- 25/10/2010 10:35:43 AM
2012 Views
Chapters 10-12: The House of Gaunt, Hermione's Helping Hand, Silver and Opals. *NM*
- 25/10/2010 05:00:02 PM
1167 Views
Characters: The Gaunts, the Trio, Hagrid, and many more. *NM*
- 25/10/2010 05:02:07 PM
1117 Views
Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right).
- 25/10/2010 06:15:23 PM
2175 Views
*lol*
- 25/10/2010 06:39:19 PM
1988 Views
Re: Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right).
- 26/10/2010 09:23:09 AM
1921 Views
Trelawny, Ogden, Gaunt, Ron, Hermione, Ron and Harry
- 25/10/2010 10:23:55 PM
1907 Views
Plotting and writing.
- 25/10/2010 05:03:16 PM
1998 Views
Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
- 25/10/2010 05:37:28 PM
2051 Views
Re: Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
- 26/10/2010 09:46:47 AM
1924 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 25/10/2010 05:03:32 PM
920 Views
Dumbledore still sounds like Stephen Fry. And reflections on the nature of Potions class.
- 25/10/2010 05:11:24 PM
1879 Views
It's like baking, I think.
- 25/10/2010 05:32:42 PM
1970 Views
Yes, exactly like baking - and advanced baking involves experimenting, substituting, improvising.
- 25/10/2010 06:42:42 PM
2070 Views
Also, Parseltongue - is Harry that thick, or is it a magic thing?
- 25/10/2010 05:18:41 PM
1949 Views
I think it's a magic thing.
- 25/10/2010 05:34:09 PM
1952 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
1934 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
1962 Views
parseltongue
- 25/10/2010 10:24:46 PM
2071 Views
Interesting how many of our remarks are along similar lines.
*NM*
- 25/10/2010 10:27:30 PM
979 Views
*NM*
- 25/10/2010 10:27:30 PM
979 Views
Chapters 13-15: The Secret Riddle, Felix Felicis, The Unbreakable Vow *NM*
- 27/10/2010 04:16:28 PM
1104 Views
Characters: The Trio, Ginny, Tom Riddle, Draco,... *NM*
- 27/10/2010 04:17:12 PM
1091 Views
Dumbledore, Voldemort, Ron & Hermione, Harry, Ginny, Luna
- 27/10/2010 10:31:39 PM
1989 Views
My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
- 29/10/2010 01:47:20 PM
1922 Views
Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
- 29/10/2010 09:06:16 PM
1919 Views
Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
- 29/10/2010 11:02:15 PM
1995 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 27/10/2010 04:17:26 PM
888 Views
plot and writing.
- 27/10/2010 10:30:14 PM
1976 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 27/10/2010 04:17:42 PM
946 Views
Re: Anything else?
- 27/10/2010 10:30:55 PM
2109 Views
I wonder if that's actually true, though.
- 28/10/2010 10:39:20 AM
2140 Views
Re: I wonder if that's actually true, though.
- 28/10/2010 10:44:22 AM
1962 Views
Crabbe and Goyle show us what happens when you fail (most of? all of?) your OWLs.
- 29/10/2010 02:10:39 PM
2077 Views
Chapters 16-18: A Very Frosty Christmas, A Sluggish Memory, Birthday Surprises *NM*
- 29/10/2010 05:40:39 PM
1099 Views
Characters: The Trio, Fleur, Scrimgeour, Percy, Remus, Slughorn,... *NM*
- 29/10/2010 05:43:02 PM
1166 Views
Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour
- 29/10/2010 08:51:58 PM
2099 Views
Re: Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour
- 02/11/2010 06:23:04 PM
1994 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 29/10/2010 05:44:04 PM
985 Views
Chapters 19-21: Elf Tails, Lord Voldemort's Requests, The Unknowable Room *NM*
- 01/11/2010 02:00:22 PM
864 Views
Characters: The Trio, the elves, Draco, Dumbledore,... *NM*
- 01/11/2010 02:00:56 PM
1219 Views
the twins, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Voldemort, Draco and Tonks
- 01/11/2010 02:08:32 PM
1835 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 01/11/2010 02:01:27 PM
981 Views
I want to hear the joke about the hag, the Healer and the Mimbulus mimbletonia. *NM*
- 01/11/2010 02:10:11 PM
1637 Views
Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
- 03/11/2010 09:52:12 PM
2015 Views
Re: Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
- 03/11/2010 09:54:05 PM
2302 Views
Re: Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
- 08/11/2010 01:54:59 PM
1986 Views
Chapters 22-24: After the Burial, Horcruxes, Sectumsempra
- 03/11/2010 09:50:17 PM
2217 Views
Characters. *NM*
- 03/11/2010 09:50:33 PM
1122 Views
Malfoy, Ron & Hermione, Slughorn, Voldemort, Snape and Ginny.
- 04/11/2010 12:12:57 AM
2032 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 03/11/2010 09:50:50 PM
996 Views
Harry wrong again, house elves, horcruxes, free will, well hidden clues and some irony *DH spoiler*
- 03/11/2010 10:35:20 PM
1971 Views
Re: Stuff.
- 04/11/2010 04:28:04 AM
2005 Views
Re: Stuff. *spoilers for book 7*
- 04/11/2010 09:10:19 AM
2069 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
1846 Views
- 04/11/2010 01:23:01 PM
1846 Views
Chapters 25-27: The Seer Overheard, The Cave, The Lightning-Struck Tower
- 05/11/2010 05:37:42 PM
1848 Views
Characters: Harry, Trelawney, Dumbledore, Draco, Snape. And maybe some other people. *NM*
- 05/11/2010 05:38:19 PM
971 Views
Romilda, Snape, Trelawny, Draco, Dumbledore, Voldemort, Harry *spoilers book 7*
- 05/11/2010 07:34:01 PM
1996 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 05/11/2010 05:39:43 PM
1003 Views
I like how good magic is not flashy. Also, a Tolkien thing
- 05/11/2010 07:55:27 PM
1935 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
2185 Views
Chapters 28-30: Flight of the Prince, The Phoenix Lament, The White Tomb. *NM*
- 09/11/2010 02:13:12 PM
1127 Views
Characters. *NM*
- 09/11/2010 02:13:25 PM
947 Views
Snape, Lupin, Hermione & Ron, the Order, Mrs Weasley & Fleur, Luna & Neville, Scrimgeour, Ginny *DH*
- 09/11/2010 02:20:01 PM
1900 Views
Plotting and writing. *NM*
- 09/11/2010 02:13:40 PM
1071 Views
Spoilers.
- 09/11/2010 02:26:38 PM
1885 Views
Re: Spoilers.
- 09/11/2010 04:49:06 PM
1928 Views
I'm assuming not even the Ministry knows 100% what she did.
- 13/11/2010 12:26:14 AM
2022 Views
Very true.
- 15/11/2010 01:48:36 PM
2015 Views
Not much, no, but there's one fairly crucial mention.
- 15/11/2010 04:37:23 PM
1980 Views
With my keen attention to detail, I somehow missed that.
Another good catch!
- 15/11/2010 09:36:37 PM
2167 Views
Another good catch!
- 15/11/2010 09:36:37 PM
2167 Views
Anything else? *NM*
- 09/11/2010 02:13:53 PM
981 Views
We did the Harry Potter marathon thing on Sunday
- 09/11/2010 02:28:08 PM
2004 Views
This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies.
- 09/11/2010 04:34:33 PM
2037 Views
Re: This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies.
- 09/11/2010 04:36:29 PM
1988 Views
I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
- 15/11/2010 04:45:48 PM
2080 Views
Re: I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
- 15/11/2010 04:50:57 PM
1912 Views


Some comments inside. *DH Spoilers*