Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
Legolas Send a noteboard - 25/10/2010 05:37:28 PM
Much of what Harry says about Malfoy, obviously, but also Hermione's comments on Malfoy, the way Harry is proven wrong (and hence Hermione right) on "how many girls have been princes?", and so on. Oh, and Ron's comment about how it doesn't matter what Dark stuff is smuggled out turns out to be a prediction for the end of that very same chapter.
Trelawney's rambling seems like it should mean something - the "that can't be right" only makes that more likely - but it seems too vague to be very helpful. Unless we figure out who "the questioner" is... Dumbledore? Making the "dark young man" Malfoy? It's a bit of a stretch.
The scenes with the Gaunts are a strong attack on blood purity ideas, what with their degeneration and incompetence due to being inbred so badly - but still thinking they're better than everyone else. Even more misogynist than ordinary Death Eaters, no shock there. Marvolo's treasures end up playing an important role, and note the reference to the Peverell coat of arms, which will be important in book seven. At least, that name will be, I don't remember if the ring itself is related to the "Deathly Hallows"...
The Ministry arresting Stan: has to be a comment on contemporary politics, surely. Scrimgeour's credit in the eyes of the readers and the more discerning part of the wizarding community sinks rather fast, with that sort of thing.
Somewhat bizarrely, Harry suddenly is able to do non-verbal spells from the book, while sucking at them in class. Is this just a matter of needing to be relaxed enough and succeeding precisely because he's not under stress and just giving it a go? Saying that the book is a better teacher, as he does, seems rather absurd otherwise.
The following conversation kind of mirrors what I wrote about Potions below - surely students should be encouraged to find new spells or ways of doing magic, obviously in such a way that they don't harm themselves. But no, Hermione only talks about "Ministry-approved" spells. One wonders what red state American wizards would think about this.
Trelawney's rambling seems like it should mean something - the "that can't be right" only makes that more likely - but it seems too vague to be very helpful. Unless we figure out who "the questioner" is... Dumbledore? Making the "dark young man" Malfoy? It's a bit of a stretch.
The scenes with the Gaunts are a strong attack on blood purity ideas, what with their degeneration and incompetence due to being inbred so badly - but still thinking they're better than everyone else. Even more misogynist than ordinary Death Eaters, no shock there. Marvolo's treasures end up playing an important role, and note the reference to the Peverell coat of arms, which will be important in book seven. At least, that name will be, I don't remember if the ring itself is related to the "Deathly Hallows"...
The Ministry arresting Stan: has to be a comment on contemporary politics, surely. Scrimgeour's credit in the eyes of the readers and the more discerning part of the wizarding community sinks rather fast, with that sort of thing.
Somewhat bizarrely, Harry suddenly is able to do non-verbal spells from the book, while sucking at them in class. Is this just a matter of needing to be relaxed enough and succeeding precisely because he's not under stress and just giving it a go? Saying that the book is a better teacher, as he does, seems rather absurd otherwise.
The following conversation kind of mirrors what I wrote about Potions below - surely students should be encouraged to find new spells or ways of doing magic, obviously in such a way that they don't harm themselves. But no, Hermione only talks about "Ministry-approved" spells. One wonders what red state American wizards would think about this.
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
1934 Views
Suggestions.
- 18/10/2010 06:18:46 PM
1987 Views
*cough*
- 09/11/2010 09:24:21 AM
1848 Views
Chapters 1-3: The Other Minister, Spinner's End, Will and Won't.
- 18/10/2010 06:21:55 PM
2194 Views
Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
- 18/10/2010 06:25:12 PM
2207 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
2207 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
2082 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
2142 Views
(Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
- 20/10/2010 09:25:20 PM
2197 Views
Re: (Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
- 20/10/2010 09:46:08 PM
2089 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
1983 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
2015 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
1865 Views
I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
- 22/10/2010 09:58:27 PM
1955 Views
Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
- 23/10/2010 05:34:25 PM
1960 Views
Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
- 25/10/2010 10:35:43 AM
2013 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
2176 Views
*lol*
- 25/10/2010 06:39:19 PM
1989 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
1999 Views
Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
- 25/10/2010 05:37:28 PM
2052 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
1881 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
1953 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
1936 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
1963 Views
parseltongue
- 25/10/2010 10:24:46 PM
2072 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
1990 Views
My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
- 29/10/2010 01:47:20 PM
1923 Views
Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
- 29/10/2010 09:06:16 PM
1920 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
1963 Views
Crabbe and Goyle show us what happens when you fail (most of? all of?) your OWLs.
- 29/10/2010 02:10:39 PM
2078 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
2101 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
1836 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
1987 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
2034 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
1848 Views
- 04/11/2010 01:23:01 PM
1848 Views
Chapters 25-27: The Seer Overheard, The Cave, The Lightning-Struck Tower
- 05/11/2010 05:37:42 PM
1849 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
1936 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
2187 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
1886 Views
Re: Spoilers.
- 09/11/2010 04:49:06 PM
1929 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
1981 Views
With my keen attention to detail, I somehow missed that.
Another good catch!
- 15/11/2010 09:36:37 PM
2169 Views
Another good catch!
- 15/11/2010 09:36:37 PM
2169 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
2081 Views
Re: I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
- 15/11/2010 04:50:57 PM
1913 Views


Some comments inside. *DH Spoilers*