Well, I'm back. Some comments inside. *DH Spoilers*
StormCrow Send a noteboard - 08/11/2010 02:28:11 PM
House elves show up again in Slughorn's casual reference that he has had them taste all the bottles.
I find myself in Hermoine's court on this one. How could he do this to the elves? Surely he could help them if they found poison, but it seems risky and unfair to the elves.
It is very interesting that Dumbledore would say that as far as he knew no wizard had ever done more than rip his soul in two. This seems a little strange. Surely Grindewald or someone like that has killed more than two people? Of course, it does suggest the strong taboo of killing in the wizarding world. Perhaps he was just referring to the amount of horcruxes made, even if that is not what his words say.
I think this is kind of a misleading statement by Dumbledore, but that he means he only knows of someone creating 1 horcrux (splitting their soul in two), outside of what they're finding out about Voldemort. Sure other wizards have killed loads of people, but not made horcruxes each time. Grindewald would be a good example of that, though I got the impression he made inferi do most of the dirty work.
His statement blurs the line between ripping a soul and creating a horcrux, to me. You can kill someone, rip your soul, and then it either heals or doesn't. Unless you set out meaning to create a horcrux when you commit the murder, you just have to face the remorse or personal justification for what you've done.
I am a little fascinated by this (the pacifist in me, perhaps). What of the people killed in battle by the good guys? I cannot remember who kills who, but if Mrs Weasley kills Bellatrix, is her soul broken in two? Would she regret it enough to heal it again? Or when Harry kills Voldemort...
Back to what I was saying above. I would think that the remorse for killing Bellatrix and Voldemort would be pretty easy for them to get over and their souls would mend fairly quickly from those kills, since they'd feel justified in making them. Harry has had quite a while to reconcile himself to killing Voldemort, after all.
At any rate, we can start ticking off horcruxes (although if Voldemort split his soul in seven, shouldn't there be six horcruxes to begin with, then five left after he has used one of them to gain a life? Or is it a way of keeping the embodied soul suspended, so that it does not disappear when the body is killed? -- I was always a little unclear on that): the diary. One down, six to go. The ring. Two down...
So there are now four. And Voldemort.
The locket
The cup
Nagini
and Rowena Ravenclaw's tiara, if I am right?
And Harry?
Which brings us to ... 8?
I have always had trouble with this part of the books. Counting is not my strong suit, and I have a strong impression that Dumbeldore's counting is off here too. How does Harry fit in? Is he really a horcrux?
I think you're right on your count, because you have to count Voldemort in his original body. My problem here is that they destroy something that he had already used, by this logic. I'm unclear too on if it would still useful to him in some way if he had already reclaimed the soul fragment from it.
I think Dumbledore had guessed that Harry was the final horcrux and likely assumed that Voldemort had used one to stay alive the first time around. His suspision that Voldemort is still around, from book 1, and his delving for memories involving him imply as much. So, he gave Harry this task knowing one could be a waste of time. Better safe than sorry in his mind.
Edit: I find myself remembering that Dumbledore mentions that the diary is almost treated as a throw away (1st attempt). Maybe he intended to use that as he did, in the school, and make a replacement with Harry? Just a thought.
Doesn't the squeeling baby thing in the train station chapter of DH confirm that Harry had indeed been a horcrux?
And I really enjoy Harry defending the Prince against Hermione's suggestion that he might be bad. If only he knew he was so sure Snape was not a bad guy.
I enjoyed the irony here. Doubly so, once he finds out who the Prince is. It's a good twist that he's been protecting him the whole book, only to find out that it's Snape he's been protecting.
Honestly though, some of those spells should have indicated that he was not a goody 2 shoes. Snape again blurring the lines and showing that a "good guy" does not necessarily have to be a "nice guy." Also, somewhat ironic from this is that Lupin knows the connection between these spells and Snape (from comments in DH about sectumsempra). Harry could have found out who the prince was by asking some of the people he knew and trusted that were at Hogwarts with him.
This message last edited by StormCrow on 08/11/2010 at 02:32:59 PM
The Great Harry Potter Re-read: Book Six, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
18/10/2010 06:12:40 PM
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General comments on the book.
18/10/2010 06:14:10 PM
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Suggestions.
18/10/2010 06:18:46 PM
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*cough*
09/11/2010 09:24:21 AM
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Chapters 1-3: The Other Minister, Spinner's End, Will and Won't.
18/10/2010 06:21:55 PM
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Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
18/10/2010 06:25:12 PM
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Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
18/10/2010 06:55:06 PM
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Re: Characters: The three Ministers, Snape, Narcissa, Bellatrix, Harry, Dumbledore, the Dursleys.
19/10/2010 01:07:59 AM
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*spoilers for book 7* an assortment of characters
19/10/2010 01:01:35 AM
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Plotting and writing.
18/10/2010 06:27:40 PM
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*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
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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
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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
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Anything else? *NM*
18/10/2010 06:28:16 PM
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Dumbledore-centered.
19/10/2010 01:03:05 AM
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Chapters 4-6: Horace Slughorn, An Excess of Phlegm, Draco's Detour. *NM*
20/10/2010 03:44:39 PM
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Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
20/10/2010 03:46:47 PM
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Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
20/10/2010 05:27:26 PM
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(Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
20/10/2010 09:25:20 PM
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Re: (Mostly) on Slughorn, Narcissa and Fleur...
20/10/2010 09:46:08 PM
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Re: Characters: Slughorn, Fleur, the Trio, Draco and Narcissa Malfoy,...
20/10/2010 10:15:58 PM
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Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
20/10/2010 09:23:04 PM
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Re: Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
20/10/2010 09:56:28 PM
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Re: Dumbledore, Slughorn, Tonks, Mr & Mrs Weasley, Hermione, Narcissa and the twins.
20/10/2010 10:17:23 PM
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Anything else? *NM*
20/10/2010 03:48:07 PM
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So. Inferi are zombies aren't they? I just realised. Ick. Do they eat brains? *NM*
20/10/2010 09:24:03 PM
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I was kind of disappointed that Harry didn't remark on that fact. *NM*
22/10/2010 07:24:11 PM
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Chapters 7-9: Slug Club, Snape Victorious, The Half-Blood Prince *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:03 PM
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Characters *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:24 PM
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Harry, Romilda, Malfoy (in luuuve), Snape, Lavender Brown, McGonagall, Hermione and Slughorn.
22/10/2010 07:26:19 PM
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Love is in the air, evidently.
22/10/2010 07:54:35 PM
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Slytherin had been in need of new blood for a long time. (And assorted other comments.)
22/10/2010 10:34:49 PM
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Re: Slytherin had been in need of new blood for a long time. (And assorted other comments.)
25/10/2010 10:33:04 AM
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Plotting and writing. *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:37 PM
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Dumbledore, patronuses and the DADA job.
22/10/2010 07:27:23 PM
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Anything else? *NM*
22/10/2010 07:23:50 PM
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I believe in Wrackspurts, too. And some questions.
22/10/2010 07:28:04 PM
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I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
22/10/2010 09:58:27 PM
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Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
23/10/2010 05:34:25 PM
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Re: I'm not sure if I noticed this before, but awesome Tolkien shout-out there.
25/10/2010 10:35:43 AM
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Chapters 10-12: The House of Gaunt, Hermione's Helping Hand, Silver and Opals. *NM*
25/10/2010 05:00:02 PM
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Characters: The Gaunts, the Trio, Hagrid, and many more. *NM*
25/10/2010 05:02:07 PM
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Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right).
25/10/2010 06:15:23 PM
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*lol*
25/10/2010 06:39:19 PM
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Re: Harry's continued insistence about Malfoy really irritates me (even though he's right).
26/10/2010 09:23:09 AM
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Trelawny, Ogden, Gaunt, Ron, Hermione, Ron and Harry
25/10/2010 10:23:55 PM
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Plotting and writing.
25/10/2010 05:03:16 PM
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Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
25/10/2010 05:37:28 PM
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Re: Amazing amounts of accurate guesswork here, in hindsight.
26/10/2010 09:46:47 AM
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Anything else? *NM*
25/10/2010 05:03:32 PM
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Dumbledore still sounds like Stephen Fry. And reflections on the nature of Potions class.
25/10/2010 05:11:24 PM
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It's like baking, I think.
25/10/2010 05:32:42 PM
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Yes, exactly like baking - and advanced baking involves experimenting, substituting, improvising.
25/10/2010 06:42:42 PM
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Also, Parseltongue - is Harry that thick, or is it a magic thing?
25/10/2010 05:18:41 PM
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I think it's a magic thing.
25/10/2010 05:34:09 PM
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It can be learned actually. Dumbledore implies he knows it and Ron uses it in book 7
25/10/2010 05:55:28 PM
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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
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parseltongue
25/10/2010 10:24:46 PM
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Interesting how many of our remarks are along similar lines. *NM*
25/10/2010 10:27:30 PM
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Chapters 13-15: The Secret Riddle, Felix Felicis, The Unbreakable Vow *NM*
27/10/2010 04:16:28 PM
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Characters: The Trio, Ginny, Tom Riddle, Draco,... *NM*
27/10/2010 04:17:12 PM
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Dumbledore, Voldemort, Ron & Hermione, Harry, Ginny, Luna
27/10/2010 10:31:39 PM
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My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
29/10/2010 01:47:20 PM
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Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
29/10/2010 09:06:16 PM
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Re: My take on Ginny is rather different, I must say... at least this time around.
29/10/2010 11:02:15 PM
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Plotting and writing. *NM*
27/10/2010 04:17:26 PM
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plot and writing.
27/10/2010 10:30:14 PM
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Anything else? *NM*
27/10/2010 04:17:42 PM
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Re: Anything else?
27/10/2010 10:30:55 PM
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I wonder if that's actually true, though.
28/10/2010 10:39:20 AM
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Re: I wonder if that's actually true, though.
28/10/2010 10:44:22 AM
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Crabbe and Goyle show us what happens when you fail (most of? all of?) your OWLs.
29/10/2010 02:10:39 PM
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Chapters 16-18: A Very Frosty Christmas, A Sluggish Memory, Birthday Surprises *NM*
29/10/2010 05:40:39 PM
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Characters: The Trio, Fleur, Scrimgeour, Percy, Remus, Slughorn,... *NM*
29/10/2010 05:43:02 PM
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Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour
29/10/2010 08:51:58 PM
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Re: Mr Weasley, Lupin, Fleur, Harry and Scrimgeour
02/11/2010 06:23:04 PM
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Anything else? *NM*
29/10/2010 05:44:04 PM
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Chapters 19-21: Elf Tails, Lord Voldemort's Requests, The Unknowable Room *NM*
01/11/2010 02:00:22 PM
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Characters: The Trio, the elves, Draco, Dumbledore,... *NM*
01/11/2010 02:00:56 PM
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the twins, Hermione, Ron, Luna, Voldemort, Draco and Tonks
01/11/2010 02:08:32 PM
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Anything else? *NM*
01/11/2010 02:01:27 PM
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I want to hear the joke about the hag, the Healer and the Mimbulus mimbletonia. *NM*
01/11/2010 02:10:11 PM
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Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
03/11/2010 09:52:12 PM
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Re: Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
03/11/2010 09:54:05 PM
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Re: Me too. And is a "hag" just an old witch, or something more specific?
08/11/2010 01:54:59 PM
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Chapters 22-24: After the Burial, Horcruxes, Sectumsempra
03/11/2010 09:50:17 PM
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Characters. *NM*
03/11/2010 09:50:33 PM
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Malfoy, Ron & Hermione, Slughorn, Voldemort, Snape and Ginny.
04/11/2010 12:12:57 AM
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Plotting and writing. *NM*
03/11/2010 09:50:50 PM
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Harry wrong again, house elves, horcruxes, free will, well hidden clues and some irony *DH spoiler*
03/11/2010 10:35:20 PM
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Re: Stuff.
04/11/2010 04:28:04 AM
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Re: Stuff. *spoilers for book 7*
04/11/2010 09:10:19 AM
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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
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Well, I'm back. Some comments inside. *DH Spoilers*
08/11/2010 02:28:11 PM
- 1492 Views
Chapters 25-27: The Seer Overheard, The Cave, The Lightning-Struck Tower
05/11/2010 05:37:42 PM
- 1357 Views
Characters: Harry, Trelawney, Dumbledore, Draco, Snape. And maybe some other people. *NM*
05/11/2010 05:38:19 PM
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Romilda, Snape, Trelawny, Draco, Dumbledore, Voldemort, Harry *spoilers book 7*
05/11/2010 07:34:01 PM
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Anything else? *NM*
05/11/2010 05:39:43 PM
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I like how good magic is not flashy. Also, a Tolkien thing
05/11/2010 07:55:27 PM
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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
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Chapters 28-30: Flight of the Prince, The Phoenix Lament, The White Tomb. *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:12 PM
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Characters. *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:25 PM
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Snape, Lupin, Hermione & Ron, the Order, Mrs Weasley & Fleur, Luna & Neville, Scrimgeour, Ginny *DH*
09/11/2010 02:20:01 PM
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Plotting and writing. *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:40 PM
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Spoilers.
09/11/2010 02:26:38 PM
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Re: Spoilers.
09/11/2010 04:49:06 PM
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I'm assuming not even the Ministry knows 100% what she did.
13/11/2010 12:26:14 AM
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Very true.
15/11/2010 01:48:36 PM
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Not much, no, but there's one fairly crucial mention.
15/11/2010 04:37:23 PM
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With my keen attention to detail, I somehow missed that. Another good catch!
15/11/2010 09:36:37 PM
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Anything else? *NM*
09/11/2010 02:13:53 PM
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We did the Harry Potter marathon thing on Sunday
09/11/2010 02:28:08 PM
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This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies.
09/11/2010 04:34:33 PM
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Re: This is definitely the most painfully altered of the movies.
09/11/2010 04:36:29 PM
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I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
15/11/2010 04:45:48 PM
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Re: I just watched OotP again Saturday night... quite shocking there as well.
15/11/2010 04:50:57 PM
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