I'm with y'all on the Spidey 2-ness of the "We can't be together" speech. Though I have seen that about a million times elsewhere too.

Two other references that occurred to me were the: 24-ness of the Snape scene at the end. It seemed like he was going all Jack with the doing bad things for the right reasons.

Could be wishful thinking on my part there.

And: the LOTR-ness of the dead bodies under the water in the cave.

Must confess that my least favorite scene was the entire cave section.

Then again, I was 22 hours into it and perhaps not at my discerning best. Must reread.

Beyond these things that sort of took me out of the story, I loved it a lot.

Could be wishful thinking on my part there.

I definitely think that Snape was following Dumbledore's orders. There was that moment that Hagrid (I think) overheard DD telling SS to do something that SS didn't want to do. I bet that thing was killing DD if the situation was needed. It paralleled DD asked HP to force him to drink in the cave. There was also SS's reaction to being called a coward. SS always seemed to respect DD and DD was the only person to completely trust SS. Killing him must've been really emotionally difficult to do. Poor Snape. He's now completely alone. He needs a hug.

As I was plowing through, I kept startling myself by laughing outloud, or shouting "NO!", or offering a big "HUH!"

I was worried after Pheonix. I didn't love it so much. Prince has completely won me back to the fold.

Wordy McWord.

My favourite HP book so far. Man. Man. So many things I enjoyed. Really looking forward to the discussion. In the interim, there's HPB_Chapters over at LJ, for anyone who wants to post a chapter-by-chapter review, or just read other people's thoughts.

I think Jilli is going to love this book.

eta I totally, totally, totally agree with Melponene. Yes. For this reason I spent the last 3 chapters of the book crying like a baby. I had the whole horrified 'OMG, Draco's supposed to kill DUMBLEDORE, not Harry! OMG! They're arguing because Dumbledore's telling Snape he may have to kill him, and Snape is all 'no way', and now Hagrid's overheard bits and the trio are going to just think that Snape's Eeeevil, and he's not, he's not, he's a heroic unappreciated woobie martyr guy!' thing a little earlier on, and once I'd decided that nothing else in the book contradicted it, and now I'm totally aboard the Snape Is Still Loyal To Dumbledore train. Now with added tragedy. It's so fucking GREEK, man.

HP VI -- I had the some of the same thoughts as Melpomene ** I assumed that Snape was acting with Dumbledore's knowledge if not under his orders. The situation was hopeless -- Dumbledore was going to be killed anyway. Snape doing the killing would have protected Snape and made him helpful in defeating Voldemort. Also, if that Unbreakable Vow really is unbreakable, then Snape had no choice at that point -- he had to kill Dumbledore. I think Snape told Dumbledore of the vow earlier, so Dumbledore knew what was going to happen.

Also, I wonder if Dumbledore was dying? Was the badly injured hand just not healing (like Bill's injuries) or was it a symptom of a poison that was killing Dumbledore?

Other random thoughts -- I liked how Luna and Neville came when called. Sad to see that the other DA members did not -- but then they weren't at the Ministry last year, so they may have been more reluctant to confront the Deatheaters.

I liked the lucky potion story, but doesn't it raise the question that Harry et al should carry that Lucky potion with them in the event they run into Voldemort or any more Death Eaters? I understand it can't be taken every day, but a shot before certain combat sounds like a good idea.

I got a bit of the Spider-Man 2 vibe in Harry-Ginny's last conversation, but didn't mind that it was in HP VI as well. If it was the right thing to do, then JK Rowling should do it regardless of what movie may be out at the time or the year before. **

Fay--I am as one with you in this.

Poor Snape, with his great nobility and sacrifice which no one can see. Just about killed me. I also loved the way the Harry/Dumbledore relationship played out. When Dumbledore said he was all right because "I'm with you," after the cave scene, that's when the tears began for me.

Lupin/Tonks? So PERFECT.

I think that Dumbledore was already dying from the poison. Ok, thinking back this is how I think it went down:

Chapter 2 Snape makes the Unbreakable Vow to Narcissa. Dumbledore knows about it later on so I'm certain that Snape told him. If DD had found out the plan to kill him another way, he wouldn't have trusted Snape. So DD knew that Draco or Snape were to kill him. He prepared Harry all year for his death. He told Harry about the Horcruxes, repeatedly mentioned that he wasn't afraid to die and that he wasn't important in the grand scheme of things. Snape killing him prevented Draco from fracturing his soul and now Voldemorte wouldn't dream that Snape is working against him. To sacrifice yourself for others is an act of love. Voldemorte wouldn't understand that DD would choose to die for an unimportant like Draco. It leaves Snape with an opening to cripple Voldie during the Voldie/Harry showdown.

Another point in the Snape is good is when battling Harry. Harry kept trying to curse Snape and Snape only blocked them. He never attacked Harry when it would have been an ideal time to do it. He even gave Harry pointers until Harry called him a coward

HP VI -- ** I agree that there is a big clue in Snape being really angry when Harry calls him a coward. Snape, I think, has shown the courage of obeying Dumbledore, even though it meant that he must kill Dumbledore. It was the same kind of courage that Harry showed in the cave, Harry just doesn't know it yet.

I also wonder if Dumbledore might be viewed as dying to protect Harry -- in which case, would that instill some additional protection on Harry? Or did Dumbledore die to protect Snape and/or Malfoy?

Finally, since Dumbledore will get his own portrait in the Headmaster's office now, isn't it important to keep the school open and McDonnagal (sp) as Headmistress rather than some Ministry stoge? There may be ways he can still help with the fight -- and help Harry.

Rowling has said that Book VII will not be for at least 2 years. The woman needs to start writing NOW. **

Some more thoughts:

Snape being the HBP was really a surprise. I always assumed that he was a pureblood. Tonks and Riddle's moms losing their powers were to hint at what happened with Snape's mom. She was a witch, married a muggle, and he turned abusive. She was shown cowering from him in Snape's memories so I think she must've lost control over her powers. Snape might've turned to the dark arts as a way to protect himself and his mother from his dad. Since Snape, is known as Lucius' lapdog, Lucius might've become an older brother/surrogate father to look up to and that's how he recruited into the DE. When he saw what they did, he backed out. Eventually, I think Dumbledore became Snape's father figure, in a sense. He's listen to him yet still act like a petulent child when he didn't get his way.

Ooh, and RAB is totally Regulas Black. Mundungus's seemingly pointless b-story actually had a point. RAB was definitely a DE (referring to Voldie as the Dark Lord), knew he was going to die, and didn't seem to like Voldie too much. Regulas was described to have died when he wanted to back out of the DE. Some other boards have pointed out that in OotP, a gold locket was found during the summer cleaning at Gimmauld Place. It was thrown out but we know that Kreacher liked to save old Black keepsakes. He would have saved it if he found it. Then there's Mundungus stealing things from the Black household. He might've found the locket but now, with him in Azkaban, who knows where it could be.

Was I the only one who kind of felt bad for Draco? He took glee in other's misfortune but he's never really seen it personally. He would have only heard from the gloating of DEs. Seeing up close and personal was completely different, and Draco didn't seem to like it very much. Poor boy. I hope Snape keeps him safe.

Speculation is so much fun.

Even Harry feels sorry for Draco by the end of the book. A little, anyway. I also assumed that RAB was Regulus, but it's entirely possible that she's just fucking with us.

The Half-Blood Prince thing seemed a bit pointless to me. I didn't feel like it had enough relevence to the plot to merit being the title of the book. Also I wanted to smack some sense into Harry. And Dumbledore at times, actually.

Heh. I haven't read it yet (my copy *should* be delivered to the office tomorrow), but I can't resist checking in here, and the posts of nothing but whitefont is cracking me up!