Hbp - What Did You Think?, Spoilers within Options

[Imogen]

I finished at 4 am and was absolutely thrilled with the whole thing. The books seem to have picked up their magic again after such a shock with book 5.

The H/Gness was perfect, and what's the betting that's going to be resumed in Book 7 at the end - or at least we know the potential is there. And such Harryish reasons for breaking things off. Loved the impromptu kiss in the common room as well, and him wrestling with how Ron was going to react. Totally fantastic to finally see that all happening in the flesh.

As for Snape - my jaw just about dropped! The book obviously belonged to someone slightly dodgy because Hermione kept warning about it all the way through, and it seemed possible it might be Snape (who's obviously adept at potions), but I couldn't work out how he could be the HBP, until I was finally told at the end. We all knew Dumbledore was going to go, but not like that. I never thought Snape would kill him - I honestly thought it would happen with Voldemort.

It certainly looks like Snape has reverted to the dark side, exposing the order. But part of me has to wonder if this is a double bluff on JKR's part. We still don't know why Dumbledore trusted him so much. There's some unfinished business here.

The soul dividing thing makes a lot of sense and provides a nice focus for that last book. The hubby (who has now nabbed my copy) is wondering whether a piece of V's soul might be inside Harry himself. Which would be an interesting twist. I'm looking forward to that last book and seeing how everything wraps up.

Loads of other thoughts are buzzing R/Hness - arguments and that lovely scene at the funeral -, Remus and Tonks, Bill and Fleur (Go Fleur after Bill was bitten, but I loved the Phlegm nickname!) Malfoy and what's going to happen to him now. He couldn't kill Dumbledore, so how is he going to cope as a Death Eater (assuming Voldemort accepts him to take his father's place now), how is Harry finally going to learn to block Snape out of his thoughts.

In a word WOW! Great book. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Imogen

[Jerry]

1) Here's where Regulus Black is being discussed. Is it just me or does Sirius not seem so sure of himself?

QUOTE

"Oh, no," said Sirius. "No, he was murdered by Voldemort. Or on Voldemort's orders, more likely, I doubt Regulus was ever important enough to be killed by Voldemort in person. From what I found out after he died, he got in so far, then panicked about what he was being asked to do and tried to back out. Well, you don't just hand in your resignation to Voldemort. It's a lifetime of service or death."

Wasn't Sirius in Azkaban?! When did he found out? Who told him? Why is everything regarding Regulus so vague? Furthermore, it doesn't seem like Sirius is very concerned with details regarding his death or his whereabouts. He takes it for granted. This method had failed with Kreacher - Sirius thought he was somewhere around the house while he went to the Malfoys and and informed them of whatever was going on. I think that Sirius takes it for granted that Regulus Black died, without inquiring specifically when it did happen.

Coupled with the fact that JKR likes to surprise us, and the straightforward statement by R.A.B. - "To the Dark Lord - I know I will be dead long before you read this" I'm forced to conclude that the person is still alive and, also, that it is, indeed, referring to Regulus. Notice also the use of 'Dark Lord' - a death eater reference to Voldemort. Regulus was a death eater. That's unquestioned. But maybe he had faked his own death? After all, Peter Pettigrew did it. Barty Crouch Jr. did it. Why not Regulus?


I stumbled upon this too... It takes place in OotP, in the House of Black...

QUOTE

There was a musical box that emitted a faintly sinister, tinkling tune when wound,... until Ginny had the sense to slam the lid shut; also a heavy locket that none of them could open...

If I'm not mistaken, we may have stumbled onto something big here.


2) Following my belief above that HBP is a setup and keeping in mind that JKR likes to trick, surprise, and throw us all off the real plot, I can interpret the last paragraph of 'Flight of the Prince' in consistency.

QUOTE

Harry neither knew nor cared what the message meant. Only one thing mattered: This was not a horcrux. Dumbledore had weakened himself by drinking that terrible potion for nothing.

A subconscious plot to throw us off the real thing, IMHO. This is Harry's point of view. He's seen Snape plainly kill Dumbledore, what else can he think?

3) Also, what I think are the most important couple of lines in the book (in regards to book 7) can be interpreted in accordance with my theory (though I admit it's not very solid)

QUOTE

Snape gazed for a moment at Dumbledore, and there was revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face. "Severus...please..." Snape raised his wand and pointed it directly at Dumbledore. "Avada Kedavra!"

Snape gazed at him. At him. By a little stretch of definiton and thinking why JKR chose the word 'gaze' and not 'look', we can find room to say that Snape was looking into Dumbledore's mind; into his soul. And saw that Dumbledore has become a horcrux. Right after this momentary gazing, there is "revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his face." Most people assume this hatred was directed at Dumbledore. I think it was directed at Voldemort. Snape was horrified to see a piece of Voldemort inside Dumbledore, and it filled him with immense hatred against Voldemort. (Recalling the argument that Hagrid had let slip in 'Elf Tails', "Dumbledore told him he'd agreed ter do it an' that was all there was to it." IMHO, Snape had told Dumbledore of the Unbreakable Vow. Dumbledore then agreed that if it comes down to that, Snape should kill him, and not attempt to break the Unbreakable Vow.) Right after this hatred encompasses Snape, Dumbledore "reminds" him: "Severus... please" In other words, "Kill me! Don't blow your cover!" Armed with that hatred and with Dumbledore's final consent, Snape raises his wand, points it directly at Dumbledore, and has enough hatred and loathing directed to kill. As Dumbledore requested.
My last thought in this matter, though, is that Snape had not attempted to kill Dumbledore. He had attempted to destroy the horcrux. (Of course, he knew that that would take Dumbledore out, as well) This may explain why Dumbledore was blasted into the air, and not just slumped to the ground, or rolled over, dead. Because a part of Voldemort had been destroyed. Like the ring, like the diary, like Dumbledore, Voldemort's soul-pieces were not destroyed peacefully and quietly.

4) And a small part of me still keeps thinking that Snape never killed Dumbledore. The hatred that fueled the Avada Kedavra hit Voldemort's soul, not Dumbledore in the slightest. It couldn't kill him. The hatred, the driving force behind the curse just wasn't directed at Dumbledore. But the power of the destruction of the soul was so great, though, that Dumbledore was lifted backwords, causing him to fall down below. And the fall was what caused his death. Precarious, I know.

The evidence for a lot of this is very shaky and can be contradicted by other sources, I expect, but it's just my opinion.

Jerry, speculating and up too late

Edit #1: Just noticed the link cranberry27 gave. Seems like I'm not the only one with the Regulus, locket, and OotP thoughts. Thanks for shedding some light on my jumbled thoughts!

Edit #2: Okay, after reading that page from the link, I am absolutely, categorically, unequivocally certain that Snape, however greasy his hair may be, is on our side. And on Dumbledore's.

This post has been edited by Jerry: Jul 20 2005, 05:14 AM