I have been waited for this discussion. Yeah! I have so many sticky notes in my copy of HBP it looks like it has sprouted feathers. LOL
I rather enjoyed the opening, a next break from the how have the Dursley's been mistreating Harry now. I felt it set a tone that this book unlike OOTP was not going to be Harry focused. Harry I think is much less self-centered in this book and the opening chapter made think JKR wanted the reader to know right away. She does a fabulous job of making you feel the Prime Minister's uneasiness. Upon first reading the chapter I knew I wasn't going to like Scrimgeour, still don't, too much arrogance there.
My favorite part
QUOTE
"The trouble is, the other side can do magic too, Prime Minister."
~H~