Harry Potter and the Halfblood Prince (SPOILERS inside!)

[EducatedMonkey]

I think Draco is going to end up being the real kid in the prophecy. After all, he is the same age as Harry and Neville, his parents are powerful witches/wizard, and you know Voldemort is going to try some lame sh*t on his fam for his failure to kill Dumbledore.

[bird]

No, because the first part of the prophecy says that the kid will be born on July 31st, remember? That's in the 5th book. The only other pureblooded wizard baby that was born on that day that year was Neville Longbottom. I highly doubt Neville's going to be the savior of the day; he was hardly mentioned in this book. And I love him, but c'mon, the kid can't even keep track of his toad. Besides, when Harry (in the 5th book) first hears the full prophecy, he asks Dumbledore why it can't be Neville, since Harry doesn't really want to have to shoulder the burden, and Dumbledore explains that Voldemort revealed which one he perceived to be a threat to him, by trying to kill Harry.

Regardless of all that, Dumbledore told Harry that he was setting too much store by the prophecy (in this book), and I think that's a clue that we shouldn't obsess over it, either.

[fall out girl]

I'm itching to know who R.A.B is...wether Malfoy switches sides...and of course the endless possibilities of dangerous adventures!

I think RAB is Regulus A[I forgot his middle name but apparently it starts with A] Black. You know, Sirius's brother.

This book seemed so...out of place. There was virtually no Crookshanks, Lupin, etc. . And the part with Draco crying in the bathroom? (dude, I so want to rewrite that scene. floofeh slashyness in the bathroom. yay for fanfiction!) The part with Narcissa and Snape in one of the first chapters? Those both scenes just...just...were...like something straight out of fanfiction. I don't know

[attackferret]

fall out girl, I too thought about fanfiction while reading the book.. except for only it was when Ginny and Harry kissed. I read that, and my first thought was 'fanfiction enthusiasts across the world are either ecstatic or bawling right now. hee!' and then I kept going.

[bird]

Originally Posted by fall out girl

I think RAB is Regulus A[I forgot his middle name but apparently it starts with A] Black.

Except he's dead already, which was confirmed in this book. And wasn't he a bad dude? At least, Slughorn said he was in Slytherin and the whole rest of Sirius's family sure ended up being dark wizards and witches. If Regulus was also a Death Eater, it doesn't make sense that he would undermine Voldemort by stealing one of his Horcruxes.

Maybe it's that dude who tried to escape detection at the end of the 5th book, the other former Death Eater besides Snape - what was his name again?

By the way, does she ever explain the etymology behind the name Death Eater? She doesn't, right?

[alkalinesolo]

what if dumbledore comes back... like in lord of the rings where gandalf the grey dies but then comes back as gandalf the white? i have a feeling snape will switch sides too, dumbledore trusted him for some reason...

[bird]

I feel like if that were possible, she would have had his parents come back, too. And what about Sirius? No... I wish he would, but sadly, I think when you're gone, you're gone in the wizarding world.

[attackferret]

I'm with cymraegrrl on this one. Dumbledore was half dead before he got the avada kedavra curse. Avada kedavra immediately kills pretty much whoever it's aimed at, so he's gone. Harry's going to have to be his own counsel in the next book.

[matriarco]

This is probably totally wrong, but I think what Harry has actually is the Horcrux.

[herbi]

Originally Posted by matriarco

This is probably totally wrong, but I think what Harry has actually is the Horcrux.

That would be a brilliant disguise, wouldn't it? He should smash it just in case, to be sure...

[bird]

Originally Posted by matriarco

This is probably totally wrong, but I think what Harry has actually is the Horcrux.

I think the same thing! It's still not clear to me how they know for sure that it's a fake! Just because they found some note? Bah. Anybody could have left it there, including Voldemort himself, as a red herring. They shouldn't take something that important at face value.

I want to go back and read that section again, but I can't just yet because hubby's now reading our copy. The details of the whole end of the book are kind of muddled for me because I was in shock about Dumbledore. I still can't believe she did that.

[walrus]

I just finished the book about a half hour ago. It was so nice to be able to finally delve into this thread. I liked everyone's theories about the next book. I am DYING to find out who R.A.B. is. I don't have many thoughts on the next book at the moment. All I can say is I enjoyed this book thoroughly and I can't wait to see the latest movie in November. Did you guys see the trailer for it? I like how they showed them growing up. And everyone is so handsome and pretty now.

I am very very sad that Dumbledore died. But something inside me tells me that he isn't dead, or he's going to come back. I think he will still play a very strong role in the 7th book. I think Harry is going to be provided with some very valuable info about Dumbledore, Sirius, and Voldemort. Man oh man, I cannot WAIT.

P.S. I always look forward to Fred and George antics, and was disappointed that they didn't have a stronger part in this book. But I'll just re-read the old ones for a laugh.

[matriarco]

Originally Posted by cymraegrrl

I think the same thing! It's still not clear to me how they know for sure that it's a fake! Just because they found some note? Bah. Anybody could have left it there, including Voldemort himself, as a red herring. They shouldn't take something that important at face value.

I, too, can't go back, but I remember it saying something about how it was smaller and didn't have the Slytherin "S." That would be an easy spell, though, and I keep thinking that he should just smash it. But that wouldn't cause any suspense or surprise, now would it?

[mike_in_texas]

After two long days, my neck hurt but I finished the book. Powerful ending. I couldn't sleep for 2 hours. I kept thinking OMG!!!!

I have a couple of thoughts others seem to share. I don't think Snape is evil. I believe he and Dumbledore knew Dumbledore was dying regardless (probably related to the nature of horcruxes and his lifeless hand).

While, I loved this book, my least favorite has immediately become book 3 - Prisoner of Azkaban. Hermione uses a time traveling device (given to her by Dumbledore) to take an insane number of classes ??? A device so powerful, it could potential reverse the deaths or Harry's folks, Sirius, Dumbledore, all the other innocents, and it's only used for academic purposes. Why did Rowling introduce a such a device only to see it never go into action.

Sorry, I didn't mean to grumble. I've loved all six books. Regarding the mysterious R.A.B., I have an idea. Immediately before I read VI, I re-read Order of the Phoenix. In the book, Sirius's brother is briefly mentioned. He was a deatheater, mysteriously left the gang, and was killed by one of its members. His first name was "Regulus". Secondly they're the only characters in the book that I remember has a "B" beginning his last name.

When HP was carrying Dumbledore from the cavern after Dumbledore drank the water, did anyone get a Luke Skywalker - Darth Vader - Death Star vision? I kept visualizing the seen where looks is taking his barely breathing father from the crumbling Death start.

Sorry to rant, I just wanted to put in my 2 cents.

[attackferret]

Originally Posted by mike_in_texas

While, I loved this book, my least favorite has immediately become book 3 - Prisoner of Azkaban. Hermione uses a time traveling device (given to her by Dumbledore) to take an insane number of classes ??? A device so powerful, it could potential reverse the deaths or Harry's folks, Sirius, Dumbledore, all the other innocents, and it's only used for academic purposes. Why did Rowling introduce a such a device only to see it never go into action.

The device actually saved Sirius and Buckbeak, so it did save lives. I think, though, that Hermione stopped using it the next year.. which means that the device went back to the ministry of magic. They no longer had access to that device as the ministry wasn't exactly buddy buddy with the order of the phoenix crowd.