Thoughts On HBP—Oddities/Horcruxes/Snape/LOLLIPOPS/R.A.B

[Someone]

No: HPFGUIDX 133377

First off, I have to say that I enjoyed this book very much. 
Standing alone, it ranks as one of JKR's best. Yet before bestowing 
my praise upon HBP there are a few things which I just *have* to get 
off my chest; things which perplexed me a little:

•	As a few others have noted JKR seemed a bit "checklisty" in 
the way she (none too subtly IMO) went about addressing certain 
concerns of the fandom. Chapter Two, especially seemed to work out 
very neatly by my reckoning; and when reading DD admonishing the 
Dursleys I couldn't help but think of a few *particular* HPfGU 
posters with a wry grin on my face.
•	The shedding of a number of over-cooked sub-plots made for a 
leaner and more focused read IMO, but it still begs the question: 
why did JKR develop them in the first place? What happened to SPEW? 
Grawp? The DA?  The Sorting Hat's Message? Neville? Don't get me 
wrong; I don't think this actually detracts from HBP—if anything, it 
detracts from OOTP: what was the *point* of all those different 
strands? If you ask me (and again this isn't a criticism of HBP in 
itself) JKR seems extremely conscious of the fact that she went 
*way* over length with OOTP, and here made a concerted effort to cut 
down.
•	Probably the only way in which this detracted from the read, 
IMO was with regard to the characters and Hogwarts itself. Was it 
just me or did at times HBP feel as if it wasn't really written by 
JKR at all? I don't know about you, but I had a little trouble 
identifying many of the characters we've all grown to love over the 
series; the *dialogue*, in particular, always so distinctive, 
sometimes just felt 
flat. Hermione was far more dimwitted than 
usual in this book (maybe just the love bug kicking in there), and 
the less said about Ginny the better (one of the few parts of the 
book I actually hated was that nonsense at the end between her and 
Harry; almost as much as Lupin/Tonks
yuck!!!).
•	Finally (hurrah, I hear you cry!), Hogwarts. Usually it's so 
rich in detail, standing vivid in my imagination; I've always had 
the feeling that I was actually there. I didn't really get that 
feeling in this book; I can't expound on that musing any better, but 
did anyone else kinda share that feeling? Maybe you can help me 
explain myself a bit better


So, I guess what I'm saying is that HBP just didn't quite "fit in" 
with the books preceding it. Still, it was, *on its own*, probably 
the best book since PoA for me. I did like Harry in this book. I did 
like the new characters Slughorn and Scrimgeour. I *loved* Malfoy— 
can't wait to see what happens to him and his family! The Horcruxes 
too were a very elegant way of tying things together. Like others, I 
have my suspicions that Harry is the sixth. During DD's explication 
I was *certain*, when he got to GH, that he was going to tell Harry 
as much, but alas, no.

As for Snape? I'm still not sure about anything except that he 
really is at the very heart of it all! The idea that the death was 
prearranged with DD seems a little dodgy to me; my favored theory 
remains that Snape is in it for himself and, motivated by some sort 
of personal grievance with Voldy, wants to bring him down himself if 
he can manage it. As to his actions in HBP, my view is that, in a 
moment of weakness, he acceded to Narcissa (hmmm
any history between 
these two?) and entered into the UV. I think Snape probably guessed 
that Draco wouldn't be up to cold-blooded murder, and to preserve 
his own life (and thus his chance of revenge against Voldy!), was 
forced into a situation where he had to murder DD himself. Yet 
Snape, knowing Voldy's penchant for playing favourites 
and `rewarding' his helpers, probably feels he's now got Voldy right 
where he wants him, and I for one believe the Half-Blood Prince is a 
match for him


I'm thinking also that LOLLIPOPS can only have been strengthened by 
HBP (as much as I dislike that theory). I can't believe that DD 
would buy all that claptrap about Snape's "remorse" re: the Prophecy 
and the Potters, when he knew full well that Snape despised James. I 
can only think that DD was aware of something between Snape and 
Lily, whether it be unrequited love, etc, or perhaps even something 
more simple than that (eg. Snape and Lily as potions buddies? I'm 
sure they must at least have had a healthy respect for each other's 
abilities
)

Also liked the R.A.B touch at the end. Like everyone else my first 
thought was Regulus Black; but I'm still not quite sure. I've also 
been thinking of the possibility of it being one of the proprietors 
of Borgin & Burkes, most likely Burke. Can anyone tell me what *his* 
first name was???

As for Harry not going back to Hogwarts, at least not in the normal 
sense, I'm not too worried. The maneuvering of characters from 
Privet Drive to the Burrow to Diagon Alley to the Hogwarts Express 
to Hogwarts is starting to get a little monotonous IMO. With JKR 
wanting to tie everything together in book seven, I suppose this 
routine might just take up too much space in the final volume. 

Anyway, those are my first impressions; interested to hear what 
everyone else still has to say.

John.