CHAPDISC: HBP4, Horace Slughorn

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 143330

Thanks, Alla! I couldn't add much but "I agree" to other answers on 
the thread, but these two caught my eye.

> 9. What was your very first impression of Horace Slughorn?  I
> mean, particularly, if it's possible for you to recall before you
> read anything about him on the HPFGU. 

Jen: I had a positive impression of Slughorn, despite his obvious 
failings. He struck me as another wacky, older friend of 
Dumbledore's, along the lines of Mad-Eye, but with a hedonist bent 
instead of a paranoid one. JKR is so good at drawing characters who 
are almost caricatures, until she shows us hints of deeper 
struggles. For me, Slughorn's moment came when he mentioned 
traveling around, moving his piano from Muggle house to Muggle 
house, sadly giving up on his hampers of sweets and Quidditch 
tickets. I wondered later if he wasn't trying to keep himself from 
being put into a position like Pettigrew, where his hand would be 
forced and he could either die or become another servant of 
Voldemort. It's not exactly noble, but none of JKR's characters are 
purely noble, all have their weaknesses, and any attempt to defy 
Voldemort appears to be an act of courage in Potterverse. Or at 
least, Dumbledore didn't seem to look down on Slughorn for his 
choice, even if Harry did. 

Also, I snipped that question about the symbolism of Dumbledore and 
Slughorn working side-to-side in unison, but it did look like a hint 
they were meant to be viewed as equals, more than say 
Mcgonagall/Snape and Dumbledore. Age, experience, working together 
as colleagues, etc., diminished the power differential between them.


> 10. We know that Harry does not ask questions about his parents
> even in those rare situations when he has the chance to do so.
> Here Harry meets the man who taught his mother, who seems to like
> his mother very much and Harry is still not asking him any
> questions about Lily. What do you think about it?

Jen: Grrrrr. You mean besides JKR stringing this out as long as she 
can, refusing to spill the beans on Lily? ;)

OK, a reason inside the story. Well, mainly I think it was Harry's 
age & circumstance. This is the first year since year 3 that Harry 
hasn't been actively in danger while at Hogwarts (well, and year 3 
with the Dementors wasn't a piece of cake).  He's enjoying himself 
in HBP, acting like any boy of 16 who thinks mainly about friends, 
rivals and luurve in no certain order. Danger is forestalled for the 
moment, seen only in dark hints like Dumbledore's withered hand and 
Draco's increasing obsession. 

Also, Harry doesn't think of Slughorn as someone he could confide 
in, not like a Lupin or Sirius, and once Harry attempted to retrieve 
the memory, Slughorn wouldn't be alone with him.

Jen