What was Harry's role in Slughorn's house? WAS: Re: CHAPDISC: HBP4,

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 143453

> Lucianam:
<SNIP>
> Excellent questions! I was really looking forward to discussing 
this 
> chapter, I think Slughorn is so interesting. 

Alla:

Thanks. I also find Slughorn to be very interesting new character, 
in fact probably the most interesting new character introduced in 
books 5 and 6.


Lucianam:
I would just like to 
> add that one of the biggest issues in this chapter, in my opinion, 
> is what exactly was Harry's role in Slughorn's house? Why exactly 
> did DD bring him there? I have an overall impression that DD 
thought 
> Slughorn would see a valuable source of monetary gain in famous 
> Harry Potter, but I think that's not it. DD did say to Harry 'You 
> showed Horace exactly how much he stands to gain by returning to 
> Hogwarts.' I'd like to know what that 'exactly' means!!


Alla:

Oooo, interesting observation. I used to think that what Slughorn 
would gain would be obtaining another 'jewel in his collection" 
(paraphrase) - namely adding Harry Potter to his club, BUT on the 
other hand that is exactly what Dumbledore warns him against when 
they leave the house - not to get collected. Since I hate 
Puppetmaster!Dumbledore, I prefer not to think that Dumbledore 
simply used Harry as a bait, while he does not think highly of 
Slughorn " collecting people's habbit". I don't know. It would be 
one think to introduce Harry to Slughorn if Albus knows that being a 
member in Slug club would be beneficial for Harry, it is another 
thing if Headmaster thinks exactly the opposite.

As an aside, I did say that when Dumbledore puts it this way " 
collecting people habit" it gives me creeps and on my first reading 
it stopped me from completely liking Horace character ( not as 
creature of JKR's writing, but as "person") more than all those 
questions about Dark Mark and strange knowledge about DD's injury.

BUT if Dumbledore would not have said that, I am not quite sure why 
Slug club is creepy to me, I still cannot figure it out.

Going back to your question, now I start doubting myself - is it 
really enough gain for Slughorn to come back to Hogwarts only 
because of the possibility that Harry would join his club? It is not 
even a guarantee.

I think I am with you, I also want to know what "exactly" means.



Lucianam: 
> Maybe there's an innocent enough explanation. How about 30 or 40% 
of 
> the profit made by Mr. Eldred Worple, when he publishes the 
> autobiography of The Boy who Lived?


Alla:

LOL! Maybe, but there are too many question marks for me right now, 
so I think I will continue my comfortable fence sitting. :-)

JMO,

Alla