CHAPDISC: HBP9, The Half-Blood Prince

[dumbledore11214]

No: HPFGUIDX 147683

AyanEva wrote:
> -DADA-
> <SNIP>
> Harry, however, reacts automatically and casts a really powerful 
> Shield Charm, which knocks Snape into a desk. Naturally Professor 
> Snape is not very happy about this and assigns Harry detention for 
> Saturday night. 

Alla:

Heeee. One would wonder why exactly the teacher is not happy when 
student produces powerful Shield Charm. On the other hand, knowing 
the name of this teacher one would not. :-)


AyanEva:
> After class, Harry is complaining about Snape and mentions that it 
> sounds as if the man adores the Dark Arts, judging by the way that 
he 
> was describing them to the class during his introduction. Hermione 
> makes a good point when she says that Harry has spoken of the Dark 
> Arts in almost the same manner.
<SNIP>

Alla:

You know, that's funny. From Hermione's summary I did not think that 
Harry and Snape speeches sounded that similar at all. Even in 
Hermione's summary Harry does not talk about Dark Arts 
being "indestructible", but I digress. I wanted to read Harry's 
speech verbatim to compare for myself. I had a guess that Hermione 
meant Harry talking for DA when she made this observation, but I 
could not find what she was talking about at all. In the Hog's Head 
Harry mainly just answers whether he did certain deeds and says that 
he had a lot of help with his stuff. In Dumbledore's Army he 
supervises practices, but I could not find what Hermione talks about 
either.

Could somebody help me, please? Which Harry's speech Hermione 
compares to Snape's? 

Personally, as I said in the past, I can definitely see some 
similarities between Harry and Snape, but I am convinced for now 
that the main reason Dumbledore kept Snape in school besides 
protecting his ungrateful..... ( my opinion of course, only my 
opinion, nothing more :-)) was to show his students including Harry 
what kind of person they should not become EVER. Sort of  negative 
lesson - do not get stuck in the past, forgive people who wronged 
you or at least don't actively harm their innocent children. IMO of 
course

> Potioncat:
> One little point. Snape doesn't give Harry detention for knocking 
him 
> into the desk, but for Harry's cheek afterwards. 

Alla:

Is that Okay that I don't really believe him though? :-) Do you 
think Snape was honestly concerned for example with protecting kids 
from being expelled after Shack when he said that they were being 
confunded ( As you probably guessed, I don't, I think the most 
logical thing for someone who really is concerned about that would 
be say NOTHING at all) or maybe his pride suffered too much from 
being knocked down by three thirteen years old? I mean your 
interpretation is certainly supported by canon, but I do think that 
the fact that Harry overpowered him played significant role in Snape 
giving Harry that detention. Just my general impression of Snape's 
character. :-) 

Potioncat:
As for Hermione, I 
> think she's providing canon for what many of us have noticed over 
the 
> years, Harry and Snape are a lot alike. 

Alla:

Ok, Alla makes pleading face again. Which speech Hermione is talking 
about? Help me? :-)

AyanEva:
> -It seemed to me that when McGonagall was giving out the NEWT 
class 
> schedules, the scene was written in such a way so that certain 
> characters were completely glossed over (Hermione/Ron). 
Conversely, 
> very specific points regarding classes and skill sets were made 
about 
> other characters (Harry/Neville). It almost seems like JKR is, in 
> essence, sticking a neon sign around certain skill areas of 
> particular individuals; areas that I had not previously associated 
> with these people. Are these really specific skill sets that are 
at 
> least some of the exact elements with which to defeat Voldemort? 
What 
> I cannot figure out is how these skills would be used and is the 
> answer found somewhere in past books from what we already know 
about 
> these areas of magic?

Alla:

Oh, it is a possibility IMO. I don't know about any other 
characters, but she certainly bumps Neville up in the skills and 
confidence level. I mean, as someone said, we already know that he 
is not bad at Transfiguration, but Minerva does not take him in her 
class and strongly advises him to take Charms, which means that he 
is much better in Charms. I am sure Neville's role will be 
significant enough at the end.

I don't think you are the only one who cannot figure out the 
specifics though. :-) Otherwise we would have predicted the correct 
ending long time ago.

AyanEva:
>> -I still am not entirely convinced that Harry got the HBP book by 
> accident. I have to wonder if someone (a professor) knew what was 
in 
> the book. That then leaves me with the question of:  If someone 
> wanted Harry to have the book, who was it? 

Alla:

Sorry, not a conspiracy theorist. Unless it was Snape who wanted to 
tempt Harry into Dark Arts ( and as I said in the past, I think that 
Harry's being tempted with HBP spells is the extent JKR will go with 
the temptation storyline. IMO of course), I think it was a total 
accident.

Just don't buy Dumbledore wanting Harry to use Sectusemptra curse or 
any other staff from the book, but I am not into Puppetmaster!
Dumbledore at all, so you maybe asking a wrong person :-)

AyanEva:
> -Slughorn talks about the dangers of taking too much Felix 
Felicis. 
> He says that it causes giddiness, over-confidence, and 
recklessness. 
> How long do these effects last? Is this significant? My first 
thought 
> was that Voldemort is giddy, over-confident, and reckless. I do 
not 
> know what to make of this.

Alla:

Heee. Maybe Snape supplies him with Felix Felicis constantly? That 
would too easy to defeat him then, just cut the supplies, so I 
suppose not :-)

> 
> -Slughorn talks about Amortentia and he talks about the power 
> of "obsessive love." Does this mean anything? Will it come into 
play? 
> It too seems important. (there is always the 
Harry/Ginny/Amortentia 
> theory
I do wonder)

Alla:

Well, there is Snape's obsessive love to Lily theory too. :-)


> -The Draught of Living Death pops up again. What is the 
significance 
> of this? We keep seeing this particular potion over and over 
again, 
> but we never see it used for anything!

Alla:

I am convinced that at some point it would be very important - as in 
someone will be saved with it or someone will resurrect. Would love 
if Renee's speculation will come true and Regulus was the one who 
took it at some point.

<SNIP>
 
Penapart Elf:
>    2) "How do Harry and Neville contrast with each other in terms 
of 
>       parental guidance when it comes to their NEWT selections?" 
>

Alla:

Well, the point which JKR is making about Neville's guidance is 
clear enough to me - his Gram is trying to make Neville live his 
dad's life or something like that. IMO anyways. As to Harry - what 
parental guidance? I mean, not only he has none, at that point 
nobody is there even nominally to fulfill the role of the guardian 
IMO. I mean, besides McGonagall, sort off.

Thanks for the cool questions, AyanEva


JMO of course,

Alla