CHAPDISC HBP 15, The Unbreakable Vow

[potioncat]

No: HPFGUIDX 152169

Carol wrote:

> 3) Harry expresses real interest in the Prince's notes on 
Everlasting
> Elixirs and defends his book against both Hermione's aspersions and
> Madam Pince's grasping hands. Is he just using the Prince's notes to
> get marks he doesn't deserve, or is he really learning more from the
> Prince than he ever learned from the adult Snape or Slughorn? How
> might this new interest in Potions, if it lasts, play out in Book 7?

Potioncat:
I didn't get the idea he was interested in the potions, as much as he 
liked having the improved method of making them. He was much more 
interested in the spells. But, if he did grasp some subtlety in 
potion making, it might help him in book 7. Oh, wouldn't that be a 
good one, if he saved Snape's life with a potion?

> 
> 5) Just for fun, why might Harry think that Filch and Pince are in
„« love? Is Harry right?

Potioncat:
That came out of the blue! Have we ever seen them together? At this 
point, I thought he was making a joke because they are so similar. Of 
course, later they show up side by side at the funeral. 
> 
> 6) Do you agree with Harry that Hermione got what she deserved when 
Cormac ambushed her under the mistletoe? Why or why not?

Potioncat:
Oh, that opinion is an older story than the fairy tales, "the girl 
got what she deserved." Of course, if Cormac thought she might like 
him, and if it was a simple kiss under the mistletoe, he might be at 
a total loss about her reaction. It might be interesting to hear 
Cormac's side of the story. You know social skills aren't one of his 
strengths.

> 
> 7 And why would Slughorn invite Trelawney, of all people, along
> with his Slug Club, his celebrity guests, and his former star pupil,
> Severus Snape? Just for fun, why do you think JKR included the 
Vampire
> Sanguini as a party guest?

Potioncat:
Why indeed! If it weren't for her being there, I'd be certain that 
Snape was in the Slug Club as a student. We don't see any other 
teacher there, but that doesn't mean they aren't there. Trelawney is 
connected to a famous seer, and may have been in the Slug Club for 
that reason when she was a student. The only other party we saw her 
attend was the Christmas dinner in PoA. She seemed to be after Lupin 
at that time. I wonder if she came now in order to meet someone who 
might be helpful to her. We don't take her seriously, nor does 
McGonagall or DD, but Slughorn could.

I loved Sanguini! Yes, I caught on the name. Maybe JKR felt she owed 
us
a vampire after all the allusions to them in the series. His handler 
was more interesting, though. He's a collector just like Slughorn. 
There he stood with his pet vampire and he was trying to add Harry to 
his list. I wonder if Snape was surprised that Harry turned down the 
offer for the biography.