Potions, the Book, and a New/Old Perspective

[finwitch]

No: HPFGUIDX 165321

>> --Ronin's Comments--
>  
> Her relentless nagging doesn't let up all year about the book and the 
way
> she dismisses Harry's theories about Malfoy after she has followed him
> herself in Diagon alley and watched him, up to no good.

Finwitch:

I think that one reason Harry decided to keep the book was *because* of 
Hermione's attitude on it. Aside from Slughorn's praise. Also, let's 
recall the bigger picture. Dumbledore needed Harry's help to convince 
Slughorn to accept the position -- and for another matter later. As for 
Slughorn's praise of Harry's genius...

Slughorn *knew* that Harry, unlike most others, got an 'E', not 'O' in 
his Potions OWL. He must have, that's why Harry needed the book, right? 
So, Harry's success in Potions -- either Slughorn concluded it was the 
book or he did not. I think he did, though, just chose not to make an 
issue of it, mainly because he was just as keen as Lockhart or the 
Minister to butter Harry into considering him favorably. However, being 
Slytherin -- Slughorn may even view Harry's use of the notes as a work 
of a genius in itself -- so long as Harry doesn't admit it, anyway...

As for sharing the notes, Harry offered them to Ron, but Ron was, for 
some reason, *unable* to read them. It's entirely possible that other 
students wouldn't have been able to read them, either. Makes me wonder--
 was Neville perhaps unable to read the instructions Snape put on board?

Or had the notes of the Half-Blood Prince been protected by a spell 
that only permits a Half-Blood to read them?

Finwitch