HBP spoilers: further first impressions

[dungrollin]

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So what did I think?
I'll admit that I thought Draco had got hold of the magic mirrors 
that Sirius and Harry had (through Mundungus somehow), was trying to 
get them fixed, so that Voldy could open the chamber of secrets 
again without actually being in the school.  I thought the necklace 
and poisoned mead was a red herring sub-plot to do with Slughorn (à 
la Bagman).

But, right from chapter 2 I thought "This is a set up to make us 
think Snape's the bad guy *again*. And I still think that: it's as 
clear as day.  We're talking OscarWinning-DoubleAgent-PotionsGenius 
*and* Voldy'sFavourite!Snape.  What a haul! (Of course, I didn't 
believe any of them on Friday.)

Voldemort was calling all the shots, DD knew he needed to figure out 
the "how to kill Voldy" question before he went, knowing that Harry 
would have to be the one to do it.  I'm still not quite certain if 
Voldy really did tell Snape about the plan, or whether Snape was 
bluffing to Bella and Cissy before he guessed that Draco was to bump 
off DD.  I suspect it doesn't really matter.  

"He intends me to do it in the end, I think.  But he is determined 
that Draco should try first.  You see, in the unlikely event that 
Draco succeeds, I shall be able to remain at Hogwarts a little 
longer, fulfilling my useful role as spy." (Chapter 2)

The plan, from Voldy's point of view was not to find out whether 
Draco was going to have the makings of a good DE (even the DEs 
expect Draco to fail) it was to test *Snape's* loyalty.  That's why 
JKR liked the title so much, because make no mistake, this book was 
*all* about Snape. I'm rather heartened by it. The book in which she 
kills off the 'epitome of goodness' is named for the 'deeply 
horrible person' whom she hesitates to say that she loves. Good good.

Aberforth's Goat wrote:
My take is that Snape has been definitively outed as a GOOD
GUY - and a good guy who is going through hell. He killed Dumbledore
partly because (as Pippin points out) Dumbledore was already dying -
even more to keep Draco from becoming a murderer - and finally
Dumbledore had already ordered him to do so.

Dungrollin:
I absolutely agree with the "good guy going through hell", but I 
don't think DD sacrificed himself for Malfoy, I think he sacrificed 
himself for Snape, and ultimately for Harry. Snape clearly had 
absolutely no choice when it came to the unbreakable vow thingy 
(which I found a bit... you know... Fanfic, frankly), if he hadn't 
accepted on the spot, then his spying on the DEs would have been at 
an end (I suspect he suspected that Voldy had set up Narcissa to 
suggest it).  Snape told DD about it all.  DD knew then that if he 
died at the hand of anyone but Draco, Snape would also die.  DD 
tried to make the best of it, and directed Snape to do everything he 
could to make sure that it was *Snape* who killed DD rather than 
Draco, because Draco is still saveable. 

DD had a fair suspicion that Voldy would have protected the 
horcruxes with something deadly, and knows that he's dying as he and 
Harry return to Hogwarts.  Harry must get Snape.  Why? So that Snape 
can whip up an antidote to something DD knows is fatal? Or so that 
Snape can Kill DD himself before he dies of the poison, thus saving 
Snape's life. Ugh, is that another life debt Snape can't repay?

If Snape's been "on the wagon" as far as Dark Arts are concerned, I 
understand exactly why he didn't want to do it, and argued about it 
with DD. Are we going to see a 'relapse' as he so delicately puts it?
I am, however amused to note that the "Avada Kedavra" which killed 
DD is the *only* time we have ever seen the adult Snape use an 
unforgiveable.

Mindy (songbird) wrote:
I am not sure this "He felt remorse for turning the Potters over to 
Voldemort" explanation works for me. So, if Snape is the only one 
who knows the truth, then how will the truth ever be spread?

Dungrollin:
It's got to be the big finale. Snape will be at the final showdown 
(and possibly Pettigrew, who may also have been in on it with DD and 
Snape from the beginning - where's the MDDT?), Snape will explain 
all of the above, and have to convince Harry to trust him.  The only 
way will be to reveal to Harry whatever it was he revealed to DD.


I must admit to a very faint feeling of disappointment round about 
two thirds of the way through.  
I think I was hoping to be surprised by something that nobody had 
thought of, but it was all a bit ... straightforward, wasn't it?  
Voldy's soul in a box, tick (all right, Voldy's soul in *seven* 
boxes, no tick, but given that we knew nothing of Horsecrutches 
beforehand there was no way it could have been guessed), Draco 
joined the DEs (big surprise), Draco went back to Borgin and Burke's 
(thought so), DD died (nobody suspected that!), Snape becomes DADA 
teacher and someone new gets Potions so Harry can be an auror 
(almost all thought it was at least possible). 

Pleased that Regulus got his own back before copping it, annoyed 
that there was no mention of the secret whatsit under the Malfoys' 
drawing room. 
Pleased at Voldy's new serial killer overtones (trophies, 
significant deaths etc), annoyed that Snape chose such a ridiculous 
title.
Pleased that the shipping was funny (and convincing – took me right 
back to how awful it was being a teenager, though still have no 
desire to debate it), annoyed that Snape was much less enjoyable 
than usual (for obvious set-up reasons).
Pleased that for once Harry's immediate hunch that Malfoy is 
involved was correct, annoyed that there wasn't a bigger surprise.
Pleased that chapter 1 was not what anyone expected (though forgot 
and only remembered I was meant to bear in mind how many times she's 
re-written it by about chapter 20), annoyed that the leaks before 
publication made DD's death feel a bit obvious.


Questions arising:
1. Why did Voldy want Snape teaching DADA at Hogwarts? Why was 
Potions not good enough?
2. Did Voldy really tell Snape about the plan? Or is Snape Sherlock!
Snape too?
3. Bella really is bonkers, isn't she?
4. Are we being set up for an entire Malfoy family conversion? 
5. Who's going to do the whole explication thing at the end of book 
seven? (Snape Snape Snape)
6. Are we ever going to see Fawkes again? 
7. One of the Hoarcrumbles ought to be in the Chamber of Secrets, 
oughtn't it?
8. How is Snape going to save Draco (and thus himself – that 
unbreakable vow was awfully wide-ranging) without alienating Voldy?
9. Is it a double-double bluff? Is Snape a potential dark lord 
himself, and out to get rid of DD, Voldy *and* Harry? (Can't 
remember the acronym offhand.)
10. Was there any significance to Buck- I mean Witherwing's attack 
on Snape at the end?

Some fantastic laugh out loud moments. Mollywobbles, for one.

Dungrollin