HBP: More first thoughts

[Neil Ward]

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I've stolen a few moments on Catherine's PC to post some random 
thoughts about HBP...

Firstly, I would much rather HBP had started with "Spinner's End", 
and worked in Scrimgeour's entrance later on, than with the out-of-
place "The Other Minister".  Perhaps it'll grow on me.

I agree with comments on the belated introduction of Horcruxes, as 
well as Unbreakable Vows and Inferi.  The fact that these things had 
never been mentioned before not only earmarked them as key plot 
devices in this book, but raises possibilities for the previous 
storylines.  

My mind has been filling with increasingly convoluted theories 
employing some or all of these new concepts.  I think it likely that 
Dumbledore and Snape entered into an Unbreakable Curse, either a 
longstanding one based on Dumbledore offering protection to Snape in 
return for loyalty, or a recent one based on Dumbledore wanting 
Snape to kill him if things went awry. 

I'm pondering the idea that Dumbledore didn't die, but I'm not sure 
if anything would be gained by feigning death and making Snape a 
murderer and #2 on Harry's hitlist, so I'm still mulling that over.  
I think the AK and other evidence of Dumbledore's death (the 
portrait in the office, the flaming funereal floorshow) could have 
been faked.  It seems likely that he was giving Snape non-verbal 
instructions just before he was hit with the curse.  He seemed to 
want to be killed by Snape if by anyone.

I'm intrigued as to the nature of the potion Dumbledore drank in the 
cave (well, duh - who isn't?), especially reading his remarks as 
Harry forced each glassful down his gullet.  Was he turned into an 
Inferius, destined to slide into the lake with the other Inferi had 
he not been revived by Harry?  Was he as good as dead and therefore 
happy to be killed?  Did R.A.B. suffer the same fate when he pinched 
the original locket?

I agree that R.A.B. would appear to be Regulus Black, but that's a 
bit too easy, as Saitaina said.  Perhaps it *is* that easy though, 
and perhaps Dumbledore *is* dead and Snape *did* betray him, etc.  
Perhaps Harry is also a Horcrux, as some have suggested, but I'd 
like to think the truth will be much more inventive than that.  

I liked the connections with CoS, particularly the parallel in the 
hold the HBP's potions book appeared to have over Harry as a 
comparison with Riddle's Diary.  I was surprised that Harry tried 
the Sectumsempra spell without knowing what the hell it did and that 
he escaped appropriate punishment, although I imagine Snape was not 
keen on the source being traced back to him.

Hmmm...  more later, I think.

Neil