HBP - Chapter 9 The Half Blood Prince

[cheeringcharm]

Chapter 9 - The Half Blood Prince or Harry's first day of classes, year six

There's no need to call me 'sir,' Professor." Ah, probably the best line of the series - definitely the highlight of this chapter. We are greeted with the requisite trip to the Great Hall for breakfast, Ron's bad table manners and McGonagall inexplicably setting schedules

Comments

[house_elf_44]

Again in this chapter, I see why Harry and Hermione would be great together. Even when they argue over the Potions book, it resolves instead of continuous bickering. I love that Harry noticed Hermione was first to do a NV spell, and thought she deserved a reward. They admire each other, and I know that's platonic love, and the element of attraction is what would make the difference, and it's not there so far. I can still hope for 7th year, like Lily and James.

And sue me for being blind, but I just don't see Ron liking Hermione. He yawned at her overload of homework, his eating habits don't reflect that he cares what she thinks of him, he sniggers at a 1st year who fell, again not trying to impress her that he's a nice guy. When he felt pleased with himself over Lavender's reaction, he didn't look at Hermione to see her reaction to any of it. If he liked her, or hoped she'd be jealous, I think he would have.

I think Katie was commenting on Ron's Quidditch skills, and right in front of him, too.

You know, Jo ridiculed people spending time on "Snape is a Vampire" theories, but here she goes again with the curtains drawn and candlelight instead. How dare she. He's showing them pictures, on the walls, not slides - wouldn't sunlight be better than candlelight?

Their DADA textbook is "Confronting the Faceless" At first I thought of Death Eater's masks. But then I realized that almost all the attacks in the book were covert, and therefore faceless.

In this chapter, we are reminded that Snape has excellent concentration and mind power. Snape says "your defenses must be as flexible and inventive as the arts you seek to undo" and teaches them the usefulness of non-verbal spells. Then, they make the Draught of Living Death, which curiously is pink, which marks things that aren't what they appear to be, like "Living Death". This all goes very nicely with the theory that Snape and Dumbledore had an agreement to offer Draco a way out, and fake DD's death with a not-meant Avada Kedavra and another non-verbal spell with green light which would send DD up and over the tower and out of sight where he could fake death. It works, and I like it, and I could be very wrong, too.

I want to know what Ron smelled from Amortentia. I'll bet at least one smell was food, maybe more. I was surprised Hermione said new parchment rather than books. I can only think of corresponding or homework for new parchment.

I didn't realize it was this soon that Slughorn credits the HBP's knowledge to Lily. I think they were partners in Potions class.

Ron and Hermione expected Dumbledore to teach Harry offense or defense. Instead, he's trying to give Harry an understanding of how TMR became LV, and he seemed excited to see a bit of pity, too. If Harry's "power he knows not" is love, I guess DD was going for "love your enemies".

[cadesama]

Even when they argue over the Potions book, it resolves instead of continuous bickering.

I don't think it really resolves, so much as goes under ground. Hermione is still on Harry's case about how he shouldn't be using the book up until he uses Sectumsempra -- trying to use that incident to prove her point.

When he felt pleased with himself over Lavender's reaction, he didn't look at Hermione to see her reaction to any of it. If he liked her, or hoped she'd be jealous, I think he would have.

I honestly think that the Lavender thing was Ron attempting to move on from Hermione. Ron's been jealous about Vikor and effectively been rebuffed and taunted for it. He gave her perfume, probably as a demonstration of his interest. No response. Moving on seems far more healthy than hanging on, trying to get the one he likes jealous because he's too much of a wimp to step up and confess his feelings.

I didn't realize it was this soon that Slughorn credits the HBP's knowledge to Lily. I think they were partners in Potions class.

Agreed. Could explain why the hand writing is "girly." Maybe only some of it was.

If Harry's "power he knows not" is love, I guess DD was going for "love your enemies".

Except when he admonishes Harry for feelings sympathy for Riddle.

[house_elf_44]

Except when he admonishes Harry for feelings sympathy for Riddle.

LOL - I took it that he was pleased. I'll have to look again.

[house_elf_44]

Except when he admonishes Harry for feelings sympathy for Riddle.

Found it on pg 262 US:

DD “...it is also possible that her unrequited love and the attendant despair sapped her of her powers; that can happen. In any case, as you are about to see, Merope refused to raise her wand even to save her own life.”

Harry: “She wouldn’t even stay alive for her son?”

DD raised his eyebrows. “Could you possibly be feeling sorry for Lord Voldemort?”

“No," said Harry quickly, “but she had a choice, didn’t she, not like my mother-”

DD: "...yes, Merope Riddle chose death in spite of a son who needed her, but do not judge her too harshly, Harry. She was greatly weakened by long suffering and she never had your mother’s courage..."

I think "Could you possibly be feeling sorry" could be taken either as admonishment, or as if that's where DD was trying to go. We need his tone of voice to know for sure. (I wonder what Jim Dale did with that, and if he can ask Jo things like this.) But what DD says about Merope colors it towards pity for me. That would go with the reconciling of opposites in alchemy, and Harry defeating Voldemort with the power of love.

[cadesama]

Meh. I got the feeling that he was admonishing Harry for feeling sorry for Voldemort, and redirecting that emotion to the appropriate person -- Merope. It can be read either way, I admit, but I don't think Dumbledore's purpose in teaching Harry about Voldemort was to make him feel compassion for Voldemort, especially not after how he tries to prove that Riddle was evil from childhood and speechifies about how Harry's strength is revenge.

[house_elf_44]

Except when he admonishes Harry for feelings sympathy for Riddle.

And what I hated the most, is that Harry immediately denayed it, like it's wrong to feel symphaty to another abondened orphan. I really wish he would have said something like "Maybe who wouldn't have become Voldemort if he had different childhood" or even better "Thanks to you I know what it's like to grow up feeling unwanted and with no family, and, yes, I feel sorry for anyone who has to go through something like that".

[cadesama]

Ha! That would have been beautiful!

[muggle_prof]

And sue me for being blind, but I just don't see Ron liking Hermione. He yawned at her overload of homework, his eating habits don't reflect that he cares what she thinks of him, he sniggers at a 1st year who fell, again not trying to impress her that he's a nice guy. .
Actually I'd like to join you in a class-action suit. One of the messages I absolutely hate in this book (along with the one about how it's normal for broken-hearted young women to give up on life -- literally as well as figurately -- when they've been rebuffed by the guy they adore) is the idea that bickering is a cute way to express how much you care for another person.

didn't realize it was this soon that Slughorn credits the HBP's knowledge to Lily. I think they were partners in Potions class.
This idea that Snape and Lily were potions partners keeps coming up in various places, but since 1st year, I don't think we've ever seen them partnered off to do potions -- it all seems to be individual work. Or am I forgetting somethng?

I do wonder if Snape made the potions over and over to come up with the right changes, or did he just instinctively figure out a better way on the first try?

[house_elf_44]

...along with the one about how it's normal for broken-hearted young women to give up on life -- literally as well as figurately -- when they've been rebuffed by the guy they adore...

I think Jo's showing that as going with what Slughorn warned of: "When you have seen as much of life as I have, you will not underestimate the power of obsessive love..." If Ron and Hermione have liked each other, then their behavior would be more what she's showing as being within the normal range for being rebuffed.

This idea that Snape and Lily were potions partners keeps coming up in various places, but since 1st year, I don't think we've ever seen them partnered off to do potions -- it all seems to be individual work. Or am I forgetting somethng?

I'm just going by the fact that in 6th year, all the houses have Potions together, so there's a chance they did in Lily's time, too. And also that it appears that Lily had the same knowledge as Snape did. It was mentioned that everyone could see what the others were doing in Potions class. Maybe one learned from the other, but whether it was in cooperation, or by stealth, I don't know.

[muggle_prof]

think Jo's showing that as going with what Slughorn warned of: "When you have seen as much of life as I have, you will not underestimate the power of obsessive love..."

I'm afraid you misunderstood what I meant. I was referring to Tonks' giving up her magic and becoming a colorless blob rather than to Merope, who was doomed from the start anyway. And I take it we're supposed to belieive Tonks/Lupin is true love, not obsessive love (tho since we never saw it, it's hard to say. But I digress...)

If Ron and Hermione have liked each other, then their behavior would be more what she's showing as being within the normal range for being rebuffed.
We see everything from Ginny's "I'll just go get me another guy" to Cho, who is too embarrassed to look at Harry, to Tonks, who seems to give up on life, as being the normal range. It's the Tonks part that is too extreme, imho.

[agnes_bean]

Actually I'd like to join you in a class-action suit. One of the messages I absolutely hate in this book (along with the one about how it's normal for broken-hearted young women to give up on life -- literally as well as figurately -- when they've been rebuffed by the guy they adore) is the idea that bickering is a cute way to express how much you care for another person.

I agree with the women giving up on life part of this. Tonks in particular bothered me. I’ve read theories about how all the pressures on her built up, and Remus was just the last straw that sent her spiraling into depression. That I would believe, and be ok with, but I don’t like the way her characterization is presented in the text.

But I do have to point out that the bickering lovers thing is not a message unique to this book, in the least. Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing comes to mind, as does Pride an Predigest. Not that that means you have to like it, of course. But many people (not necessarily you), seem to think that it’s unique to Harry Potter, and it's not.

[muggle_prof]

But I do have to point out that the bickering lovers thing is not a message unique to this book, in the least

And it rarely bothers me as much as it does in HP, and if well done, it can be quite funny. So, I guess the reaction may be because many of us don't think it's particularly well done here.

[woman_ironing]

It's not so much that the bickering isn't well done, as that that's all there is.

[cheeringcharm]

In defense of Pride and Prejudice: I've never thought of Lizzy and Darcy as a bickering couple. Bickering, to me, implies a bit of a personal relationship to begin with. Lizzy and Darcy's relationship evolved from a mutual initial dislike based on misconceptions to a war of words and intellect to finally mutual respect and love. A evolution based on their respective character development. I've never imagined that Darcy and Lizzy bicker in their future beyond the ending of P&P. In fact, they don't bicker from about 1/2 through the book to the end.

On the other hand, Ron and Hermione's relationship hasn't evolved or matured one jot over six books. And, no. I don't consider Ron's 'maturation' after his relationship with Lavender (now he realizes he wants more than the physical! thanks, JKR) to be legitimate. In fact, it confirms my opinion of Ron as basically a shallow human being. And, Hermione, if anything, regresses to the basest of feminine stereotypes in her effort to 'get her man.' Their characters have not changed for the better, by the end of this book. I fully expect them to continue to bicker until the end of their lives. One reason why I'm thankful that we will only be subjected to one more book of it.

I don't think the bickering storyline is unique to HP. However, I believe that other authors have handled it more deftly than JKR has.

[cadesama]

I agree. However, I typically think of bickering as something what couples like Benedict and Beatrice do. They didn't get along before they became a couple, and they continued the type of arguing from before they liked each other, which was bickering. It softened after they got together. For characters who start out as friends, I think that the bickering ought to be characterized as bantering instead. Bickering is too easily nasty for me to be able to picture friends who bicker and then become a couple; instead, it undermines whatever affection is supposed to be present in the friendship. So, instead of being funny and entertaining, the couple comes off shrill and unhappy. Like with Ron and Hermione.

[cheeringcharm]

I want to know what Ron smelled from Amortentia.

What I find interesting is that we always get details about Harry and Hermione but not Ron. We know their patronuses, but we had to find out from an interviewer what Ron's was. Same with their eyes. Now, this. Why not show Ron's?

I want to know what else Hermione smelled. You have to assume it has to do with Ron, but what would that be? Chances are good it has to do with food since the only thing that JKR consistently describes about Ron is his horrendous table manners. My guess is she smelled chocolate, in honor of the numerous chocolate frogs Ron shoves into his mouth.