Half-Blood Prince 16: A Very Frosty Christmas

[onehundredmoons]

In which Harry spends the holidays at The Burrow with the Weasleys, Fleur, and Lupin. He talks with Mr. Weasley about the conversation he overheard between Snape and Malfoy, and Lupin interjects with his doubts that Harry found out anything Dumbledore doesn't already know. Harry questions Lupin about what he's been up to, and also what might have

Comments

[onehundredmoons]

I want to know when Harry & co. will be able to do such effortless magic as Fred and George display in the kitchen. Seems to still be a struggle so often, you know?

Oh, it's sad-sack!Lupin, though he's still as bright, insightful, and honest as ever with Harry.

[elsane]

Yay for Lupin-cameo and for the Harry-Scrimgeour conversation.

Tonks/Lupin wise, this is as strange a set of puzzle pieces as we get in other chapters. Lupin displays no emotion about Tonks and hasn't contacted her since leaving the werewolves. And Tonks was invited but didn't come, which doesn't seem to fit well with her behavior in the rest of the book. I am not buying Tonks/Lupin here, but perhaps someone who does can explain their take on this?

[onehundredmoons]

Tonks/Lupin wise, this is as strange a set of puzzle pieces as we get in other chapters.

Agreed, and I'm definitely not the person to better illuminate it for you, because I find R/T to be confusing as well. It's bizarre that Remus is totally dispassionate when Molly asks him about where Tonks is spending Christmas. Even if he doesn't always wear his heart on his sleeve (though we've certainly seen him show emotion in the past re: other characters and situations), he's often at least described as being alert, thoughtful, wary, etc. *shrugs*

[elsane]

Agreed, and I do think JKR would give us some clue towards his feelings if he had them; she does usually play fair. But all I get from him here is embarrassment/discomfort.

[magnetic_pole]

*nods* Then I wonder if I'm reading too much into a few lines, but don't we know enough about these characters to recognize when they're acting oddly? If I squint, I can see an awkward, not-talking-about-it Lupin who's not his usual controlled, polite self since he's fending off Tonks' advances...but still. M.