Comments on: Horace Slughorn

By: prongs

prongs — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 08:49:07 +0000

Year six is second only to year sevevn. That’s when we have our first real glimpse into Snape’s life and interests.

By: Tom

Tom — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 03:55:27 +0000

I definitely felt something was “off” about this book as well, though I’m not very good at pointing out problems in the writing either. Plot-wise, I think part of it is there isn’t really a great upheaval or crisis at Hogwarts this time (until the end, of course) – which is fine, but it does give the book a different feel. There’s nothing like the Triwizard Tournament or Umbridge taking over or the Chamber of Secrets being opened or Dementors and a killer on the loose. There’s just the mysteries of Katie’s and Ron’s attacks, and Malfoy sneaking around, which somehow never felt compelling to me.

I do enjoy the book once I get into it though. I love Dumbledore’s lessons, and all the down-to-earth school life stuff like the relationships. It’s just grating at first, coming right after Order of the Phoenix, probably the “densest” and most eventful book in the series.

Anyway, this is my first time commenting, but I love this site! :)

By: prongs

prongs — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 18:17:05 +0000

true, Timbus, they were together but not united by one wizard.

By: Timbus Christ

Timbus Christ — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 17:42:34 +0000

It was mentioned above, but I think it warrants more discussion, that Deathly Hallows were indeed united for a couple chapters in this book, starting with this one.

By: John Kearns

John Kearns — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 01:59:58 +0000

Amanda, I like your comment about apparition a lot, and it feels right to me. I especially like it because it gives us a hint that Mr. and Mrs. Weasley aren’t your run-of-the-mill wizards, despite Arthur’s unglamorous job and their rather low place in wizarding society. Apparating is commonplace to them and to their family (Bill, Charlie, Percy, and the twins all do it too) – and that’s a good sign that they are valuable allies to the anti-Voldemort cause.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 10:58:41 +0000

I also think Slughorn is an interesting character, worth thinking more about. He’s smart and would probably fall into the category of good guys, although he operates with his own best in mind in a way that is very Slytherin-ish.

About Apparition, most has been said… I agree that I think it is something risky for a wizard to do and very hard to learn, and most grown wizards and witches would probably not want to Apparate with kids because it could go terribly wrong if you’re not careful. I also have the impression that there is a lot of wizards who haven’t passed their test, or passed it and just doesn’t use the skill because it is quite dangerous. Dumbledore is a great exception to many things becayse he is so powerful.

By: Todd

Todd — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 14:33:03 +0000

This chapter contains two of my favorite moments from “Half-Blood Prince”, both involving Slughorn:

1. Dumbledore explains how he knew that Slughorn hadn’t been killed or abducted by Death Eaters because the Dark Mark wasn’t hovering over the house. Slughorn’s response: “I knew I’d forgotten something.”

2. Slughorn talking about the precautions he uses when hiding in other people’s houses, including making certain that the neighbors don’t see you bringing in the piano.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 13:35:39 +0000

Hi John! :) I’ve been slowly making my way through this website and must just say that it’s my favourite Harry Potter commentary site out there. I love your commitment to the canon and attention to detail!

HBP is my absolute favourite of the Harry books and I can’t say that I did find the writing style awkward. Maybe I just don’t pick up on things like that.

What I wanted to say about this chapter in particular is something that I just recently noticed when listening to the audiobook for perhaps the 50th time. Harry and Slughorn notice the ring that Dumbledore’s wearing at the same time in this chapter, and it says that Slughorn’s eyes narrowed, or he frowned, or something like that. I wonder whether that was because he recognised it as being Tom Riddle’s, as Tom is wearing it in the meddled-with memory – a memory that is obviously still clear in Slughorn’s mind even if it is 50 years old.

By: prongs

prongs — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 02:35:20 +0000

Well, thank you John for clearing that up.

By: John Kearns

John Kearns — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 14:20:45 +0000

prongs, this idea is interesting but it doesn’t really fit in my mind, for several reasons. Harry and Dumbledore walked right by the war memorial, and if they were in Godric’s Hollow, it would have transformed into the statue; Harry didn’t recognize Godric’s Hollow when he went back to it with Hermione, and you’d think he would have realized it was the same place; Godric’s Hollow was smaller than Budleigh Babberton, if you read the details about the streets they walked; and from J.K. Rowling’s perspective, it doesn’t really fit either (Budleigh Babberton is a play on Budleigh Salterton, a village she once lived in).