Harry

Let the snogging begin!  Chapter 14 of Half-Blood Prince centers on the continuing misunderstanding between Ron and Hermione and their frustration with each other.  There’s probably a lot to say about that, but I’ll leave it to the pub.

I want to talk about Harry.  It turns out we don’t have to wait for the Slughorn memory caper to observe Harry learning from Dumbledore.  Harry’s trick with the Felix Felicis is very Dumbledorian.  Harry believed he had reason enough to let Hermione believe a lie and make a fool of herself, even if just momentarily, in order to bolster Ron’s confidence and get him playing well. [click to continue…]

{ 16 comments }

We’re not yet done with chapter 4 of Half-Blood Prince.  Before Dumbledore leaves Harry with the Weasleys, he has a few matters to discuss with him in a “smelly, spidery broom shed.”  This is one of those moments which convinces me of my idealistic reading of Dumbledore, though I’m sure Manipulative!Dumbledore advocates have their take on it as well.  This, to me, is Dumbledore showing authentic concern for and knowledge of Harry.  Nothing is a game in this discussion, nothing a plot.  It does lead to the set-up of the private lessons, where there’s far more room for debate, I think.  But I believe this scene is the old man genuinely caring for the boy who has lost so much.

There’s a bit of interesting foreshadowing here. [click to continue…]

{ 27 comments }