Chapter 18 of Half-Blood Prince gives us one of those references to Snape’s first potions class which lead Cathy Liesner, in John Granger’s Barnes and Noble University class, to speculate about “Stoppered Death” in the weeks following the release of this book. Mr. Granger ended up expanding on the theory and including it in Who Killed Albus Dumbledore?, and Ms. Liesner’s find ended up coming true.
Harry learns that retrieving Slughorn’s memory is going to be a lot more difficult than expected, and all the students at Hogwarts learn that Apparition is going to be a lot harder than expected. We get the splinching set-up in this chapter, which is paid off with Ron’s injury in Deathly Hallows that starts him on the road to leaving the trio in anger.
Then, we have the love potion scene – hilarious in the book, and looks to be quite hilarious in the forthcoming film as well.
Ron’s consumption of love potion leads to his consumption of the poisoned mead, and the chapter ends on a cliffhanger, with Ron going limp, and another attempted murder.
I shall leave other discoveries of foreshadowing and intrigue to the pub.
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I enjoyed Slughorn’s direction “to find that added component that will, by an almost alchemical process, transform these disparate elements.” Slughorn is talking about the poisons and their antidotes, but overlaying that is the division between Ron and Hermione, and Harry’s efforts to unite them. What transforms these elements and makes the proper antidote? A bezoar. What unites Ron and Hermione? Harry’s saving Ron’s life with a bezoar.
We also have a picture of Harry and a circle (the hoop) and the apparition lessons, where they try to learn how to get into the circle. Following John Granger’s alchemical analysis, by the end of Deathly Hallows, we have philosopher’s stone Harry in the perfect circle with Voldemort, where their spells collide in the middle with a burst of gold flames, Voldy’s killing curse rebounds on him, and the houses of Hogwarts, wizards, house-elves, and centaurs are all united and intermingled in the Great Hall, an alchemical result.
More thoughts after I go watch Burn Notice.
Love how Harry reads the HBP’s annotation “Just shove a bezoar down their throats” and then remembers Snape mentioning them in their first-ever Potions lesson AND HE STILL doesn’t figure out the HBP=Snape!
The cardboard box with the word bezoars “scribbled” on it – wonder whose handwriting that was. If Snape’s, there went another opp for Harry to match it with the HBP’s.
Also thought it was funny how Hermione and Malfoy are unwittingly united in their “fury that Harry had come top of the class by not doing any work.”
It struck me that the name “Golpalott” sounds like “gulp a lot”, particularly when said out loud. A pretty funny name for someone who theorizes on poison antidotes. Another clever JKR name….. reminds me of Grimmauld Place…
Or like what students do when they have to understand his third law — they gulp a lot!
Joining the HBP Club for the first time. I was late to start and just kept on reading, with little extra time. At this point, I’m in Ch. 21.
In Ch. 18 we get another insight into Lily’s personality with Harry’s use of the bezoar; Slughorn is delighted and praises him as being “just like his mother, she had the same intuitive grasp of potion-making.” I got from this that she was a person with unexpected surprises up her robe sleeve .
As for foreshadowing, “Ron was resentful that Harry hadn’t slipped him a bezoar too.” (p.380). Oh, how soon Ron would get his wish–by chapter’s end.
Twycross’ “Destination, Determination, Deliberation” and instructions regarding them could apply to Harry’s search and choice over Hallows/Horcruxes in DH.
And Ron’s declaration over his birthday loot: “Blimey, I think I’ll come of age next year, too….” And he did by becoming a true adult. And his striking Harry while under the love potion effect forshadowed his jealous explosion during the DH camping trip and leaving Harry.
All excellent points, Arabella.
There’s also a bit of irony in Harry saying he’s not that fussed about apparition, he prefers flying, when in DH he’s apparating just about every day and flying is quite limited. In fact the only broomstick flying I can think of that Harry himself does in DH is escaping the fiendfyre.
That preview clip from the film is pretty funny. It seems that HBP is the best suited of the entire series for film treatment. It has the least convoluted main plot, fewer subplots, lots of humor, engaging romance and a huge heart-rending climax at the end. Even the teenaged actors are getting better, along with that key non-teenaged actor (hopefully). The previews look great. What could possibly go wrong?
You mean Rickman’s getting better? I already thought he was pretty good.
No, no, no Rickman’s been terrible! A disgrace! No hope for him…
[smiley]
Rickman–heavens! He’s ruined the entire series! What were they thinking?
Need some Fullatricks therapy…
Certainly a lot of the Snape-love on the internets is just Rickman-love. Book Snape is much nastier.
//Gene Kelly’s oily voice from Singing in the Rain// “Oh! So you read the fan magazines…”
I had forgotten how much of a jerk Ron can be. Being angry with Harry for not include Ron in Harry’s last minute idea that might not have worked at all was really to much. If Harry had included Ron and it had not worked out, Ron would have been angry about that!
How Ron like! It was a no win situation.
Not to mention that, a) as Harry said it would have looked stupid if they both had done it and b) it probably would have worked for Harry but not for Ron, for whom Slughorn felt no affection. Perhaps Ron subconsciously knows this and his comment is an extension of his underlying resentment at not being a member of the Slug Club, too.
I think Ron is very human. He’s always “second best;” nothing exceptional expected of him, even at home, to inspire him to greatness. Instead he’s constantly minimized and it’s a foregone conclusion that he won’t measure up. How wearing and frustrating that must be. . .yet how exceptional Ron is to remain a true friend to Harry, when he’s always in the hero’s shadow. I say, give him a break.