The "Pillar of Storgé" rumor appealed to me mostly because it confirmed my long-held belief that the sixth book would finally tie the events of the second book, especially the Chamber of Secrets, into the plot of the series. Upon examination, the only significant plot contributions from that book are 1) Dobby and 2) the background on Tom Riddle and Hagrid. That said, I was ready to accept something that sounded as lame as Storge (which I didn't know had an accent mark, and had been pronouncing much like ?purge' or ?bilge'). So, when JKR released the real title, I was pleased to know that it both sounded ascetic, and was directly related the Chamber of Secrets. I still contend that the Chamber of Secrets (the place, not the book) has much more to it than meets the eye. For one, note its name. Chamber of Secrets - plural. I can't think of many secrets beyond its location and its monster. You can believe that those are the only secrets contained in it, but I'll choose to believe that there are many, many more. Secondly, in an interview, JKR was asked if she could visit Hogwarts, which room would she go. Her reply was to the effect of "I can't tell you, but it's a room to which Harry has been, but whose importance Harry is still unaware of." So, naturally the belief that JKR was referring to the Chamber appeals to me greatly.
Now, onto the Half Blood Prince business.
Seamus Finnigan, Remus Lupin, Dean Thomas, Neville Longbottom, Severus Snape, James Potter, Rebeus Hagrid, Colin Creevey, Dennis Creevy, Dudley Dursley - all are distinct possibilities. Not really. It is time to put some of these people through the shredder.
First up, Dean Thomas. Sorry Dean, but last time I checked JKR said she probably wouldn't put your life story, including the fact that you were a Half Blood, into the books. So I don't think it's likely that you'll be the HBP if JKR thinks it unlikely for most readers to grasp that teensy detail about you being a Half Blood. You are the weakest link, good-bye!
Enter Seamus Finnigan. It's rather hard to do, considering that practically the only thing we know about him is that he is a Half Blood. He's been in the series from the beginning, as an extremely minor character, who has never gotten bigger. It would be rather strange for him to suddenly jump onto the plane of importance in one book. But look at Sirius Black, some of you are screaming at me, look at Ginny Weasley - you say. Wrong on both counts. Sirius Black was a name, lost into oblivion that she resurrected in the third book. Ginny was character that gradually got more important and has already been heavily important in the books. Neither of these is the case with Seamus. He's always been there, like a doorknob, but he hasn't been ready to spring into a major role. Dennis Creevey fits this mold too. And if you believe it's Dennis Creevey, you need your head examined.
Calling Colin Creevey! Sorry bud, but since I don't think your little brother is the HBP, that would make you not the HBP by default. And see the answer to Seamus Finnigan while you're at it.
Now, I must digress here to ask if anyone really thinks that being of Muggle royalty would really be significant to anyone in the Wizarding World. So here comes the next ones through the shredder.
We all know that giants have no monarchy, and that they follow the Gurg system. So if you think it's Hagrid, you had better have a good reason for thinking that his dead muggle father was some kind of royalty. Bottom line: Half Breed doesn't equal Half Blood.
Dear James Potter, We are terribly sorry to drag you into this but some of your fans have failed Genealogy 101. If you were the Half Blood Prince, and you're son is Half Blooded, wouldn't that make him the Half Blood Prince, too? And while we're at it, since your whole family is dead, wouldn't that make him the Half Blood King? Quite a surprise to get laid on Harry. Please e-mail me back at stupidity@cox.net. Thanks!
Harry Potter has a muggle-born mother and a wizard-family father. This makes Harry a half-blood. That said, even if Petunia Dursley is a secret muggle-born witch, in order for Dudley to be a Half Blood, Uncle Vernon would have to be a wizard of pretty darn pure blood. Call me closed-minded, but I doubt it.
So here's the modified list: Seamus Finnigan, Remus Lupin, Dean Thomas, Neville Longbottom, Severus Snape, James Potter, Rubeus Hagrid, Colin Creevey, Dennis Creevy, Dudley Dursley.
Oh! I almost forgot about those who think that Tom Riddle somehow transformed into a pseudonym. That sneaky little man. And what's more, he did all of this as a teenager at Hogwarts! Firstly, Voldemort refers to events in Tom's life as his own, as opposed to saying, "I have gathered you here at Tom Riddle's father's grave." Dumbledore calls Voldemort Tom. Dumbledore calls Tom Voldemort. Tom calls Tom Voldemort. Voldemort calls Tom's life his own. But then again, what proof do we have that JKR won't defy logic?
But anyway, back to the Half Blood Prince massacre. Ah-ha! Neville Longbottom - just when you thought he was going to get a titular role, Dumbledore has to go and ruin it for him. Examine the discussion about the Lost Prophecy held by Harry and Dumbledore.
"[Voldemort] chose, not the pureblood, but the half-blood, like himself."
The choice in question was between Harry and Neville. Voldemort obviously chose Harry the Half-Blood, ergo Neville Longbottom is a pureblood. Pity, really.
That was the last elimination. I can't discredit Remus Lupin nor Severus Snape. They remain distinct possibilities, but each has a discrediting piece of dirt on their HBP File.
Severus Snape hates mudbloods, as seen by his hatred of Lily Evans in the pensieve. Of course this could be self-hatred, and let's face it - if self-hatred is ever justified, it is in Snape's case.
Remus Lupin taught Defense Against the Dark Arts in Harry's third year. Wait, third year did you say? Not second year? (How the marauder could have been introduced in Book 2 without breaking the DADA teacher mold of introducing this year's teacher before school starts completely surpasses my intellect). Seems distinctly unlikely to me.
I can offer a better Half Blood Prince story, but before I do, let me take you back...
Hogwarts was founded by four people. Two of them were good friends: Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin. Now, if we believe that the Chamber of Secrets (the place) is quite important to book six, then it seems likely also that its creator is quite important to book six. And we know that Salazar Slytherin was its creator. Suppose that Godric Gryffindor was a greater wizard than Salazar Slytherin. Slytherins, in general, are quite jealous of better wizards than them (Draco). So, if GG was Mr. Incredible with a wand, then SS might have eventually become not-so-fond of his former friend. Are you with me? Now suppose Godric Gryffindor was a half blood, and Salazar Slytherin was a pureblood. Desperate to be better than Godric at something, Salazar decides that his blood is better than Godric's. This gives a good motive for the birth of Pureblood Snotfaces. It also provides some nice similarities for Harry and Draco.
So Godric Gryffindor, in my opinion, is the favorite to be the Half Blood Prince. |
User reviews
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| Hermione Is The Best!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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| 2005.12.25 |
Fantastic reveiw! MO:
I believe Godric Gryffindor is NOT the HBP as I beli...
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| HandofGlory546 |
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| 2005.12.16 |
You are 99.9% GENIUS! I've read all your stuff and I agree totally. I am a ...
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| maniza |
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| 2005.07.26 |
good guesses but most of them are really useless.J.K.Rowling already said b...
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| Irene |
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| 2005.07.11 |
Well written and nice to read, but it seems to me that you're bending some ...
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| Za |
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| 2005.07.10 |
this is a great article and i particularly enjoyed the starting paragraph a...
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| martin |
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| 2005.07.08 |
I think he missed the point on Neville. He is the HBP. Neville is harry's...
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| The Eumenides |
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| 2005.07.06 |
The article is very well written, and you support your arguments well. I w...
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| Marisa |
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| 2005.07.05 |
Severus Snape didnt hate Lilly Potter he liked her but he showed hatred bec...
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| harry peter |
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| 2005.07.04 |
the fact that harry and dumbledore are seen peeing into a pensieve on the b...
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| David Schafer |
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| 2005.07.03 |
Very well writen but the last part about Godric Gryffindor being the Half-B...
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| fahmi |
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| 2005.06.29 |
I don't quite agree with the prospect of Godric Griffindor being the half b...
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| cerinamroth |
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| 2005.06.29 |
Very, very well written and very witty. Keep writing. Can't really say I ag...
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| Carina |
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| 2005.06.14 |
Very nice Cooper. I reeally liked the way you explained every character in ...
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| Pedro |
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| 2005.06.06 |
It seems to me like you haven't given this much htought, or checked your in...
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| _mtx` |
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| 2005.05.24 |
Quite frankly, there isn’t any reason to be phlegmatic about what I just re...
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| Paula |
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| 2005.05.16 |
About Hagrid honey, his father wasn´t a muggle, please, before you take con...
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| Alohomora |
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| 2005.04.28 |
I agree with hddndragon. Not many people believe that it is Godric Gryffind...
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| hddndragon |
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| 2005.04.23 |
Nicely done Cooper! I do agree with lupinsmyman on the whole Room of Requir...
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| lupinsmyman |
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| 2005.04.14 |
VERY GOOD!! I But have you considered the Room of Requirment? Harry has bee...
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| David |
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| 2005.03.15 |
Brilliantly written, but you frankly lost your thread after or during your ...
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| lucy amelia |
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| 2005.02.20 |
Okay, so you have really good points and all but I still believe that Hagri...
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| Michelle |
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| 2005.02.15 |
I believe that Snape is the HBP. I also believe that Voldemort is the fathe...
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| Inky |
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| 2005.01.30 |
this is very interesting, I particulary enjoyed your elimination of charact...
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| Celcuis Snape the Werewolf |
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| 2005.01.29 |
I Really like this, it was preety good. The whole elimination was interesti...
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| Jonathan |
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| 2005.01.14 |
I say, well done old sport. Articulate, well thought out, and with logic t...
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| Alice |
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| 2005.01.05 |
Very interesting analysis, but can I put a question forward?
Wht does ever...
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| Zeenie |
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| 2004.12.31 |
Interesting article. I also believe that the Chamber holds a lot more secr...
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| SnowLeopard |
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| 2004.12.28 |
I agree with this theory, actually, it's one of my favorite. But there is t...
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| Mary |
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| 2004.12.07 |
Very well written--witty and well thought out! I don't know if I agree wit...
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