Pardon me for being so stupid but why did Snape actually call himself the 'Half-Blood Prince'?
He certainly did not like half-bloods and mudbloods. His memory (which Harry was able to see from the pensieve) can attest that he disliked mudbloods.
Oh one more thing, I certainly disagree that Snape was not proud to be the Half-Blood Prince or he wouldn't put that title on himself and announcing to Harry "I, the Half-Blood Prince!". My point is, iIf one hated the smell of poo, who would be in his right mind to call himself 'Poo Master' and tell somebody "I, who smell likes poo!"?

I agree with some of you.. that the title of the book is not good...

I told in an earlier discussion that that was a little bit likely..
I told about The Goblet of Fire... well actually that title had nothing to do with the book.. i am a bit dissapointed about the title of HP4 and this one..

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

I think that Snape isn't the HBP!

He just said it.. but let me think... In what year was Regulus Black on Hogwarts? I think that he is the HBP.. and that Snape knew about it..

I know this makes not any sence.. Snape his mom was 'Prince' and Regulus black is not a half blood.. but i like the idea..

JKR has to explain much about the Horcruxes and about the stolen one.. by RAB (rugulus a. black?) and...

The one who stole it was a bad {mod edit}... he replaced the potion and the curses.. so he was a badguy.. and wasn't Regulus bad? but he returned to the good side.. and was killed after one month... I think that R. didn't like the idea of Voldemort making Horcruxes.. so he tried to prefend it.....

RJ

MOD EDIT: Please, don't imply curse's by abbreviations, etc. It's against the rules. Thanks, Mason.

I think that Snape was the HBP. First of all he recognized the spells and he know that it was in the potions book. Which brings up something that just occurred to me. If Snape wrote in his potions book, maybe there is other stuff in his other books. It seems a little coincidental that he only wrote in his SIXTH spell book when Harry happened to be in the SIXTH year.

Also, they said that Snapes mother was a witch and his father was a muggle. But there were rumors spreading around that Snape was a vampire. And since JKR used this book to introduce vampires (who’s descriptions are eerily similar to those of Snape), maybe his father was not a wizard, not quite a muggle, but a vampire. What happens when you have a child with a vampire and are not bitten by one. You become a HALF-BLOOD vampire.

in book6, dumbledore was ordering snape to kill him, not begging. he would never beg!

Snape being the HBP came as a complete shock! I was so utterly stunned... I was lucky enough to not have it spoiled for me *is grateful*

Ah forgot to say, I noticed that, like the Goblet of Fire in the fourth book, the HBP wasn't that significant to the plot

guys, guys, guys...

I was reading through some of these posts and desided to join this site so I could post.

SNAPE IS NOT A HALF-BLOOD! The reason why he was called 'The Half-Blood Prince' was because his moms last name before she was married was Prince. Therefore, he is HALF Prince and HALF Snape..if that makes any sence.. Thats what they were trying to say in the book. Seriously though..do you really think Voldemort would let Snape be a Death Eater if he was a half-blood? Besides Voldemort every Death Eater is pureblood.

x0 Lea

MOD EDIT : I've just warned you about your tone in the other thread in which you posted these exact same remarks. I suggest you go read the edit and the rules before you post again. You need to check your facts are correct before you come here and start yelling at people.

Although I am trying to guess how the storyline would have to run in order to support this theory:

I believe that it was Snape's intent that Harry find his old potions book.

I believe that in agreement with Dd, Snape had the continuing mission of trying to teach wizard skills and self-discipline to Harry.

Harry could hardly learn anything from Snape, because of his abject loathing for Snape.

But, the potions book... Harry would not be hindered by enmity with the author...

Harry learned a great deal from Snape through that book, more than Snape could have ever taught Harry in class.

Why, then, was Snape so intent on retrieving the book after the bloody duel with Draco?

Perhaps Snape decided that Harry could no longer be trusted with the book, that he could not be trusted not to abuse the knowledge.

I do think that Dd and Snape knew that Harry would choose to take the potions class, as soon as Harry learned that he could continue without on "O" in his OWL.

They also knew that Harry would not have a book and would have to be lent one. Of course, Ron was also lent one.

Ron and Harry would both have used the HBP book, no matter who got it personally, but there may have been an enchantment, or special instruction for Slug, to ensure that Harry ended up with the book.

Whether Snape is a traitor to Dd or not, he is spectacularly brilliant and ought not be understimated. I believe he is loyal to Dumbledore.

I was surprised the Half-Blood Prince was Snape. I didn't make a guess who it is but i did not expect it the be Snape. And then what he did to Dumbledore is huge betrayal. I never really liked (Ex-Professor) Snape, but now i hate him now. Snape did not mean for the book to fall into Harr's Hands it was and accident caused by a mistake by leaving the book in one of the cupboards.

MOD Note: Please read the rules. Double posting is not allowed. Instead just use the 'edit' button to fix your post. Your previous post has been deleted. It said:
"One more thing I think Snape is proud of his nickname 'Half-Blood Prince'"

I think Half Blood Prince must be a clue. It's a nickname Snape is proud of. It may indicate that his allegiance is not to Voldemort because Voldemort is all about Pure Bloods. Even though Vold. is half blood i doubt he would flaunt it the way Snape does.

When I first heard that Snape killed Dumbledore, and some of the details around it, I went "I knew he was evil"...but I read it myself...isn't there still the possibilty that Snape was following Dumbledore's orders?

AB was unarmed, there were Death Eaters...if they took Dumbledore then it's quite possible Voldemort would make Dumbledore tell him all...LV would then know that he isn't the only one, after all, to know about his horcruxes...he would probably find them all and do something with them before someone else found them and detroyed them...that could ruin all.

I'm just thinking that saying Snape is evil and was a double agent working for LV all along is a bit too rash I think at this point.

Also, someone else brought to light a very real possibility today...what if, by telling Harry at the end of the book something like "no Potter, blocked, blocked, and blocked again, you have to learn to close your mind" (does someone have the real quote please?) Snape was trying to teach Harry something, that he wouldn't be much of a match for Voldemort at present because he would just read his mind..

I dunno, just some random musings. At first sight, you're dead sure Snape really is evil. But when you start thinking...not so black and white.

And about the book, I though that all in all it was superb. I could have done without the 'snogging' as the Brits call it, but I guess it was humorous enough.

I'm glad that Ron and Hermione went with Harry. I'm waiting for the seventh book, but I hope she takes as long as is needed.

I think Snape was a double agent for Lord Voldemort. I think in the first books(1-5) he was pretending to follow Dumbledores orders. And in the HBP he turned murderous. I hate Snape.

I don't know about anyone else, but I just cried my eyes out when Dumbledore died. But, after I read the book I couldn't help thinking that Snape and Dumbledore had this planned since Snape was already bound to protect Malfoy. I keep thinking or maybe hoping that Dumbledore was only made to appear dead, remember Snape is an expert at Potions among other things and could possibly bring him back. If he was so evil, why didn't he kill Potter. It is evident that he dislikes him, but he could not do it. I believe that he dislikes Potter more than Dumbledore, who has always protected him. It just doesn't make any sense. I think that is why they were arguing. Snape had told him of his vow as well as Malfoy's plans and that is when they planned his death. Just a thought.

OK. Albus Dumbledore is dead. They buried the body and his picture is in the Headmasters office. And if Snape hadn't killed him he would be dead. Alas, he is not. Severus is not evil. The argument has already been discussed and when he was fleeing he never cursed harry. "Blocked again and again and again until you learn to keep your mouth shut and your mind closed, Potter!" He never hurt anyone even though he had the chance. He only incapacitated Flitwick and didnt hurt Hermione or Luna. Or Hagrid or Potter even though he could of. No way Potter could have taken Snape on.

i agree with what a lot of ppl are saying here. Although it did answer the half prince question, i think theres still a lot more to go and be answered. i read somewhere a comment jk rowling made by saying "describing snapes boggart would be giving everything away", because there was a question asked or a comment about snape and how dumbledore trusts him. And remember at the end when snape goes crazy because harry calls him a coward, i think theres more to the story then just snape simply killing dumbledore because he was on voldemorts side. I thought back to the argument hagrid overheard and how snape accused dumbledore of taking everything for granted and that he wasnt doing it ne more, i think that definitely has a lot to do with dumbledores death, what exactly i have no clue, guess it'll be a while before the next book and being able to find out whats really going on.

What I think is that this whole thing was planned. Sure Snape may seem evil, that he killed Dumbeldore, but he did not hurt Harry. I think Dumbledore had to die because if he lived he would always protect Harry from Voldemort. But we know that Voldemort and Harry have to have a final battle and Dumbledore is not allowed to interfere. I think Dumbledore thought that if he stayed alive he is to attached to Harry and would get in the way of his fighting with Voldemort. So Dumbledore had already arranged it with Snape to kill him. So he killed himself to save Harry, to save Harry and the other wizards. Dumbledore is a true hero, and shall always be remembered as one. Those are my thoughts on the matter, though it does fit, yeah? I guess we'll have to wait till the 7th book comes out, great that's probably another two years wait .





'It does not do to dwell on dreams, and forget to live' -Dumbledore/ Harry Potter and the Phillosopher's Stone, The Mirror of Erised

After reading HBP for the second time, I read something that kind of boggled me about the Half-Blood Prince. Okay, I know that it makes sense that Snape is the HBP, because his dad was a muggle and his mom's last name was Prince, but there's something else. During Christmas, when Harry was still wondering who the HBP was, he had a hope that it would be his dad. So at the Burrow, he asked Lupin whether they ever called James the HBP, and Lupin said no. They debated it a bit more, and then Lupin suggested to Harry to check the date of the book. Harry did so, and read that it was 50 years old, and then he said something like So it was not my dad, or any of his friends. They weren't at Hogwarts 50 years ago. But wasn't Snape in the same year as James? So how does that work?
Your ideas/opinions please!?

Snape has always been one of my favorite characters and still is- his complexities, his skills, etc. If DD trusted him implicitly, then so do I. DD's wisdom has never let us down yet. So many people questioned DD's trust in Snape over and over again, and DD's unwavering insistence on trusting him was a very important thread in this book. Is DD capable of this big of an error in judgement? It would be out of character if he did make this huge mistake in judgement.


I would also like to address harry's lack of advanced magic skills...his only real wizarding skills seem to be flying and quidditch. And DD didn't feel it was important to teach Harry more technical skills. Apparently these won't be important when he faces the dark lord in the final showdown?
As for Snape wanting harry to have his old book, it doesn't seem that he planned it since he was so angry that Harry was using it...but I found myself asking, if it was so important to Snape, why did he leave it in the bottom of the cupboard? So you may be right...

Mikulek, wasn't it originally Snapes mother's book, that's why it was so old? I could be wrong, but that's what I thought i read.

Snape being HBP was absolutely unexpected for me too...

So I hope the Snape behaviour improve for next book, thinking of he is innocent and he a DD work together in 6th Book. But If it is true, there are some facts to take into account:

- Snape is not a traitor
- Snape helps to Draco only because he is hisfavorite pupil but additionaly to appear like a Voldemorts loyal servant
- DD is still alive and taste a potion that simulate his death, only to take advantage of Voldemort, working under the shadow.
- Snape and DD carried out a plan together, and for that Snape needs to appear in Voldemort side, just to take confidence and to investigate more deeply about the next horcruxes...

What do you think about these facts?

I think the whole reason why Snape is the Half-Blood Prince is to further the idea that Snape is in between the two sides. The HBP is immersed in Dark Arts, making his own Dark spells. Yet also he is a genius when it comes to potions and such, portraying the HBP in a good light. So when we find out it is Snape it just adds to the idea that everyone is unsure which side he is on, Dumbledore's or Voldemort's.

Yes since the beginning Snape has been the most double-sided character in the entire series so far. I think when you think about it Half Blood Prince is also a kind of name that implies double sided-ness. Half.... Blood.... Prince.... I don't know, just thinking aloud.

Snape is evil and that’s why he has been doomed to kill DD. Dumbledore would have never asked some noble and pure - soul person to commit a murder. He values the whole soul beyond all, that’s why he needs Snape, because his soul has already been damaged (at least once).

That means, Snape is very valuable for Harry when he remains next to Voldemort! There are things worse then death, and that’s something Voldemort always fails to recognise. And no one denies Snape is genius! A slimy, evil git, but he can do things even DD couldn’t.

And: He fears nothing, not even the hell!

I cant say i was very surprised he was the HBP because of the whole potions thing. I had it brought down to either him or James because we saw him use that one spell on Snape in 'Snapes Worst Memory'. The picture in the US version was especially cool.

[COLOR=green]Severus Snape is niether good nor evil. Nobody in these books is purely good. There are always gray areas to each character. (xcept Voldy, DE) To me Snape is the most realistic person in the series. There are so meaning things which hint at this being a setup. In fact, it is downright logical. Dumbledore was sickly. His right arm was dead. Combined with old age and that potion he drank, he was going to die no matter what. I think that potion was a slow acting posion. He said that LV wouldn't want the person to die imediatly. DD knew he was dying and told Potter what he needed to do. Snape was bound by the unbreakable vow to Narcissa. He would have died had he not killed DD and DD realized Severus was more useful and knew they couldn't beat LV without a spy amongst the DE. There is, I think, overwhelming evidence that Snape is on the Light side. Not necisarily good but against LV.

Would Dumbledors portrait appear in the headmasters office if he wasn't really dead?
I've done a lot of reading and there is much speculation.
This is the darkest book by far.
Voldemort is not even given the spotlight in this book. He is only mentioned.
It's hard to tell where Snapes priorities lie.
There are some good theories out there.
I must say that I was surprised at who the HBP turned out to be.
To learn that Snape is the HBP was a surprise. I thought it would be Voldemort.
I think, in the next book, that Harry will be much older before confronting Voldemort.
He says he won't be attending school in the next year but he needs to develop his skills.
Harry has one more summer with the Dursleys. What will happen next?

Yea, Severus is indeed a blurry character.. good and bad or you could say neither goood nor bad. The idea that he is thhe HBP reinforces that. For the HBP is both a genius in his classes adn also creates Dark spells...

hey everyone! it should have been obvious that snape was supposedly on the dark side. in book 5, umbridge said that lucius malfoy always spoke so highly of snape. why would the malfoys still like snape if he had "switched" to the good side, seeing as their still with voldemort?

I love Snape because of the fact that he is such a complex character, but I hate him for killing DD! Even if he must have to save his and Draco's lives, I still feel a burning hatred when I hear his name....

Sure we all hate him now, even though many of us believe he is good. But he is a slippery character, as the HBP is portrayed and we will have to wait for substantial evidence until that hatred is gone.

What I dont get about Snape being the Half Blood Prince is that Harry says the date on the Potions book says that it was almost 50 years old. Furthermore, he deduced that the book could not have belonged to his father because he had been to Hogwarts much more recently than 50 years prior to Harry. However, Snape and James and co. were at Hogwarts at the same time. How can Snape have been in possesion of that book 50 years previous and also been attending Hogwarts with James? Two possible answers that I've come up with are:
1) JK simply made a mistake (understandable)
2) Snape was not the first owner of the Half Blood Prince Potions book.

I thought that the book may have been his mother's, as I seem to remember Hermione saying Snape's mother had been at school around 50 years before.

Yes that makes sense. Thanks for that.

MOD EDIT: Welcome to the VTM forums, king_linden! One-liners are not permitted, I'm afraid. Please take a quick look at the Rules so you can become a bit more comfortable with them. Thanks!

My theories are totally out of the blue, but I have reason to think that Snape ends up being the final thing Harry has to comfront before Harry can have his little tea party with WHATEVER His Name Is, Tom Riddle. Snape is someone to be reckoned with because he has a cold, intellectual side which makes it difficult to find his weakness. He has pride, and a calculating manipulation, more than Riddle. Snape thinks about how it will hurt most, having a lot of practice on Harry and his friends. I think in the end it will more difficult to overcome Snape because Harry has known him, and Snape knows what makes Harry lose control. Snape being a half blood may give Harry a weapon in the sense that the other DE may turn on him. Snape is arrogant, a lot more arrogant than he lets himself believe. bWhat also makes Snape horrible is that although Dumbledore pleaded, which he never does, Snappe murdered him cold-bloodedly. ANd HELLO! Snape was always a little complex, but he most likley has a weakness, since he is Half Blooded, and a whole human, not WITH A SPLIT SOUL. It would make sense that Snape is agaist Riddle because Snape wouldn't agree with him, he's too smart. I still hate Snape though. If Snape wanted to kill Harry, he could have, but I just got a brainwave. What if Snape wanted to be an Auror like Harry (he was good in the two subjects he needed) but Riddle didn't want him against him and let Snape keep whatever the HBP stood for if Snape would support him, however grudgingly.

Remember, ghosts in this universe only happen because they are somehow afraid of death. Nearly-Headless Nick during his deathday celebration says as much. And since they are afraid, they stay with the living and don't try to go out. Dumbledore was not afraid of death. He won't be back as a ghost.

I posted this at the Death thread but found that since this closely relates I’ll edit and place it here as well. Sorry about the length I have lots to say.


It is pointless to argue that Snape killed Dumbledore under the loyalty of Lord Voldermort. Rowling wrote that in plain view. Or did she?

Ok, is Snape really on ‘OUR’ side? I think so, Why? Here goes. I too was emotional when Albus Dumbledore died. But I knew he had to. Let us not forget DD had been poisoned with the brew from Voldermort’s Pensieve. Only Dumbledore knew the true effects the green liquid had on him. If Dumbledore was pleading with Snape to kill him then it must have been for two reasons

1. Snape killed Dumbledore to eliminate the possible damages and/or side effects that crept closer. It was taking forever for a Pensieve cocktail cure to reach Dumbledaore (notice how DD kept sliding further and further to the floor during Draco’s monologue). Maybe he knew the end was near. I think R.A.B. replaced Voldermort’s original brew with a more potent deadly poison. The way he pleaded with Harry to stop giving him the potion meant DD was in terrible pain, physically &emotionally. Humans, Muggle or Magic, when in immense pain plead for the ‘Long Rest‘. Snape was Dumbledore’s Dr. “Death” Kevorkian.

2. Snape killed Dumbledore to spare Draco’s life from ****ation. Let me explain. Something, in the Magic world (& in the Muggle world), happens to someone once they have taken a life. “Killing rips the soul apart” (HBP pg 498) If Dumbledore died at the hands of Snape, Draco could be spared from the darkness that veils over anyone who murders. Yes, Draco was born into a family that whole heartedly supported Volddermort (that can be argued, Narcissa! but this is not the time), however it should not mean Draco too s/w/could have the same faith as his Father. According to Myrtle, Draco cried and had major grievances with his mission and the outcome if he failed. If he were truly Voldermort’s man (like Bellatrix) he would see his failed endeavor as a triumph for the mere fact of being chosen to attempt the deed. Snape was given a chance so should, Dumbledore thought, so should Draco. Hmph!


We all know that Snape is the Emeril Lagasse of Potion brewing. Remember how Snape recognized Sectumsempra from the abrasion it caused Draco he might have recognized his OWN deadly potion from the sight of Dumbledore. He knew the cure for Sectumsempra, he may also have know there was no cure for the Pensieve Cocktail. Could that be why “there was revulsion and hated etched in the harsh lines in his face. {That one of his potions he created for Voldermort when he was a death eater, is now killing Albus Dumbledore}? That being said could R.A.B be the Half Blood Prince.

That is why I am certain Snape is still on our side. Now if you still believe that Snape is nothing more than one of Voldermort’s lap dogs, answer this: Why is the book called Harry Potter and ‘SNAPE’!!? At one point we thought the ‘Prisoner of Azkaban’ was directly responsible for the death of Harry‘s parents AND on a mission to do Harry in.

Oh boy, weren’t we fooled!

Oh one more thing wasn’t the prophecy told in a B.A.R. The same B.A.R. owned by Dumbledore’s brother. And speaking of brothers isn’t Sirius Black’s brothers’ initials R.A.B. After reading all of your thoughts, I also think Dumbledore could have staged his death seriously. Clues like that don't grow on trees. Just a thought.

An *odd* thing happened to me...
A couple of days ago, when i was reading chapter 5
or 6..can't remember well :/....i suddenly woke up during
the night and i yelled "Snape is the Half Blood Prince!"
Yeah, i'm insane i reckon...but the, when i kept reading,
i thought that Lily was the Half Blood Prince, just like someone
posted it...i don't know...the stories about Lily that Slughorn
told Harry...well, that's when i began to doubt my first option...

PS: Next morning....my mom was like "Why on earth
where you yelling during the night!" --- o.O

I've been posting for months before that Snape was the half-blood prince, but I had completly the wrong reasons.

Still - good guess though

I have only read about have of this thread but I have a few comments thus far..

First, I know there were several comments about Snape's mother.. I'd like to expand on this..

I agree that Snape's potion book belonged to his mother first... I also think that Eileen went to Hogwarts at the same time as Riddle... Maybe he gave her pointers on potions and whatnot... (hence the "feminine" writing in the potions book) Snape could have expanded on this.

I also think that Lily could have helped Snape with potions, or vice versa... JKR wouldn't have put all that stuff about Slughorn praising Lilly's talents in potions for nothing! Maybe Snape stole all of those spells from Lilly.. heck I don't know. But there is more significance to it all than the 6th book lets on...

Or maybe there is absolutely no connection at all and JKR has lost her cotton-pickin' mind... *shrug*

I think the importance of Snape being the HBP is stylistic. What I mean by that is that it effects the way in which we experience the story and not so much that being the HBP really decides the outcome of the story. Rowling creates a sort of trust triangle that suckers both the readers and the characters, making the idea of betrayl important. It has to do with Harry's trust in the HBP (whose advice helps him though the HBP clearly has an interest in the Dark Arts), the other characters' trust in Snape (despite the fact that he was a "former" Death Eater and a generally unpleasant fellow) and most importantly, the readers' trust in Snape (despite all the evidence we're given that he is still a servant of Voldemort in the beginning scene with Narcissa). When Snape kills Voldemort, it destroys our image of Snape, the characters' image of Snape and Harry's image of the HBP.