after extensive crying over DD and Snape's shocking betrayal, i started delving deeper. i was puzzled by the death and what the curse did to DD, i was ecstatic about Harry and Ginny getting together, and then i felt my heart shatter into a thousand tiny pieces when it came to Harry's goodbye to Ginny at the end, that was soooooo sweet and i was crying for hours afterwards.

i'm so glad Ron held Hermione at the funeral. that ties another knot forever and ever. YAY! Harry got Ginny, Ron got Hermione, Remus got Tonks - kind of - and now everyone's happy, until Harry tried to save Ginny. That's really stupid, Ginny won't be much safer not going out with him than if she was, because Harry can't do Occlumency so he can't block them feelings from LV anyway.

Harry will return to Hogwarts - 7 books, 7 years - so he has to return, if only to see DD's portrait or talk to teachers or maybe even the library.
i hope all couples get together in the end! that will be great, but someone's going to die no matter what. especiall Harry and Ginny. if anyone deserves a perfect lovelife Harry does. he's done so much, has so much to do, so he needs a happy ending. Ron and Hermione will always be together even if they don't go out - they're made for each other!

Snape's innocent, Luna and Neville were brilliant as usual, Slughorn is seriously weird, Draco has matured so much during the 6th year, and i think he'll help bring LV down in the end, as will Snape. imagine if Harry and Draco fight side by side/back to back? that would be realllly weird! let us all pray for happy endings all around!!!!

Did you think Ron and Hermione were already together? I didn't get that...though I think they're nearly there.

I didn't feel that his holding her necessarily wrapped them up in a relationship romantically, though I LOVED that moment. I'm hoping for more on them becoming a couple and that first kiss...maybe at the wedding for Bill and Phlegm? Or maybe later after Voldemort is dead and its time to break out the butterbeers?

I agree. Seeing Draco fight with Harry would be cool. Draco is a great character and though he and Harry would never be mates, Draco isn't exactly Death Eater material so far. Maybe there's hope there?

Personally I thought that it was very curious how Dumbledore did not talk to Harry from beyond. I couldn't help but to notice that every single headmaster that has died appears in a painting on the wall of the headmasters office, and can also speak. There is obviously a reason that Snape killed Dumbledore, and why Dumbledore is not able to talk while on the wall in the headmasters office. I don't know if I completely belive that Dumbledore is dead. I still hate Snape even if he killed Dumbledore with good reason, but theres something very odd about how Dumbledore died and did not show up in the picture.

he was in the portrait, but sleeping apparently, so maybe he couldn't talk immediately because the death had only just happened... but the whole death was weird.

no, Ron & Hermione aren't together yet, but i think they will be near the beginning of 7, and if not they definately will be by the end, that's if they don't die anyway , and i hope the trio keep up with their friendship without losing it because R & H are together... wasn't Ron holding Hermione the sweetest thing? i was touched! they're meant for each other! just like Harry and Ginny.
YAY! i loved that kiss, how romantic, snogging the love of your life for the first time in front of a hundred eagerly watching Gryffindors! Classic! Harry's got such a huge heart hasn't he, and that is one great and rare quality.

What I really enjoyed about HBP compared to the other books was the maturity that Harry seems to have now. His bad mood and constant tantrums in OotP had started getting on my nerves. In HBP he is much calmer and much more (even more) lovable

My initial reaction after reading HBP for the first time was that Jo had let us down this time, but going through the book a second time has reminded me how much I enjoyed the book till THE incident (No I can't make myself say it yet). I think I'm ready for my 3rd helping

I vote for Happy, because Jo Rowling does it again. The quality of HBP is definitely not below the previous ones. Her writing styles are much better. The suspenses and shocking events are there.
Looking at the results of the vote, I think she successfully maintains her standard as a very unique author: she can touch the nerves of her readers beyond what others can do. Listing as sad, shocked, numbs, disappointed etc. show how much the readers can be lured to her labyrinth of fantasy. Those reactions are her triumph. An overall happy feeling is boring for most people already ("fairy tale good feeling" etc.), an overly dark story may not be suitable for hormone-boosted audience. The HBP has been able to induce a fiction into the souls of so many readers which live in 2 worlds when reading it (the real world and Jo Rowling's Harry Potter Universe).
Since HBP is only a prelude to the last showdown, I don't think it can fairly judged as a stand-alone book. As it is, HBP serves its purpose tremendously, making real fans anticipating book 7 more than ever.

That's an interesting way of viewing it, Muggy... I'd see the high votes for sad/disappointed/worried and shocked as quite the opposite, but then I think that the day we agree on something will be the day that aliens land on Mount Rushmore, eh?

I am happy that you seem to think we are closer to agreement than ever. The last time I recall, aliens have landed on top of Devil's Tower (not too far from Mt. Rushmore) in 1970-s, when Steven Spielberg only knew a tune of 5 notes then (which after using it again in Star Wars episode IV, it multiplied into billion notes, Dollars and many other currencies). It would not take too long before they want to see why Mt. Rushmore's beautiful contours have been defaced by a human being to resemble four of his kind, instead of the other billions. Well, after intercepting the audio signals from the broadcasts of HBP reading, they may be amazed to see how several inhabitants of the third rock from an unattractive star were very angry that one of their kind has defaced their value of life related to some personae that the aliens fail to find in their database covering all human beings ever born in the H2O flooded planet. Their initial reaction after perceiving HBP would be that the human beings are already aware being monitored and they deliberately made a fuss about some imaginative love stories to divert their attention. Maybe, they concluded, the four main characters in HBP are somehow related to the four faces on Mt. Rushmore, and so they will visit it soon after the threat color is lower down to green, the cover color of HBP. :-)
Hope this will cheer you up a bit, Louise.
Love,
Muggy

LMAO!!!! Oh, Muggy....*tee hee* *wipes tears away*

However, I would point out that there are THREE main characters in these books - Ginny is merely "eye-candy for Harry" padding, a little like Grawp was for OotP, although in a slightly less attractive way, obviously...

I wonder if Grawp and Ginny will ever meet? *evil glint*

Grawp being "eye-candy for Harry"? Hmm... never really thought about that.
I don't think Harry will like the idea of Ginny meeting Grawp. Not after he ended their relationship, just so Ginny won't be harmed by Voldemort. He still won't let anything harmful come to her direction, right?
Anyway, glad that you like my "candy" posting.

I think that RON AND HERMIONE NEED TO GET TOGETHER! I'ts really getting on my nerves. NEVILLE NEEDS A GIRLFRIEND! WHO DO YOU THINK WOULD GO OUT WITH HIM THOUGH? I HAVE NO IDEA!

MOD EDIT: Hi there Bella, and welcome to the VTM forum! Please try to refrain from using excessive caps, it is considered yelling in cyperspace, and not very polite. Also keep on topic, we have a lovely ship thread for this kind of comment. Thanks!

I am agree with the first point.Sanpe,who betrayed Dumbledore,ignore 5 years'trust for him.wolf-like coward!I hope Harry will kill him in book7.

To be honest, this book was far from my favorite. Though I did like learning about Tom Riddle's past, I was never really on the edge of my seat while reading the story. I know that HBP is suppose to be the first half of one book but I just thought it would be a bit more engaging.

I have to admit that I did not like it the Dd was killed and I suppose I might be in denial about it, but if it turns out that he is dead and that he had to die because all of the other people who were protecting Harry died, then I will have to agree with those of you who think that JKR is indeed less complicated than I at first had thought.

This does not mean that I do not like the books or the series because I most certainly do however, if it does turn out that Dd was killed by an evil Severus or that Dd ordered himself to be killed in a relativistic chess game, then I will have been sorely disappointed.

I hope this attitude will change after I have read book seven, but as of this moment, I have my doubts. For at this point, even if Harry defeats LV, the cost will have been to such an extent that I hardly believe any reader will find it at all satisfying.

Perhaps Severus Snape's redemption will do that, but I doubt it. Being as Snape is probably the biggest prat in the entire world regardless of whether he is working for the Order.

And if it all comes down to just revenge.....well....Well then it will have been a good childrens story but it will never compare to the great series which while telling a clever tale yield true hope vested in love.

Right now however, I'm finding that this may not be possible.

i started the book last thursday evening and finished the next day.
couldn't read it any earlier was behind at uni. anyway was shocked even though i felt that it would now be time for dumbledore to die. the manner of his death was awful.

what i really want to know is what will now happen to draco because he didn't kill dumbledore himself. what arguments will snape use to justifying his actions

and will we here about wizards from other countries standing up to voldy or what.

Let's start from my first reactions:

When I first touched the book, I was really excited. I read it at once. Hmmm... while I was reading the secong chapter, I was really having this bad feeling about Snape being a traitor. Of course because of the Unbreakable Vow. I felt angry because Dumbledore is trusting Snape.

So as the story goes, I felt happy because: first of Phlegm... I love it; when my ship finally sailed; I was also shocked abpout Tonks and Lupin... And of course, the death of the headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. I was crying at the last chapter. First, my favorite character, Sirius then now Dumbledore.

At the very last part of the book, I felt annoyed, disappointed, sort of like those because I think it was not yet finish! But maybe because I'm already used of the last part with Dumbledore's speech before the summer vacation, the trio in or going the Hogwarts Express or they are already in the King's Cross Station.

Overall, I was sad because Dumbledore is already dead.

What bothered me the most about the sixth book what how Dumbledore was portrayed. In every previous book, he was always known as the most powerful, most intelligent wizard in the world. When Snape killed him, I just felt like everything about his character was a lie! How could he have been fooled to such a horrible extent? Even Harry Potter realized Snape for who he was! I know that Dumbledore is very trustworthy and gives second chances... but how could he have let something THIS big just slip right by him?

Another thing that upset me was the fact that Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley are not returning to Hogwarts for their final year. What is the point of that? I think that J.K. Rowling should have pushed back every a year, and have Dumbledore die at the end of the seventh book, so that Harry can finish school! One of my favorite things about the book is the mysterious castle; the seventh book will be SO different without it.

Also, I was really disappointed in Lupin's character in this book. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Lupin was a great influence and guide to Harry. In this book, he practically ignored Harry because he's confused about some love relationship going on with Tonks! I think Lupin should have been there for Harry.

Another thing, why do all of the most important characters of the book keep dying? And they all happen to be the closest to Harry! First Sirius Black, now Dumbledore??? This is an outrage!

I'm sorry if it seems like I'm complaining, it's not that I think that J.K. Rowling made mistakes in this book or anything, it was just a very upsetting ending.

And I have a question- Does anyone know how many more books there will be before the series ends? Is the seventh book the last?

Thanks for reading

I was outstanded, shocked, happy, distraught, confused, angry, wowed, it was all brilliant but i didn't really like 'the other minister' it went on a bit too long but it gave a little bit of info to get you hooked!

Initial reaction:

The moment I read the first chapter, it glued me into reading. The moment I finished the last, I was left dumbfounded, as if I left my sanity inside the book. I didn't want Dumbledore dead. I was really lost. It was like the book began by building up tension from Voldemort's second reign of terror, then continued with Hogwarts' life-goes-on normalcy throughout the sixth year despite the clamor outside, and ended up with everyone at Hogwarts collapsing helplessly at the grip of a terrible loss. I think my consciousness went with them. Everything suddenly fell apart.

On the second thought:

Engaging though the book have been as a part of the HP series, I feel that it lacks plot in itself. I don't think it can stand on its own as a book, and I think film makers will find it hard to create an adaptation with its own character and flow, plot-wise (which I think is a very important aspect of a movie)

What the book offered were scattered events - the Ministry attempting to put everything in order, a mysterious Half Blood Prince helping Harry during Potions, Draco's secret plot against the headmaster, Snape's two-faced stand in the battle of good and evil, and occassional Pensieve tours on what makes Voldemort a Dark Lord. Although each (and maybe even taken as a whole) helped create a fragile and ominous atmosphere, I can't help but get distracted by their seeming lack of unity in providing a concrete plot. Hmm.. I think Rowling used it to reinforce a frail atmosphere, which she intends to crumble at Dumbledore's death (and effectively did so), but I dunno, I wish the book had a more characteristic plot.

This was a transitional book. Rowling had 2 goals she wanted to accomplish here:

1. Get Harry and friends out of Hogwarts once and for all.

2. Set up the after-Hogwarts plotline.

This book suffers the same problem most transitional books have, they're mostly exposition and little action.

If you think back on it plot wise, there really wasn't that much going on here. You had the romantic entanglements which were entertaining but ultimately went nowhere. You had Harry's almost pathological obsession with Draco, which also went nowhere (he didn't find out what was going on, or affect the results in any way so it went nowhere). You had Harry as the Quiditch Captain which was entertaining but Quiditch has always been filler. You had Slughorn's social climbing, which came to a dead stop and was never mentioned again. You had Harry trying to get the memory from Slughorn, which did actually get somewhere (one of the best parts really). But then you had the Potions book and the mysterious Half-Blood Prince of the title, and that too didn't really go anywhere until the very, very end. (And why didn't Draco seek revenge after the bathroom incident? Even distracted as he was he would have tried something). And then you had Harry's lessons with DD, the real purpose of the book, which was all exposition and no action until, again, the very end.

Rowling did come up with interesting things to put in the book, but she unfortunately arraigned it so that she couldn't reveal ANYTHING until the end, which climaxed with the death of a beloved character and the announcement that the Hogwarts phase of Harry Potter is over. It's not surprising then that most people, including me, felt rather letdown after turning the last page. It could have been arraigned better, maybe reveling who the Half-Blood Prince was sooner creating much tension between Snape and Potter, or by letting Harry go with Dumbledore on a mission sooner, or by building up the tension between Draco and Harry by letting Harry into the Room of Requirement sooner.

I feel she ended Hogwarts largely for her own reasons rather than any narrative reason. She was burned out on the school framework after the 3rd book I think. It's a shame, I too loved the Hogwarts setting and I feel that after the 3rd book or so she never really used the castle to its full advantage, but that's probably my geeky love of old hidden mysteries and lost treasures talking.

It will be odd not to have the schools structure forming the next book. I don't know how well Rowling will stand up to the task. The school and it's trappings are a deeply ingrained part of the Harry Potter mythos, turning her back on it is a very risky step.

I'm sure that if she wouldn't mind opening up the franchise, there are any number of authors out there who would love to take a swing at ushering in a new generation of Hogwarts students. Under say a "Hogwarts Yearbooks" banner for example.

I was stunned at DDs death. I loved that character. But don't make a mistake, he's dead. Rowling has been very clear on the fact that in the HP world death is permanent and she's given many signs that he's dead. I won't bother to list them, this isn't that topic, but if she were to bring him back in the next book, it would damage the framework she's built thusfar.

Anyway, I do like what she's done with Snape. Being torturously torn between evil and good Snape has emerged as a complex and compelling character, and Rowling has justifiably pushed him to the forefront. I'm quite sure we don't know exactly what the bond between him and DD was, or the motivations behind what really happened on that tower!

I was shocked when Dumbledore died. I wasn't expecting that one. I do think it is for the best. Without Dumbledore being around it will make Harry grow up and start thinking for himself. He will no longer have Dumbledore to run to for every little thing. I do think that they will go back for their 7th year at Hogwarts. I think Harry will be gone a lot of the year looking for the horcruxs and such.

I was a combination of; Numb, shocked, disappointed, and downright ticked off...There I sat, flashlight in hand at 12:45am (I was up half the night finishing the last fourth of the book... ) and I just sat there gaping. Mouth open in a manner similar to that of an awe-stricken codfish. Then of course things sunk in and I gave myself time to think things over.

Then I felt....confused....about several happenings that I won't go into here because I'll be typing for hours . Oh, looking back on it....I remember cursing under my breath about Snape...heheheh.....and regardless of whether or not he's good, he must die....My exact words, really.

Numb, shocked and dissapointef
1st because harry didn't face voldermot
2nd because dumbledore died
3rd because snape betrayed them

oooo, i did not like this one nearly as much as the others.It seemed really unneccessary that Dumbledore dies. I feel sorry for the actor that plays Snape. He's probably receiving hate-mail, even though it isn't really him and he hasn't even played the part yet. I just feel like going on a rant on J.K rowling...

Please do! Feel free! Heaven only knows that I certainly have - several times! Obviously keep it polite, but no-one's going to jump on you for expressing your thoughts - if you weren't happy with any aspects of the book, please feel free to say so

all in all, i was really dissapointed with the book here are some things that i thought were bad:

*dumbledors death (yes i do think hes dead) was pretty sad, because dumbledore is such a strong wizard, an he was killed wandless, just like that, almost by a sixteen year old! i always though that he would die in a big battle saving harry somehow

*this book was pointless and didnt get us anywhere in learning anything except that there are horcruxes and that one really helpfull person died

*there was NO action for the whole book except for two chapters at the end with the whole fighting scene. the rest of the book was TOTALLY POINTLESS

I strongly disagree. The book may seem to have no actions of importance until the last chapters, but I found it very interesting all the way through.

First chapter is not too important, but Spinner's End? Anything related to Snape is interesting, and this chapter maybe more than ever.

Harry's lessons with DD gave us much information about Voldemort, mostly imporant of all, the Horcruxes, which at last gave us knowledge of his ability to survive death.

We got the tip of the iceberg on Draco's intentions. It wasn't too hard to figure that he was working for LV before either, but now it is very clear, but his conversation with DD gives you some to think of, he couldn't kill DD. Maybe because he knew the curse would fail or maybe because he felt remorse for DD and that he could have come to the other side, hadn't LV gotten such a great grip on him.

The Half-Blood Prince may not seem of importance, but I find anything related to Snape, especially his past extremely interesting.

This book sum up some of the questions about LV, it is afterall him and Harry the books are mainly about. But it also gives us a thousand new questions, which I hope all will be answered in the last book.

I enjoyed this book very much, it has made me wanting to read the five first over again.

Well...I nulled, only because, I loved it the moment my eyes hit the first page, and that did not change. Still hasn't. But, after I was done, I still loved it, but I was depressed a little, because obviously DUMBLEDORE DIED, PEOPLE! But what upset me the most besides that was H/G's breakup. They're not over. No way, no how.

~WR

I loved it, it was great, best yet. It was good because it got away from the usual scenery, and hogwarts was not a large part of the book. It was the most intence yet, the darkest, most deaths, adventurous, and a bit of mystery. 5/5 for me. I could not put it down and I read it really fast. I was happy about snape finally getting what he deserves.

I have to say. I was pretty disapointed when Rowling revealed that Snape was the half blood prince. I mean.... it just seemed kind of rushed, like there was a better way she was going to reveal him but just didnt have the time.

Oh well, I guess she cant please EVERYONE



seamus

I was totally and completely shoked i couldnt believe it when i read it everything was written in perfect oredr the harry and ginny thing ROCK! they should end up together in the end.

I have noticed that a lot of this thread are posts of what they didn't like about the book. I have to say I have only read it once but I thouroughly enjoyed it. I was very engrossed with the book from the time I picked it up. It did make my head spin though and I was shocked about quite a few things. Mainly about DD's death. I had so many thoughts and emotions going on: shock, disbelief, excitment, happiness, sadness, understanding, and a little bit of anger. I had to call my mom and talk to her about it since she had already read the book. I really don't have a whole lot of specifics since, like I said, I have only read it once, but I walked satisfied and very impatient for the next book.

Sheri

When I first read the book I was completely shocked! I couldn't stop thinking about it. I finshed it late one night and I ran to my brother's room to talk to him about the book because he had already read it! All he said was I know! I know! We were both so shocked but I really loved the book. Everything about it was good. I was so happy Harry and Ginny started dating it was so cute! I wasn't that upset that DD died but I was shocked that is happened so soon! I thought it was going to happen in the 7th book. I was also surpised that Harry is not going back to Hogwarts in the next book! I am really looking forward to the last book. I think it will be great and JK Rowling will surpise all of us!!!!

Wow. What a book! And I must say, it was an interesting book indeed. However, I voted "Disappointed". Here's why:

I didn't like it, initially. Granted, I read it until four in the morning the night it came out, so I may have been sleep deprived, and therefore my judgement was impared. But I reread it two days later, after I had finished, and my opinion hadn't changed. The book, while good in the aspect that it was both a Harry Potter book and nicely written, it just didn't feel right.
What bothered me the most was the characters. This was the main reason I reread it. I took one look at chapter 3 and thought, "Is that really Dumbledore?" It just seemed like he was acting overly weird. Out of his normal character, if you will. But that was okay. I was willing to accept it. But then every other character started acting strange, like their whole world had turned upside down in an instant. It was this fact I had the hardest time accepting. The thrust of the war upon the characters was so sudden, and the change from the end of book 5 so awkward, that I couldn't comprehend it. We go from a covert Voldemort to an extremely active one that no one can stop in a matter of weeks. I would have thought Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix would have been able to step in and help the Ministry of Magic fight off the "forces of evil".
Second, and the detail that is most important to me, is the flow of the book. It felt way too fast, like I was hit with event after event after event in a relentless attack on my mind. Things were happening so fast they seemed rushed. We don't get the nice segue into the beginning with a chapter or two devoted to the Private Drive scenary, and so I felt a little off-balanced. Then, having characters rush about like the sky is falling seemed a little over the top as well (though our favorite main character did seem to keep his head). It was kind of like how the first war had been described in the fifth book, where everyone was acting stressed as if there would be no tomorrow (within good reason). So I guess Voldemort really does have a knack for spreading discord and confusion amongst his enemies (or whatever Dumbledore said at the end of the fourth book).
Not only did the pacing of the book seem rushed, but so did the plot in general. After both my readings, I thought it felt as if J. K. Rowling had decided to appeal more to the fans now rather than stick to her books and write them. I believe I read somewhere (and I could be wrong) that there was more planning and outlining that went into this book. To me, that seemed to have dictated the way Rowling presented the story to us, trying to fit her ideas to a model rather than the model to her flow. So many more scenes within the book, such as less elaboration within the pensive scenes by Dumbledore to Harry, came off as lacking. The book read more, to me, as a fanfiction or other story meant to please the fans more than actually tell the elegant story of Harry Potter. After loosing the natural flow of the first five books, book six didn't measure up.
Finally, and probably one of the more controversial parts of the book, were the relationships. And I don't mean who is going out or is meant to be with whom. I mean more along the lines that everyone was acting, again, as if they were going to die any minute. And they also came off as childish. Having characters go around, acting like soap opera stars (sorry to anyone who likes soap operas), is nothing I find enjoyable to read. Ron and Hermione, two of my favorite characters (don't forget Harry), both acted like complete children bickering. You might say it is how their relationship is, but whatever it may be it was too much. What they did was low to each other, even for friends, and it seemed to encompass a vast majority of the book (and I thought it was supposed to be about Harry Potter, not Ron and Hermione).
That aside, Harry's relationship with Ginny was sudden. In a way it came off bad, but made up for it in the end. I could have accepted it, if Rowling hadn't ended it as abruptly as it had started. This basically ruined the book for me. The absolute extreme was how Ginny cheesily broke up with Harry (or Harry with her). I realised then that it was little more than a bunch a romance sprinkled with a subplot. I seriously was less concerned about the Half-Blood Prince than I should have been. Since the book is titled so, you would expect the story to follow that path, but i mainly felt that I was reading info-romance-info-romance, etc.
Basically, I thought that book five was written much better than six, so my expectations were set high going into the release. Book six didn't measure up as I thought it would, but I enjoyed the read nonetheless.

Okay, sorry about the long rant of what I didn't like about the book. Now for a few quick positive points.

I loved the mystery around the Half-Blood Prince, especially how Harry couldn't figure out why someone so helpful could come up with something so evil as Sectumsempra. And once Snape killed Dumbledore, I was amazed. I first thought, "No! Don't do it!", he did it, and then I thought, "Brilliant! Snape killed Dumbledore! He has to be not only my new favorite character, but also still on the good side!" (I literally thought that; don't ask how).


So there you have it. My two bits on Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I'm looking forward to book seven, and hopefully some clarification to the randomness of book six. Kudos to J. K. Rowling and all you Potter fans out there!

I thought the book was ok. It was interesting to find out more about Voldemort. But what I thought was weird was why didn't Dumbledore try and use a non verbal skill when he was on the tower with Malfoy? Also why didn't Harry use a non verbal skill also when he was looking for his wand when Snape was escaping? As far as Dumbledore's death it wasn't too big of a shock because I had already assumed that in order for Harry and Voldemort to really have a big huge battle (as far as the Prophecy goes) Dumbledore wouldn't be able to alive. As Dumbledore would always go to Harry's aid and Voldemort would always be afraid of Dumbledore.

Oh god, I haven't posted in so long! Anyways...I too have a whole lot to write about. First off, HBP will definately be one of my favourites (with GoF in first place). Although the book lacked the adventure that GoF was filled with, it was enjoyable. HBP was a great book, and that's my opinion so I don't want people bashing me for it. Secondly, I think I read somewhere that someone thought that the book wasn't too important. I have to disagree. The book taught us a lot and most of it will probably help with book seven. We found out about Severus and his talents. We find out about the horcruxes. Harry and Ginny hit it off (raise your hand if you think they'll get back together?) and Hermione and Ron are right on the edge of dating. I don't know if you've noticed, but about 45% of the book is all about Voldemort and his past. This will definately be important in book seven, I think.

When I first finished the story, I cried my poor, little eyes out. Even now, I've reread that scene several times and I still use up a whole box of tissues. Frankly, I can't deny that I expected it. I knew that DD was going to snuff it at some point, but like many have said - not this soon. I think it would just kill the whole ending of book six if DD actually was alive, but...it's a very comforting thought to think that he's still alive. DD was an amazing wizard and the thought of him never being there to say funny comments, or to come up with amusing office passwords, or to defend Harry...is just horrible. He will be missed.

Anyways....my friend and I, we were discussing today that Harry was for once right about his suspicions. In book one, the trio suspected Severus. They were wrong - duh. Book two, they suspected Draco and they were once again wrong. Book three, they thought that Sirius was a manslaughtering mad-man. Wrong again. Book four...they really had no lead, but they kind of suspected Severus. Wrong. Book five, there really was no one to suspect, but they did go for the MoM to save an already safe Sirius. So, it didn't really surprise me that Harry was for once right. His suspicions of Draco were true - he was helping Voldy, he was trying to kill someone/sent the necklace and he was doing something suspicious. It just made me so obsessed that Hermione and Ron doubted him. And if McGonagall and DD had taken him seriously, then the whole fiasco at Hogwarts could've been prevented.

I have to agree with those H/Hr shippers that in previous books, there is no real proof/evidence that Harry liked Ginny. It's more just he liked her as soon as he saw her making out with Dean. Of course Ginny had been taken with him since book two, but Harry. I mean, really. I was happy that Ron and Hermione hadn't started dating in the sixth book. It would've just made the seventh book a whole lot more complicated. I like the thought that they'll hit it off with one another in book seven.

I was upset that the DA had ended and wasn't restarted. (Wow, this is turning more from "Initial Reaction" to something like "What you thought of") I'm kinda ****ed that Umbridge is alive and well thought...*beats Umbridge with shovel* Well, I really have no more to say on this subject...but er...yeah.

What disapointed me the most was the lack of relationship background. I didn't understand WHY Harry was attracted to Ginny, I feel that it could be written alot more convicingly. The fact the Hermione and Ron are dating others to make each other jealous shows me that they are not ready for a relationship. A little more action, a little less love would have been better.

It made me depressed during Dumbledore's funeral and when Harry and Ginny broke up. I still kind of am.

MOD EDIT: Please see my post below

I was numb. I don't know how to react, though, if you will ask me what's my emotion right after the I read the book, I was crying. But all in all, I was numb. I don't know if I'm:

• sad because Dumbledore died
• angry because Snape killed the headmaster.
• happy because the ship I'm with sailed
• or confused on what will happen to Draco

or just left with the question... Will Harry return to Hogwarts next year?

Hiya thono and welcome to the forums! just a qick note to let you know that one liners are not allowed on the forums if you could emaboratre more in future posts that would be great! and why not go on over to the Newbies central forum! and introduce yourself in the introduction thread..and please have a look at the rules!! there are links to all these places in my siggy!

I was "pleasantly surprised." The book was actually a lot better than what I was expecting after the amazingly over the top angst-fest that "Order of the Phoenix" was. I loved Harry coming out in the beginning of the story and pretty much saying, "Y'know...what happened sucks, but I've got stuff to do" and that was pretty much that with him acting like an idiot. The stuff with Dumbledore I saw coming and the Snape plot actually kind of excites me because I really don't know what side he's on. He's the only character that's like this in the books and he's the one that interests me the most because of it. Is he good? Is he bad? Does he want a cheese sandwich? No one knows. The more mystery, the better. The relationship stuff was kind of overpowering. I was mostly thinking, "Yeah, yeah, kiss kiss kiss...where's the excitement?!?" I was wanting more from the main plot and I found all the romance to be distracting. But on the whole, the book was pretty fun. Needed more good humor and less romance, but otherwise a fine book.

i thought the book was totally wicked. and i really wan't surprised when dumbledore died. why? cuz somehow i think he is going to come back. he is too big of a character to just "let go". also there are too many similarities between DD and Faux, the pheonix. what i'm trying to say is, somehow DD will come back to life like the pheonix, and help Harry in his efforts to rid the wizarding world of Voldy. how i don't know, but i think J.K. would not let someone as phenomenal as DD just snuff it like that. Also i think DD planned and asked Snape to end it for him. DD was dying due to his previous encounter with Voldy's ring which happened to be a horcrux. and that little arguement between DD and Snape in the forest, was Snape saying he did not want to result to him having to kill DD, but DD insisted that ifi t came down to it, Snape would ahve to do the dirty deed. anywayz that's what i thought about the book and i'm lookin forward to the next one! also i think it would be pretty sweet to see Godric Gryffindor's sword come back into play. maybe see Harry wield that thing on Voldy? i dunno but that idea sounds pretty wicked.

i liked hbp i think it was a good book

I was a little happy after I got done finished reading. Happy for finally knowing that Harry will have to finish off Voldemort and rid himself of the past that Voldemort has taken away from him. I was so so upset that Snape killed Dumbledore, when I was reading, I thougt Snape was tricking the death eaters but then he said the avada kedavra. I wished that Harry and Ginny would stay together because Ginny has wanted Harry for so long. Maybe they'll end up together n the seventh one. I wish that Ron and Hermione will hurry up and get together, I've been waiting for so long. All in all I loved the book, but I anticipating that the seventh one will rule out all the books and be the best one.

what makes me sad are the persons who still have hopes in "harry and hermione ' s romance" please get over it, ginny is the one for harry and is logical even if luna is the one i thought he choosejejejeje, i cant belive that sometimes when i hear my immortal by evanesence i cry because i think in dumbledores death, ithink im nuts

Well, here are my thoughts:
*I just can't believe we will see Ron and Hermione togheter in one single book (IF they get togheter). I loved at the end with Ron stroking Hermione's hair (I loooooooooooovveeee Hr/R)

*When I read about Harry kissing Ginny, I had to stop and analyze what had just happenned. It was like "Wha..."....... didn't see that coming... but I'm okay with it, they look cute togheter. She's truly the one for him.

*I knew that dumbledore was going to die (my best friend made me the great favor of telling me when I just started reading ) but I started getting upset since "the cave".

*Well, I cried like a baby when all the Death Eaters were fooling Dumbledore (they called him "Dumby"!! that broke my heart!! ) until the very end, and I was depressed for THREE weeks. Even my horse back riding teacher told me "you're very clueless lately! Work, work!!"

*I had to watch Prisioner of Azkaban four thousand times, I thought that would cheer me up a bit... it actually did. Now I can narrate you the whole movie, including the characters' exact lines, expressions, reactions, background music, etc...

*now I'm waiting and waiting and waiting for the seventh book.

*and of course, loving and loving and loving the fourth movie. (best one ever!... but, got depressed again, cried like a baby...is this a serious problem???)

Well, and to the ones that still hope for the Harry/Hermione thing, is just not going to happen!!!! sorry !!...

I don't know why people are saying that the harry/ginny thing is so unexpected and cliche. i think this factor is going to play a key role in the last book. as for unexpected, if you really look back through the book, you can see hints everywhere about harry and ginny.

i also saw some people saying that the only reason that harry likes ginny is beause he was jealous of dean. yes, he was jealous of dean, but (and i can't beleive no one else has posted this yet) when harry enters the potions classroom the first day, he smells treacle tart, broomstick handle wood, and a flowery smell he thought he picked up at the burrow from the love potion. flowery smell. yes, that is ginny. "...a voice close by Harry's ear and he caught a sudden waft of that flowery smell he had picked up in Slughorn's dungeon. He looked around and saw that Ginny had joined them." page 192. He also smelled that flowery scent when ginny helped up Harry and led him to the hospital wing.

Ok, so it's a love potion. and you're probably thinking that's not very credible, but it's what they already love, not what they will be in love with when they take it. does that make sense?

i thought it was really sad when dumbledore died my initial reaxction was that it was real good