Well for me, I voted Happy doesn't even come close! I really liked HBP and in seemed more in proportion than OOTP which I liked but thought was totally out of proportion and was really twisted. I wasn't terrribly shocked when I read that Snape was da HBP and that Dumbledore died because one of my Best Friends Emily decided to tell me on the monday back at school after the weekend dat HBP was released but it was still sad anyway.

G and H should've stayed together. They were Da best . But A.P.W.B.D. was a lil suspectedas the HBP death.
My susspected death for book seven Will be Moony or again my fave character Ginny.

Well yes beyond the veil,you would have liked a certain ship better, but your have to accept what JKR decides on (look at my ICON for my reasons) Anyway,seeing as I didn't think it was best romance writing ever but still thought it was good,I don't think I can see JKR writing something as fluffy as the First Kiss scene again. I think JKR should stick to the main plot without too much fluff in the way. I alsao thought the horcruxes were a bit weird at first.

My initial reaction to HBP? Despised it!

Harry and Hermione are soooo out of character in this book! I hate that this is the book that teen hormones, pheromones, love potions, etc. just run amuck! To me, it read like a very bad fan fiction. If this had been a movie, I would have walked out on it.

Even after all these months, I still can't bring myself to re-read it. When I post on the forums I find that I will read particular chapters in order to quote passages. But, I hate it even more now since JKR chose to preface this book with interviews. JKR has confirmed that Dumbledore is indeed dead. I was hoping he wasn't. I had hopes that Snape really didn't betray the Order. I detest the way H/G was brought together. In fact, I didn't care one way or another about Ginny before HBP, now I find that I loathe her. She's such a "Mary Sue" in HBP and I really, really, really don't want her to end up with Harry in the end.

So, to reiterate, I despised the 6th book when I first read it and I still do!

I thought the book was pure brilliance. The series needed some good shaking up, and now its got me almost unable to contain my excitement for the 7th book to come out

I think the whole thing is too sad, with Dumbledore dying and Harry knowing that he might die in the end. The atmosphere isn't as lighthearted as the first few books. However the thing I think is most sad is the last sentence 'There is still a last golden day to spend with Ron and Hermione.' (or something, i can't remember) After I read it, I felt heartbroken about Harry not working with Ron and Hermione again!

I was totally shocked!!.The death of Dumbledore ,Harry leaving Hogwarts,Bill being bitten by Greyback...all.I didn't know these things would happen.I coudn't control myself where Dumbledore died.I just cried.Jkr shoudn't have let Dumbledore die... .But when the book is made into film,Iwoudn't be waiting to see dumbledore die..

i was shocked that Draco broke harrys nose because harrys had his invisibility cloak for about 6 years and hes never got caught. i was upset when dumbledore died obviosly and i clung to the hope that he wasnt dead but then i read about an interview with JKR where she said that Dumbledore is definatly dead and she spologises to dumbledore is not dead.com. i was also really angry when i found out that Bill had been bitten by Fenrir Greyback

I was disappointed by HBP. JK overdid the foreshadowing and I could pick up what was going to happen several chapters ahead.

Then I read it again a few days later. I love HBP. It is my favorite of the 6.

After I read through HBP for the first time, I initially didn't feel any emotions at all. I felt that it had tried to achieve too much in such a short time and that things weren't as well explained or thought out as I would've like them to be. The title "Half Blood Prince" suggested to me (an nearly everyone else) that the HBP would be an integral part of the plot. As in SS/PS without the Philosophers stone we had nothing. Same with CoS, PoA, GoF and even OotP. Because without the Order, there'd be no fight against Voldemort. But the HBP was so anti-climatic. It didn't support the plot, it was a half-hearted attempt at mystery...

Saying all that now.. I love it. I think it's so different to the other books and makes Harry have to 'grow up' a bit when he has meetings with Dumbledore, gets into trouble for nearly killing Malfoy and plays detective for a little while... The ships made me happy too.

I said numb, only because I couldn't think of how to express my emotions I got after reading the book. First, I was happy that I read the book, but I was also very sad that Dumbledore died. Yet, I was confused because of the abrupt ending. Half-Blood Prince was a fantastic book, it revelaed tons of information and definetely is keeping us busy while we wait patiently () for Book 7. Each book makes me feel a few things, some different, some the same. Half-Blood Prince gave me a wide selection of emotions to feel .

Okay, here were some of my thoughts:
1. The first chapter was SO... SLOW....!!! It dragged on forever! I just kind of skimmed it breifly, going, "Okay, that's all very nice, yeah, yeah, I don't really care, yeah, okay..." I was never very interested in the goings-on at the Ministry. Then, chapter 2 rolls in. I'm like, "Okay... Narcissa, Bellatrix, Snape, Wormtail... a few familliar characters." I was interested in hearing what Snape had to say about Bellatrix's questions, but other than that, I mostly skimmed the chapter up until Snape agreed to make the Unbreakable Vow. Then I started reading. By the time I got the Chapter 3, I was so excited to finally see Harry that I flung the book across the room.

2. Malfoy's character development... took off! I was so thrilled that we got to see more of him, I think he's sooooo cool! I felt so bad for him when he was crying in the bathroom... I'm like, "Poor baby! Group hug!"

3. Snape killing Dumbledore... I nearly destroyed the book in several ways. Firstly, when Dumbledore died, I just about flung the book across the room again. That in itself nearly broke the spine. Then, at the funeral, I sobbed all over it. That chapter has finally dried off, but the pages are still wrinkly.

4. Scrimgeour was annoying, but he was better than Fudge! I was so happy to get a new Minister in there, Fudge was a pasty.

5. The whole idea of Horcruxes enthralled me. Good thinking on Rowling's part!

6. I loved seeing all the snippets of You-Know-Who's past... so much fun! I looked forward to Dumbledore's lessons almost as much as Harry did!

7. I loved all the relationships! I could never read the words 'Won-Won' without cracking up. When I first read about Hermione and McLaggen going to the party, I was drinking a soda. BAD MISTAKE! I think half of it came out my nose. (Snorts of disgust and soda doesn't go well together!) I hated listening to Harry's mental battles over Ginny...
"He'd hit me."
"What if I don't care?"
"He's your best mate!"
I think at one point I screamed at the book, "Just shut up and kiss her, Harry!" I was so thrilled when he finally did. I'm like, "Awww!"

8. Won-won and Hermy! It's about time they got together, really. Hermione says, "I was going to ask you to come, but if you'd rather I hooked up with McLaggen." I'm like "WOOHOO!"

Umm, I think that's it!
I voted 'shocked', by the way.

I kinda felt the same way as writer101 in every way. I was upset when DD died, his mental battles, relationships, Draco's performance, Snape and his character. I was shocked though at the end. But as said before it started off slow, but maybe thats what Jk wanted, bored then excited because we meet up with the main character.

I really loved the book, but I found it hard to believe Dumbledore really died!!!And Snape.. who would have thought, I mean I always kind of disliked the guy( okay maybe I hated him) but I never questionned him being faithful do Dumbledore...
I hope we find out he was under the Imperius curse or something...

i really liked this book(i still do ) books should be like this, with an ending you'll never expect. it was a pity my friend already discussed dumbledore's death with someone else, so i knew it before i even started reading. i voted shocked...

I heard it was going to be bad, so I didn't buy it. I took it out of the library. And it was bad. It was cheesy, lousy, and so full of plot holes you could have driven a truck through it. So I never bought it. I wasn't paying that kind of money for that kind of garbage

One of my kids came home with the paperback recently, so I gave it another try. I still think it's sloppily written and unoriginal. Definitely the worst of the lot, but I have hope the last one will pull ther series off.

Oh really? I think that the books get better each time, though your right, at some points it was kind of cheesy, but sweet. One part that I didn't like at all, besides the Harry and Ginny "thing", which was actually tolerable, was the discovery of Tonks wanting to build a relationship with Lupin. I thought that the plot was going to be something big and dramatic, but it was just a stupid love-crush thing that JKR would have probably did better with leaving out.

I agree I think the books have kept getting better and I thought Harry Potter 6 was the best one yet. I also think book 7 will be the best one duh ?!

first celebrate my gran gave me all the books today !!!!!!!!
Ok now that is out of my sytam i liked it the Ron Hermini thing is driving me nutts how can two people like each other so muck and never get to gether! I mean i thought it had to happen in this book bu t alas no!
Harry ginny was well unexpected I mean where did that come from? and snape was the good guy you loved to hate. The good guy who was more complex then a crosse word puzzul! and then all complexness is taken away! What was she thinking Oh well it was a good book and i have to admit i know dd was going to be killed but even so it was such a shoke it left me going Snape how could Snape kill DD. Again oh well hopfully the next one won't leave us wishing we could bring ourselves to take a torch to it.

All I thought about after reading HBP is that I can't wait for book 7 to come out! Snape killing DD is an amazing twist. And I wish that Harry would have been able to really duel Snape before he departed Hogwarts. Harry needs to learn how to completely close his mind, and I think that will be one of the first things that we will learn in book 7.

i cant reallly pick one of them because

i felt sad for dumbledore and the end of the harry/ginny relasionship

i felt happy coz i love reading

i felt sad again because i had finnished

i felt anouyed coz im going to have to wait ages till i get to read the next book

i felt shocked coz i didnt exspect dumbledore to die

etc etc

When I finished reading HPB I just had this realisation that the 7th book was where everything was going to end. That this is it. Dumbledore was gone and it scared me to know that Harry did not have a mentor or a father-like figure to help him choose the right choice. When I read HPB in the beginning I was still picturing a boy, but then I realised he was 16. Almost and adult. So in the 7th book he's 17 so he will be physically stronger and then more emotionally mature. I doubt they will go back to Hogwarts because he mentioned going to Godric's Hollow and Hermione and Ron said they would be with him all the way. I gives me a bitter/sweet feeling. It's all going to reveal itself but at the same time it'll be the end of a... I can't even think of words to describe the empire of HP.

That's almost exactly how I felt! HBP was a great book, but it just made me release that after the next book...there's no more, thats it. Harry is virtually alone and it freaked me out to think about who he can turn to because there are no more fatherly figures who know much about LV to help him in his quest. It broke me down at the end of the book when DD got murdered, i started crying!
I hated snape so much by the end of even the 2nd chapter (let alone the unexpected ending), i felt like kicking something...
....although now im started to get convinced he may be innocent
I was SO happy with the harry/ginny relationship i think they are made for one another....yet i was upset when harry ended it ...hopefully they will get back together at the wedding or something!
And goddammit! Can ron and hermione PLEASE just hook up???!!!!

I thought HBP was fantastic. It was different than the others in that everything wasn't wrapped up - and I believe Rowling has said that 6 and 7 are really like one long novel divided into two parts.

As sad as it was to say goodbye to DD, I believe it had to happen and I think we will find out more why it had to happen in 7.

I was shocked beyond all belief ! I knew Snape was evil, but I never, ever, thought he'd have the guts (or the power for that matter), to kill Dumbledore! I was so mad, I started yelling at my book (no I'm not crazy) and crying at the same time!

I admit to being numb after DD was hit with the avada kedavra curse. I had hopes up that upon landing at Hogwarts, DD woulld perform a charm similar to the one which freed him from his office in OOTP. These unspoken and sometimes, apparently, wandless charms are a deep source of new possiblities in the working of Magic.

Why could dd not have retrieved his wand with accio Silently during the times that he had the solo Draco off guard. Surely knowing that dd could offer protection to his Parents must have struck a chord or nerve. Nonetheless, was there no wandless, wordless charm that could have bound Draco, or otherwise have won the day for him.

Again, the surprize was so great that I am numb.

Ok, i might have already posted in here, so i'm posting again:

Really, i was sad. I was crying throughout the entire ending, from "I'm not afraid Harry ... i am with you" all the way to "He knew he still had one golden day left with Ron and Hermione."

Honestly, i was so sad. It was just ... wow, DD's funeral was ... wow! I was crying so hard and i'm betting for DH i'll need a box of tissues on hand if it's going to be anything like the ending of HBP!

But wow. I think HBP is a fantastic book and pretty much, pure wow!

Wow.

I was so0 sad, confused, and angry all at the same time. But then again when i was done i really just wanted to read on to the next on and i couldnt

I was really sad. I partly knew what was going to happen, but I was still sad. I was also kind of shocked and confused. I had to reread everything just to be sure of it all. It made me crave for more answers. I thought it was good, but I guess it seemed short either because book 5 was lnger or because I really wanted it to have more to it so it can answer my questions. The ending was so sad which was different compared to the other books. So it made me want to read the others. Overall I think it was good. My first reaction was a that I didn't like it too much, but after rereading it I liked it.

I had a huge mixture of feelings when I finished. Excited because I thought the whole thing was in no way a disappointment and that it was just amazing. Miserable also because Dumbledore was dead, but just wanting to read on.
I was very happy though with the ending being centered around the trio, that page is the best one in the whole book in my opinion.
My overall impression was that JK will never fail to amaze and shock us with what she writes and that she deserves to be worshipped more than anyone!

When i finished book 6, i was just so eager to find out what happens next. I love how Ron and Hermione forgot all their fighting and came together to be there for Harry, who really needed it. I also was so happy Ron and Hermione finally showed effection. I think it was over all beautifully written!

i was loving it up until the point were harry used the sectusempra curse on draco and then draco didn't kill dumbledore which is good but snape did it instead which was just as bad because dumbledore still dies so that means that draco might not get in as much trouble but dumbledore is still dead and that made me really sad i loved dumbledore and now he is dead and draco might be killed too but snape might get in some trouble too so that makes up for it a little.

my reaction at first was shock all harrys protection is now gone wat will happen next i dont no but ive got a pretty good idea send me owl with replys will harry return to hogwarts

I just had a hard time believing that SNAPE killed DD. After DD put so much faith in trust into him. He swore for him in court, saved him from Azkaban. I suppose it may have been part of Snape's and DD's plan just in case (assuming that Snape is good and not evil). But it may have also been Snape showing his true colours.

We'll know in a few months !

i was shocked that snape killed DD but also how the love JKR just sprang up on us. Also, this book made us accualy realize that Ma.lfoy is more than just a evil boy. Also this book showed Harry how weak DD is. YOu see that he is not as strong as you think he is in books 1-4. HBP was full of shockers, yet i enjoyed this book more than the OotP

After reading book 6 I was shocked, sad and excited. I was shocked that DD died, and even more surprised that his killer was Snape!

I was obviously sad that DD died, and then I was more excited than ever for the 7th book.

I loved book 6. I was not disappointed at all. I love all the Harry Potter books, but the 6th was definitely one of my favorites. I think JK wrote it really well, and i think it had it a lot more action and surprise in it than some of the other Harry Potter books.

When I first read the book, I was also shocked that Dumbledore died. I always thought that he would have to be around in order for Harry to have a chance, so it made me start to worry that JKR was definitely going to kill off Harry.
I also felt like the ending wasn't really an ending at all. I didn't really feel any closure. I understand that it's part of a series, but at the same time the first five books had a nice cathartic end. This time I felt as though the story was going to pick up the day after Dumbledore's funeral. Before I always felt like Harry had a few weeks breathing time at his aunt and uncle's before anything really exciting or scary happend to him. But then again, maybe JKR did it on purpose to make it more suspenseful.

If it was possible to have all of them I would but since I couldn't I chose sad/worried/upset

I felt a mixture of feelings. Happy Harry broke up with Ginny (I know...surprising), sad Dumbledore was dead, shocked Snape killed him, angry Rowling killed Albus off, etc.

There are many things I liked about the book, however, there were more that I did not like. This book worried me becasue all of the others were stand alone and this one....well it just was dull most of the time. I am a teacher so I like to start with the possitives.

1. DD's death did a number on me. I was in girlfriends, (at the time) , car. they had gone into a bar but I was wraped up in the book. When DD died, I got out of the car and threw the book. I was almost in tears. Nothing in any book had ever got to me that way. I was depressed and it weighed heavily on my mind for 4 or 5 days.

2. Harry and Malfoy's battle in the bathroom.

3. Harry and Jenny's first kiss. It was done really well.

4. Harry kicking almost everyones butt in the final battle.

5. Harry is so much more brave and cocky now. I love him and Narcissa's confrontation in the robe shop.

6. I also am quite fond of the veratiserum and Slughorn sequence.

7. Learning about Voldemort.

Now I have listed my favorites. *Note, there are alot less highlitghts than any other book.

Now for my problems.

1. The pacing was slow and it was ultimately boring.

2. The lessons between Harry and DD. They were not lessons. How can Harry expect to beat VM if he has not been taught to fight by the man he fears.

3. No Ron and Hermione relationship. How long can they drag this **** out?

4. There is no real villian. Sure VM is out there but never scene. Malfoy evades detection the whole time. Snape is the biggest villian and he is actually a good guy. There is hardly never a sense of danger until the cave. Boring.

5. There is supposed to be a war. What war? A couple of people dissapear and a kid tries to kill his grandma. This is not a war, it is one hour at your local police precinct. Boring.

6. The fact that everyone knows that Umbridge attacked and tried to kill harr via the dementors, yet she is still in the ministry and at DD funeral. Yea right.

7. This is the making for the worst movie, and I thought the only bad MOVIE would only be Chamber of Secrets.

8. Draco tried to hit Harry with a curse that lands you in Azcaban, yet nothing happens to him. But harry is tortured by snape with reminders of his dead dad and stepfather.

I could go on and on.

I guess in a nutshell, I am worried about the next book. This one is my least favorite. So far nothing touches The Order of the Poenix. Please respond. Do you agree or disagree?

i voted that i was happy with it all in all. i mean i was shocked about like dumbledore and some of the other plot twists but the book ended up being everyhthing i wanted it to be. it had the same amazing harry potter plot and lived up to the standards set by the previous books.

I don't see how everyone thinks Snape is an evil killer. Yes a killer but he did what he had to do. Dumbledore ordered Snape to murder him. Lull Voldy into a sense of security. Oh well it's useless argueing just thought you should know that Snape isn't evil. Maybe I'll eat my words on July 21st but I still stand up for Snape.

I couldn't believe it,just shock.Dumbledore was the greatest headmaster and the most powerful wizard of his time.And to think that snape did it was INSANE.sure he's an unpleasent person,but dumbledore always defended him.I still think snape is innocent though....that he did it for the best reasons.

I don't know. a LOT of people were like "Oh it was so long and dragged out and OotP was sooo much better" But i think it's the other way around. I though HBP was so interesting, especially the lessons with Dumbledore and learning about Voldy's past. I really didn't like OotP. Harry was too angsty and it was kind of weird. He was so mean to his friends and they were on his side the whole time, and then umbridge..and then sirius dying...arghh!

HBP was my favorite.

I just read it like one or two weeks ago and I really loved it. I liked the revelations about Voldemort's past.

But I wasn't surprised about Dumbledore's death and I Snape being the Half-Blood Prince. I knew that even before I read the book becoz of all the spoilers on the net. The only thing that surprised me was that Snape did it.

But even after that, I can't get myself to hate Snape. I just don't wanna believe he's bad.

So I still support and trust him! (Oops... sorry, i drifted off topic.)

I didn't cry when dumbledore died....It simply made me believe more in Harry's ability to read people....he had always had a bad feeling about Snape....but Dumbledore being the great wizard that he is....wouldn't beg for death....and Snape paused right before he killed Dumbledore....almost like he didn't want to do what he was told he had to do...and then he looked angry...we can take that many ways....he was angry or hated Dumbledore....which I don't think he did....or he was hating the fact that he had to do it....I think....Dumbledore knew what was going to happen....and that in the end it would be Snape who had to finish the task for Malfoy.....

OK----

HBP was my fav book. The only reason why, because it has gotten everyone's panties in a twist. I think that JK did a fantastic job with leaving all of the info for the last book. I know the last book is going to be the biggest as well as the most informative. But there also may be a chance that JK could be pulling our leg. There could possibly be more books. Why stop something SOOOO GOOD!. It's just like Star Wars and probably will be about as successful. I personally dont like Star Wars but just giving this an analogy.

- Dumbledore is dead people! JK said he was dead herself in an interview (don't ask me which one b/c I have been following the 7th book interviews since the beginning and there have been so many).

- My whole issue with the HBP is the Snape ordeal. When I went to go preorder my book, they were giving out stickers that say Trust Snape or Snape is Evil. Of course I wanted the Snape is evil but the bookguy wouldn't shut up so I just took the Trust Snape one.

Finally

Why does this all have to end with DH? Huh...why take someone who's made this a hobby away (sob) lol

I was deffinitely Shocked! By saying that I was shocked, that doesn't imply a direct feeling to the book. By this I mean that if I said I was sad, that would only imply regards to DD, and I'm trying to get past that saddness. But by saying that I was happy by the story would imply that I didn't care that DD died ((which I did care... bigtime)). So by saying I'm shocked, I can roll all of my feelings into one word!
I'm so sorry if that doesnt make any sense!

My initial reaction was, "That's it? That was the best JK could do?" I felt the same way when I first read Order of the Phoenix. I am far too critical of a book the first time I read it. I have a tendency to figure out what is going to happen before it does. I knew Snape was going to kill Dumbledore 200 pages into Half-Blood Prince. After that, it was all details. I didn't like it.

After a short nap, I read HBP again. I liked it much more the second time. I have now read it I have no idea how many more times, but it has become one of my favorites (well, parts of it, anyway).

My initial reaction was complete SHOCK. My jaw dropped when Snape killed DD. I knew it had to come but it was still a major blow. I reread that section several times before finishing the book. It took a while for it to sink in. At first, I thought it was just an act and DD wasn't really dead. But when DD's portrait showed up in the head's office, I knew it must be true and it wasn't an act. I seriously think I had tears in my eyes while I read the funeral section. It was just too depressing. Although, I had several chuckles when Harry was making his odd comments which lightened the mood.

Oh well. I'm sure JKR will be able to shock me even more in DH. Boy I can't wait!!

My initial reaction was complete and utter shock. I did cry when Snape killed DD, but after I read it again, it seemed as if it had to happen. After I finished the entire book, I felt numb and confused because I didn't know what Harry would actually end up doing. The war could change any plans he had. I was also happy because I finally got complete confirmation of the R/Hr ship and that made everything better and it made me very happy. So in all, it was a bunch of mixed up emotions.

Seriously, this book left me... wanting for more... and quite disappointed. I wanted to see more of Harry's quest for the Horcruxes, and more romance between Harry and Ginny, and perhaps Ron and Hermione. However, it left me more disappointed than 'hungry':

1) Dumbledore DIES!
2) The Horcruxes only made Harry's job harder
3) He had to be noble and broke up with Ginny
4) Snape broke his allegiance!

and

5) I kind of feel sorry for Voldemort now! Being an orphan and stuff...

There you have it!

I was completely and utterly shocked when I first read this book! I had to reread the part about Dumbledore being killed many times before it would actually sink in that he was dead. And I couldn't believe that Snape turned out to be evil! It was a shock but then again I always thought that there may be more to Snape then meets the eye... but I never thought that he would kill Dumbledore!

The romance stuff: the Ron - Lavender - Hermione triangle dragged on too much and got a bit annoying at times. I really don't think that Ginny and Harry are a good couple.

Well JKR did a really good job by leaving all the questions unanswered until the final book - a great way to ensure people buy it! I found the concept of horcruxes a bit confusing at first - I had to reread that part.

Over all a great book - my favourite after OotP. I read it in twelve hours... a new acheivement for me!