Dow Jones’s Reviews > Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince > Status Update

Yessss “The House of Gaunt” is one of, if not, my favorite chapters in the whole series. Merope & Morfin w/ crazy eyes and Marvolo’s violent aggression. Trailer trash wizard “royalty”. Starts the deep lore into Voldy’s background.

Tonks finds Harry on the train & escorts him back to school where Snape’s happy to receive & torment him. Hermione fixes the blood & Harry tells Ron what happened. Hagrid makes small talk & says he’s looking forward to their first lesson tomorrow but no one is continuing his subject. Slughorn is intro’d & everyone gossips about Snape finally teaching DADA.

The gang goes shopping in a deserted Diagon Alley. I love Wizarding Wheezes and their creative goods. The meeting at Madam Malkin’s was intense & Narcissa was calm while Harry dissed Lucius. I forgot if Draco was branded. The necklace & vanishing cabinet. The train ride is fun and Harry defends Luna & Neville against Romilda Vane. Slughorn’s meeting and Zabini’s gold digger mom. Harry’s poor face.

Harry’s greeted by Mrs. Wesley and has a good chuckle at Arthur’s asking the identity question on her pet name, Mollywobbles. I think everyone wants to visit the Burrow, what a great family life! I think they’re too harsh on Fleur. Forgot the telescope punches Hermione w/ a black eye. Their OWLs went great but Harry thinks he can’t become an Auror anymore. Love this chapter, Phlegm!

Again, Dumbledore ends the chapter with a great line! They recruit Slughorn after Harry experiences Apparition for the first time. Slughorn wants to feel he’s influenced his students and stay in the background. Dumbledore tells Harry it’s ok to tell R&H about the prophecy but only the 4 know the full truth. The Burrow has the highest security so Harry’s warned off from seeking danger.

Dumbledore is such a badass in how calmly he tells the Dursleys they’re fucked up but at least Harry isn’t Dudley. His presence and demeanor emanate power and wisdom and inherent kindness with integrity. I also loved the newspapers at the beginning and wish we could read more. Those little details make readers want to live in this magical world.

Starting again for MuggleCast reread! This is my favorite so I’ll have to read ahead I’m sure. The UK Prime Minister has been having a horrible week with a bridge collapse, 2 murders, a hurricane, & population depression but Fudge, fired 3 days prior, tells him of Voldy’s return and the Death Eaters. Also admits Sirius was innocent. Rufus Scrimgeour does sound more like a lion with thicker hair than I remember.

Man, what an emotional and impactful ending to a superb book. The future of Hogwarts is so uncertain and the Ministry just wants Harry for support. Harry and crew’s path is laid out, sadly without Ginny, and that final hour after the funeral before going home is great to imagine. I also love Neville and Luna for being the only members of DA who showed up because they missed it most. That’s so beautiful.

AHHH! The cave! The magic! The journey! Meeting Draco and unraveling his plan! The battle and chase and learning Snape is the HBP. It’s so good! While drinking, we’re Dumbledore’s moans about his sister or a battle with Grindelwald or what? I forget but I wanna know. Dumbledore RIP!