Re: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Spoilers)
 

The relationships she portrayed weren't about love at all though, it was petty middle school stuff, which is why I didn't like it at all, and didn't think it fit.

Re: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Spoilers)
 

Reading this triggered a thought in my mind. I always knew there must be a really good reason behind Dumbeldore's consistent trust in Snape, and here is one theory.....

As someone else mentioned, it was during Snape's confession to Dumbeldore that he was responsible for telling Voldemort about the Prophecy resulting in Lily's and James' deaths, that Dumbeldore knew Snape had repented and gave him his trust. I think you are right Shyra that Dumbeldore must have tested this.... What if the test was that he asked Snape to partake in an Unbreakable Vow with himself to protect Harry's life, and maybe even to help him in his quest to ultimately destroy Voldemort? This would be very appropriate since it would be something extremely hard for Snape to do given his history with James, yet prove his remorse by protecting the child he helped in orphaning. And, by including in the Vow that he must aid in destroying Voldemort, it would ensure that he was no longer on the side of the Death Eaters. It is my opinion that the idea of the Unbreakable Vow was purposefully underdeveloped and left unexplained because it will play a much greater role in the final book, beyond even that of protecting Malfoy. (Please let me know what you think of this one idea!!)

Perhaps Dumbeldore's death was connected to these two Unbreakable Vows and in a way was expected or necessary, although how, I am not sure of. It seems easy enough for Dumbeldore to continue parting his wisdom to Harry and the Order through his headmaster's portrait....almost too easy. Has JKR ever explained how portraits are able to maintain what seems like a piece of someone's soul that can communicate with the living? Harry's photos of his parents never communicate to him. It seems too good to be true that someone can live on in their portrait as we all hope Dumbeldore does.

I definitely predict that book 7 will be immensely long since there is so much left to be explained. JKR promised more insight into the nature of ghosts and the veil that was seen at the Ministry in book 5, and so much more. I imagine since this will be a very involved conclusion to the series that an early would be very hard to achieve. I doubt she has finished writing it, let alone editing it (I could be wrong though, which would be very nice :)).

Re: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Spoilers)
 

I'd disagree with the relationships being "petty middle school stuff." Well, the one between Ron and Lavender was... but it was supposed to be like that. Ron, Hermione, Harry, Ginny, and the others have been friends for a very long time. Emotions are raging between Ron and Hermione, I'd call it drama. Yes it's drama, but they're sixteen, it's to be expected. I still think that their friendships are based on love, and that once it goes beyond that, it will be a relationship that reflects this.

Rowling doesn't wanna rush it guys, it'll happen eventually :]

Re: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Spoilers)
 

The thing is only a few knew that Draco had orders to kill Dumbledore.

But the more I think about it, and the further I get in slowly rereading the book, I'm thinking that Snape might be good. But I think Harry will kill him in the next book before he really knows. And then he'll find out later why Dumbledore blindly trusts him. Because as I said earlier, there has to be something more than just Snape telling Voldemort the first prophecy.

As for the next release, I heard the seventh book is already written. Don't know how true or not true that is.

Re: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Spoilers)
 

It isn't finished. Only parts of it have been written, such as the last chapter and a few other spots. There's still quite a bit to go and she isn't going to start writing it for maybe a year or so according to an interview she had with mugglenet. I think she deserves a little time off.

Re: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Spoilers)
 

OMG ... revelation: Snape's Potions Book as the last Horcruxe ...

The textbook didn't have a lot of purpose this book except for getting Harry a good mark, getting him in trouble, and teaching him a few knew curses. Also, it wasn't revealed until the very end that Snape was the Half Blood Prince. So to have the title named after it, it would have to play a significant role in the series, and because it didn't in this book, it should in the next.

Re: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Spoilers)
 

I think your right. I have thought on it and it would make sense. That would explain why he is a parseltongue, why voldemort needed harry in Goblet of Fire, why he told his followers not to kill him, why the sorting hat said maybe slytherin, why he survived voldemort, what was controlling harry in Order of the Phoenix, and why he can feel voldemort. I know this sounds outlandish but it would tie up several unexplained things.

Re: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Spoilers)
 

In a few ways it makes sense, but in many more it doesn't. Why would Volemort make Harry contain a portion of his own soul? It would've been a very stupid thing of him to do. This means that in order to fulfil the prophecy in the way he wants to, he's going to have to destroy part of his own soul, thus making him even less immortal.

Voldemort needed Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire so he would be transported to the graveyard and Harry's blood could be used to restore Voldemort to power. He could have used any wizard who hated him, but he used Harry so he would be immune to the magic that Lily instilled upon Harry when she died.

Voldemort wants to complete the prophecy himself. He wants to have the satisfaction of killing Harry. If you look at it from Voldemort's viewpoint, Harry has caused him a great deal of trouble. I don't think he contains part of Voldemort's soul, he just wants to be the one to kill Harry Potter.

Voldemort tried to destroy Harry with a killing curse and failed. This is why Harry's scar hurts and why they are connected. Voldemort found out about the prophecy from Snape and chose to act upon it. Voldemort's actions caused them to be connected. It just doesn't make sense for Harry to be a horcrux, but maybe Rowling is betting on that too. Who knows.

Re: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Spoilers)
 

He can't really do that though, because the paintings are merely a moving image that happens to have the ability to speak, they can't really make any decisions they didn't already make in life. He could talk to Dumbledore's painting, but the painting can't really help him

Also I think Rowling may be expanding the series, there's still four or so Horcruxes left, and it's going to take a while to figure out where the heck they are. We know what most of them are, yes, but where they are is still to be determined.

Re: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Spoilers)
 

I politely disagree. The portrait of Dumbledore, among other headmasters, could be very useful. First of all, the information that Harry needs to know is stuff that Dumbledore knew in his life, such as the whole Snape issue, among other things. Second of all, Rowling is really starting to tie in a load of history here, to the point where you really have to pay attention to keep up with what's happening and who's related to who in what regard. She wouldn't have put it in there if it didn't have some significance. Keep that in mind.

My thoughts on the romance -
I support Harry and Ginny. I admit it. I was hoping for it since the start. I think they're cute.

However, I agree with Cory. The way it played out was kinda in the style, but kinda not. I find it mediocre. The breakup was also rather oddly emo.

Re: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Spoilers)
 

The mirror of Erised as a horocrux maybe.

Anyways, I thought the addition of the Horcruxes really added a more mature element to the storry.