Harry Potter - HBP Chapter Discussion. Chapter 1-3 BEWARE SPOILERS ALLOWED

Kimberly · 07-15-2005, 05:33 PM

Hello for those of you currently reading the book this is the place to discuss Chapters 1-3.

Please make sure you only mention facts from these chapters

Also, please keep all shipper talk off this thread

Sir Fireboard · 07-15-2005, 07:14 PM

Well, so much for anybody who hoped that Draco wouldn't be evil. I'm dying to know what he's going to try to do for Voldemort. I wonder if he's going to die in this book, since his mother doesn't hold out much hope that he's going to succeed in his mission. Although with Snape looking out for him...

Snape! I was so glad to see him so early on. I don't believe for one second that he's spying for Voldemort against Dumbledore, although it does make me a bit uneasy that Voldemort was the one who sent him to Hogwarts in the first place. And that Unbreakable Vow he did to protect Draco is a bit unsettling as well, but he had to to get Bellatrix off his back, she was pretty shocked that he agreed to it.

Wow, only two weeks with the Dursley's; lucky Harry

I loved the way Dumbledore acted towards all of them

I"m so glad Harry got Sirius's house and not Bellatrix, that would've been such a kick in the guts. I wonder what's wrong with DD's hand? I hope he's going to be alright.

Sacha · 07-15-2005, 08:40 PM

I was wondering if Dumbledores hand had anything to do with Narcissa and Snape binding their hands together doing the Unbreakable Vow.

Must keep reading to find out...

Sir Fireboard · 07-15-2005, 08:52 PM

Oooh, I didn't even think of that. Good idea.

*ADARA* · 07-16-2005, 12:10 AM

Draco could still be not evil... even though it obviously states that he's eager to pick up where his father left off. Narcissa's reaction gives a bit of hope to those who think he could be good in the end. Teenage boys do long to prove themselves and Draco hasn't been one to think very clearly about these issues in canon.

I am also glad that Snape is shown so early. The way he treats Wormtail is wonderful. It's rather up in the air where his loyalties lie at this point because of course he'd have really good lies for either side. Voldemort may be a superb Occlumens but so is Severus. I just hope he doesn't die! I glad he's gotten bella to shut up though. It is a rather good point that if she is so faithful then why does she question Voldemort's judgement of Snape and hadn't even thought that Voldemort had asked him the same questions.

The Unbreakable Vow was very loosely worded so we'll see what happens with that.

What do you think of the nex MoM? I'm so upset that Amelia Bones was murdered and that Dumbledore is unjured!

Meanwhile, I think my left ring finger is broken

it makes typing a pain!

~Chrissy~

*antarian angel* · 07-16-2005, 08:23 AM

what a great start!!

i thought it was cool to see the interaction between the ministers. and i was surprised at the new MoM. have we ever heard of him before? but he seems like a no- nonsence type of guy, which could be good, especially with the war going on.

OMG, i was so excited to see Narcissa and Belletrix in ch. 2! that was so awesome. and how surreal was it to be in Snape's house?!?!? that was a place i never thought we'd be. but very cool. and it's weird that wormtail is there. i mean, obviously Snape is keeping an ieye on him, but still it's a weird house guest

i loved the way Narcissa was about Draco!!! she made me so scared for him!!! and i loved to see that she really does love her son and cares for him very much. that was really nice to see. and i agree that although Draco seems to be doing a good job of putting on a brave face, i think we all know that this kid is the king of faking bravery and deep down is just a scardy cat. i don't think he would stand a chance as a Death Eater. poor guy.

i think that his "mission" will involve Harry. it seems like he has to find out what the prophecy said. we'll see i guess. that could be what the chapter Draco's Detour is about.

and then we finally see Harry! I loved Dumbledore in this chapter. so funny! and again, very surreal to have Dumbledore in the Dursley home. and i really liked how JK had Dumbledore mentioning how poorly Dudley was treated, because i know she's mentioned feeling like that in interviews, that in different ways, Dudley was just as "abused" as Harry. maybe more will be explained on that later.

and i had thought that maybe Sirius would leave Grimmauld Place to Harry, but i nevre thought about Kreacher!! OMG!!! i was like, "oh hell no!" but it's better that everything didn't go to Beletrix. that would have caused a lot more problems. but it will be very interesting, i think, that Kreachers is now working at Hogwarts. i think we can agree that we haven't seen the last of him!

Kate the Great · 07-16-2005, 10:20 AM

It worries me that Snape agreed to the last bit of the unbreakabe vow. Because he just promised to do the endgame mission right, therefore he can't back out if Draco fails- which he probably will. Snape won't have a choice which sucks. I just hope there is a way around it. What ever it happens to be. On to chapter 4....

Kadie · 07-16-2005, 10:50 AM

Oh man great first 3 chapters!

I still have hope for Draco. They said he is young he doesn't know what he's getting himself into. I still feel he's just trying to live up to something his father wantshim to be.

The unbreakable vow. I mean the first two vow's are fine. I don't expect Snape to let Draco die regardless of if he is evil. I mean he's still a 'minor' and like I belive Snape has reedemed himself if Draco is evil he still has many years to reedem himself as well.

I don't think that Snape is on Voldemort's side. I mean he does have lies to either side but I think he is on Dumbledore's side. I mean I won't admit to being Snape's # 1 Student

but I think that he has proven himself to be a follower of Dumbledore.

I can't believe we have already seen Kreacher too. Poor Harry. But I'm glad he didn't have to stay at the Dursley's for a long time.

Kate the Great · 07-16-2005, 11:19 AM

I also don't think Snape is on Voldermort's side- but because he made the last promise it makes me think that he may have to act for that side regardless.... i mean he might be able to worn the Order but you know...unbreakable vow....doesn't sound very breakable.

Kadie · 07-16-2005, 11:26 AM

haha yeah the whole 'un' part really worries me. I can't wait to read what happens with that gosh. Poor Snape though, probably having to retell the same stories to make believe he is on their side. I'm glad he got Bella to shut up though. And the unbreakable will surely get her off his back for awhile, possibly until he *hopefully* tries to break it haha. Though I don't know how that would go about.

Beatriz · 07-16-2005, 11:35 AM

I don't think I'm saing anything new, but here I go.

To be honest, I liked the Ministers part of the book, but I was so impatient to know about Harry that it took me a while to get into it, LOL. Once I did, I loved it. So the MoM has always been in touch with the Prime Ministers. That's great IMO!. I think this first part shows how politic works in reality: the men with the power has to be in touvh with each other, and some of these relations we may not even know about.

I liked very much to see that Cissy is a loving mother just like any other mother is. She is worried to death for her son to the point she hurt her sister (even if lightly) and didn't mind going against Voldermort words. I'd really like to know more about the Drako/mother relationship: will Drako be a nice with her mother, or is it just a tipycal blind motherly love from her?. Interesting. I also had the feeling at first of her convo with Snape that maybe he didn't know what she was talking about, but made her think he did so she kept talking. Is still not clear what Drako has to do: kill Harry or take him to Valdermort? We all know that JK Rowling loves being ambiguous. I am worried about the whole Snape/Cissy part anyway. We'll see.

I am just reading when Dumbledore arrives to Harry's house, so I'll comment about that later

*antarian angel* · 07-16-2005, 12:50 PM

i'm also worried about the unbreakable vow. we know that's gonna come back to bite us in the behind.

but hopefully there's something to be done so that it all works out okay...well, there's wishful thinking, at least.

Kimberly · 07-16-2005, 03:18 PM

Ok... my thoughts on the first chapters:

The Other Minister

I liked seeing Fudge and the Muggle Prime Minister talk. I always wondered about that. It built up really well. A good way to remind the reader about all of the troubles in the Magical community and how many of them affected Muggles.

As for the new Minister of Magic he seems ok. I thought they could of spent more time on him. He is going to be a very important character and they didn't give a very good introduction.

Spinners End

I loved this chapter. It was so cool to see where Snape lived. I liked the fact that Narcissa went to Snape for help with Malfoy. I think sometimes it is easy to think of the Malfoy's as uncaring and evil but her care and concern was just like Lily's had been for Harry. I am always glad to know more about Draco and his family as it makes for a more interesting character. Also, I found Snape's answers to Bella interesting. For the first time since SS I started to doubt Snape's character. When he took the unbreakable promise the seed of doubt was firmly planted.

Will and Won't

I actually was kind of sad not to see more of the Dursley's. I wanted to know if their behavior towards Harry had changed since he saved Dudley last summer. But I liked the way Dumbledore came and shocked them all in the middle of the night. They really didn't seem to get the fact that they had spoiled Dudley to the point of ruining his personality. I kind of felt sorry for the Dursley's.. hmm well almost.

I liked the bits of newspaper articles found in Harry's room and the list of "Protecting Your Home and Family Against the Dark Forces" I thought that was a creative way for J.K. to quickly bring the reader up to date with all that had been going on in the wizarding world. With that and the talk between Fudge and the Muggle Minister I thought we got a good idea of the state of chaos in the wizard world.

baha2 · 07-16-2005, 04:14 PM

ohhh>>>i was hoping snape wouldn't turn out to be evil :S

kate...you're avatar is AWSOME

HaveALittleFaith · 07-16-2005, 05:28 PM

I thought it was really interesting how she chose to start the book off, in the Prime Minister's office and showing the link between the Muggle and Magical worlds. I can totally see what she meant when she said she tried to incorporate this chapter in each book so far. I think it fit well here. My favorite part was the brief Kingsley mention.

I was a little disappointed by the lack of Dursleys as well. Not too much as really I hate them, but it was just such a short stay I almost couldn't believe it. I totally enjoyed Dumbledore amusing himself by pestering the Dursley's though.

It reminded me of just how much I love Dumbledore.