Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Chapter Notes

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Chapter 3: Will and Won’t  

• “The room was strewn with various possessions and a good smattering of rubbish. Owl feathers, apple cores and sweet wrappers littered the floor, a number of spellbooks lay higgledy-piggledy among the tangled robes on his bed, and a mess of newspapers sat in a puddle of light on his desk.” – The simply description of this room physically pains me. Perhaps it is Harry’s own version of rebellion against his overly orderly aunt or he is by now completely used to house elves cleaning up after him, I dunno, but please just clean up.

• Of course the various newspapers are a clever way to give us a short overview about what happened in the Wizarding World since the public learned about the return of Voldemort: Harry’s status changed from an attention seeking troubled teenager to the saviour of the Wizarding World (‘The Chosen One’), Scrimgeour is the new Minister for Magic (though we already knew that), new security standards at Hogwarts, and security guidelines from the Ministry.

• The fact that Harry did not pack, afraid that Dumbledore might not show up after all, shows how much his trust in Dumbledore has suffered during the last year. When Harry had needed him the most he could not rely on Dumbledore; their relationship is strained.

• “‘He’s been left a house?’ said Uncle Vernon greedily, his small eyes narrowing, but nobody answered him.” – Of course Vernon Dursley would never think to express condolences after learning that Harry’s godfather has died; the only kind of interest he has is in the heritage. Of course he might assume that now that Harry owns a house he can live there instead of Privet Drive. Sirius also left Harry all of his money; I always wondered if the Dursleys were curious about who afforded all of Harry’s school equipment. Perhaps they assumed the school itself paid for all that? If they knew that Harry already had inherited a small fortune from his parents Vernon probably would have asked Harry for some money, as a repayment for all the years he let him live in his house. Perhaps they just assumed that if Harry had some money he would have bought himself some decent clothes by now instead of still wearing Dudley’s old clothes.

• Harry doesn’t want Grimmauld Place, for obvious reasons, though I always like the fan fiction where he makes his peace with the place and ends up living there.

• So, when Harry orders Kreacher to work at Hogwarts, does that mean that for the time there Dumbledore is his master as well? Can you give house-elves away? Can you transfer ownership in case you don’t want to own a house-elf?

• “Incidentally, we have decided, in the interests of Buckbeak’s safety, to rechristen him Witherwings for the time being, though I doubt that the Ministry would ever guess he is the Hippogriff they once sentenced to death.” – I mean he only looks exactly like the Hippogriff they once sentenced to death but whatever, I’m sure nobody will notice.

• “‘You did not do as I asked. You have never treated Harry as a son. He has known nothing but neglect and often cruelty at your hands. The best that can be said is that he has at least escaped the appalling damage you have inflicted upon the unfortunate boy sitting between you.’” – I think this is the first time they openly address that the Dursleys abused Harry; nobody ever has said it out loud before. But also the kind of abuse Dudley has experienced. Of course Dudley was never neglected, but the way his parents raised him damaged him in his own way. They spoiled him, justified all of his actions, making him the kind of man who would later think it is okay to take whatever he wants. We do see some change in his behaviour in book 7, and I think Rowling once explained that his experience with the Dementor caused that change. It is unfortunate we see so little of him and his relationship with Harry in this book though.

• “Uncle Vernon looked as though he had something stuck in his throat; Aunt Petunia, however, was oddly flushed.” – The ever so complicated relationship between Petunia and Harry. Petunia did love her sister, she was traumatized by her murder, and she took in her son knowing Lily gave her life for Harry and that it was the only way to protect Harry. Is Petunia ashamed because of that tiny fraction of love she felt for her sister? Or because she knows that Dumbledore is absolutely right in accusing her that she had abused Harry? Or maybe both?