Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Chapter Notes

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Chapter 8: Snape Victorious

• “Harry looked sideways at Tonks under his Cloak. Last year she had been inquisitive (to the point of being a little annoying at times), she had laughed easily, she had made jokes. Now she seemed older and much more serious and purposeful. Was this all the effect of what had happened at the Ministry? He reflected uncomfortably that Hermione would have suggested he say something consoling about Sirius to her, that it hadn’t been her fault at all, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it. He was far from blaming her for Sirius’s death; it was no more her fault than anyone else’s (and much less than his), but he did not like talking about Sirius if he could avoid it. And so they tramped on through the cold night in silence, Tonks’s long cloak whispering on the ground behind them.” – I think it is interesting that Tonk’s heartbreak is misinterpreted as grief. Obviously you can’t compare these two feelings, but oddly enough I think it gives Tonk’s feelings some deeper meaning, that her unrequited love feels almost like losing someone. But also we have here what I call the blame game. Harry doesn’t blame Tonks for Sirius’s death, but at the same time he can’t forgive himself for what happened, still thinking he is somewhat responsible for his godfather’s death. Later though we see that he has projected most of his anger on Snape, because it is easier to deal with his loss that way, focusing on the person he has already hated before.

• “‘Alohomora!’ he said confidently, pointing his wand at the padlock, but nothing happened.” – I mean obviously the gates would not open as easily like that, then again that is the exact same spell Hermione used in their first year when they entered the forbidden corridor and almost got eaten by Fluffy, so who can blame Harry for thinking this is the standard Hogwarts security level?

• We learn that Tonk’s Patronus has changed; Harry describes it as a four legged creature. It is possible it is a wolf or even a werewolf, illustrating Tonk’s heartbreak (though Harry could interpret it as a large dog and still think it has something to do with the loss of Sirius). Snape remarks that Tonk’s new Patronus looks weak, so he obviously knows about her feelings for Remus and mocks her for it, because, you know, he is an ass. Still, I think it is interesting that your emotional state can change the way your Patronus looks. We also never learn how to use them to communicate with others; we know they can deliver messages, but never learn the spell to do so.

• “As though he had read Harry’s mind, however, Snape said, ‘No Cloak. You can walk in so that everyone sees you, which is what you wanted, I’m sure.’” – Snape knows perfectly well that Harry hates all the attention he gets, which is why he forbids him to use his Invisibility cloak, despite claiming all the time that Harry loves to be famous.

• “‘You’re covered in blood!’ said Hermione. ‘Come here –’ She raised her wand, said, ‘Tergeo!’ and siphoned off the dried blood.” – Tonks healed your nose but could not get rid of the blood?

• We learn that Slughorn is the new potions master and that Snape is the new DADA teacher, and that of course the job is jinxed. Obviously Dumbledore had his reasons to bring Slughorn back to Hogwarts, as he needed his Horcrux-memory. So perhaps giving Snape his dream job was just a means to an end. Perhaps Dumbledore trusted Snape by now enough to let him near the Dark Arts. Perhaps Dumbledore couldn’t care less with only one year left to live. Still, Dumbledore is aware that the job of the DADA teacher is cursed, so he does put Snape in danger (then again Snape is a double-spy, so a cursed job is the least of his problems).