Thoughts from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

I don't have as many notes on HP 6 as I thought I would because I listened to most of it on audiobook with the wonderful Jim Dale narrating. I wasn't able to underline and scribble thoughts like I was with the others....so here goes.

Harry's protective charm at the Dursley's is finally explained in detail. Harry is safe there until he turns 17 or when he no longer calls Privet Drive home.

Professor Slughorn....sometimes I joke at school that I'm like him because I like to get to know all the smart kids. I like to collect them, but not nearly as much or to the degree as Slugorn. I love the lengths that Dumbledore will go to to get that ONE memory from him.

Molly Weasley's onion soup....I guess I was just hungry when I wrote that down, but it sounded SO GOOD!

I loved reading about Harry, Hermione, and Ron's test score anxiety. I keenly remember waiting for ACT results and AP scores....glad to see some things are the same in the wizarding world as they are for Muggles.

Fred and George's U-No-Poo....hilarioius. Laughter is always the best cure against fear....

I LOVE Harry's loyalty to Dumbledore when he's talking with Rufus Scrimgeour.

Dumbledore refuses to call Tom Riddle anything else. Again, the power of a name..

We finally get to the Horcruxes. This is one of my favorite parts because it's like a puzzle and a treasure hunt. I love how Rowling tucked several of them into the narrative, just in passing. I feel like it's a nod to all the obsessive/close readers out there (like those who spotted Slytherin's locket in Order of the Phoenix).

Harry on Feilx Felicis....I love how he convinces Slughorn by invoking the spirit of his mother, one of his favorite students.

I feel like the conversation between Harry and Dumbledore about the Horcruxes is crucial. I believe at this point, Dumbledore knows he is going to die and he is trying to impart everything he knows to Harry before that happens. I just wish he could've given some sort of warning to Harry that his death was near. Any reason why he wouldn't have?

Harry calls Snape a coward, and that really seems to tick Snape off more than anything. Knowing Snape's true loyalties really lets me see how insulting this would really be. To know how much he risked to be loyal to Dumbledore....wow.

Fawkes again...singing once for Harry's loyalty to Dumbledore and again his final song, after Dumbledore's death as he leaves Hogwarts forever.

I remember the first time I read this book and how the absolute shock of Dumbledore's death was paralyzing. I had no idea of why or how to explain it. Over time, and after the seventh book came out, we finally understood. It doesn't make it any less awful, but it's sad in that Harry has to face his greatest challenge alone. How the last adult person on his side is gone without so much as a goodbye. I do find it poignant that Dumbledore body-bound Harry so that he couldn't fight Draco or Snape...he knew what he was doing all along....which goes with something Erin (and many others) always say...."I trust Dumbledore completely."