Plans

While we have seen Dumbledore have many complicated plans, same with Harry and his friends, as well as a few good plans originating from Voldemort, we haven't seen a plan such as the one carried out in chapter 27 from anyone else. It is surprising that Malfoy came up with such a plan on his own. Using the interconected vanashing cabinants was a particulary brillient idea, and the fact that he was able to fix the damaged one in Hogwarts shows that Malfoy is more than just skilled at dueling.

While I don't remember much of the 7th book (though Micaela did remind me of something in class today), when reading the part where Dumbledore dies, the part where he supposedly begs for his life, I never felt that he was begging for his life. The first time I read this I wasn't paying close attention to that part because I was too shocked and saddened and whatnot to really know what was going on, but this time I definitely felt there was something more going on than just begging for his life. Micaela reminded me that somehow this death was planned, but I still don't remember how, but that would make since. Snape is angry at what he has to do, not at Dumbledore himself (though the anger could be aimed at him as well because Dumbledore told Snape to kill him, if indeed thats what we find out later, not sure though). Same goes with when he is angry that Harry is calling him a coward, because a coward couldn't do something like that for someone, killing them I mean.

The 6th book!

So, we are now at the sixth book. Better than I remembered it being so far. I only read it once. I still think the fourth book starts off with much more excitement. This book brings more mystery though, with less action in the first eleven chapters. So far the major questions we readers should have in our minds are: What side is Snape really on and what task has Malfoy been assigned; who's The Half Blood Prince and is his potions book dangerous; what exactly is Dumbeldore trying to do with Harry; and on a more general note what areVoldemort and the Death Eaters up to?

As a craft element, Rowling's methods of introducing these questions are pretty transparent, but they are sucessful. We readers will now read through the book to find the answers to these questions, and a long the way we shall enjoy all the beautiful details and moments of humor. Any fan of the Harry Potter books would have a very hard time indeed putting the book down after being presented with these questions.

On a different note, the relationship between Hermoine and Ron is being flushed out. The last two books gave us small hints that they might like eachother, well mostly that Hermoine might like Ron, but here we see a definite sign of her feelings for Ron on page 232 when she admits to using the Confundes charm on Ron's main oponent for the position of Keeper on the Quiditch team. This is the first time she does something really disshonest without having a true greeter good motivating her. While sweet in one way, it actually makes me think less of her, and Harry for letting it slide. Disshonesty of that sort is not something I like to see.