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I will try not to reveal too much.

This book held so many twists and surprises, I had no idea where to begin. I had some guesses about the book before I read it---who the Half-Blood Prince could be, who was going to die, things that that. In the beginning, I felt the Half-Blood Prince was going to be either a new character or someone from the past, though I did accept theories about characters Hagrid and a few students with half-blood heritage.

Before I read, I was unsure who could possibly die in this one. I read somewhere in an interview with J.K. Rowling concerning The Goblet of Fire that said something about taking a character the reader cares about and killing them off (which proved true in Order of the Phoenix) for suspense or something like that. I cannot recall; I read that interview years ago, but I specifically recall "killing off a chacrtaer that the reader cares about;" this opened my mind for possibilities, most likely a student (which I did hold a lot of doubt, seeing that would get redundant), but it came to a great shock when I found out who had Death hanging over their head.

I did not pick up any solid "death theories" until the first few chapters. Judging from what I read, I (pardon the expression) had my money on Snape, mainly because of the Unbreakable Vow, the task Draco was to take, which could risk Snape's life, and his position at Hogwarts (obvious reasons). But, knowing J.K. Rowling loves plot twists, my other good guess was Draco, for obvious reasons. I held up both theories until Page 596, when both were cancelled out upon the words Avada Kedavra.

Snape has always been my favorite character, but right now I am currently mad at him. I argued for years with my friends about his loyalty to the Order and Dumbledore, despite his hatred for some of the members---and those arguments seem wasted now. At the same time, though, I am in agreement that if it were not for the Unbreakable Vow, he might have stayed true to Dumbledore.

Assuming him faithful to the Order, he would have had to prove his loyalty to the Dark Lord to Bellatrix and Narcissa. If they suspected him of treachery, he would have been killed, and the information he gained is too precious to the Order. With this knowledge, I am going to keep a small light of hope for him in the next book. Note I said "small."

It has been a while since I read the other books (I only remembered Regulus was Sirius's brother because it was mentioned), so I thank you for pointing that out as a possibility for R.A.B. It seems likely, but they had several other examples at the end of the book. However, you have a good point. Sirius was the only one in his family not associated with the Dark Arts. It is very likely that Regulus traded the lockets before his death.

I sort of pity Draco. I could easily imagine his position, wavering at whether or not he should carry through, knowing he had the threat of death over his head. I did feel a bit touched when Harry found him crying in the bathroom, and I was pleased to see he had a bit of a conscience at the end when he lowered his wand, even if it was hardly noticable.

Until the next book.

i actually got blind-sided with the fact that snape was the half-blood prince... i had thought it was voldemort, but i went into it with NO spoilers, like i had no idea anyone was gonna die (but ihsould've been expecting it >_<) and i'm thinkin Regulus Black is the RAB person, and tonks and lupin are so cute!!! ok that's all

i am not to sure what i think about this book. it was so bad. i am mad about dumbledore and upset that ginny and harry didn't make it they looked cute together.

I can discuss it with you!

~edit~

Yeah, I mean, after all that Harry didn't learn while Snape was actually teaching them! xd That's kinda funny, isn't it?

Well, the only spoiler I knew ahead of time was that the Half Blood Prince wasn't Harry or Voldemort, but that he wasn't some new character we'd never really known.

Everything else was surprising.

My little sister is all mad at J.K. because she killed off Dumbledore Go figure.




Anyways, I can't wait till the next movie comes out! ((Because that's sonner than the next book.)) blaugh

i should have thought of snape when the book first came into the story because they alway talked about how great he was at potions and how he spent time by himself making new hexes and jinxes (in the memory of james and lily from snape).
also, i bet dumbledore explicitly told snape to do everything to protect harry, even killing him. think about it. malfoy is saved from becoming a killer, harry had someone else (his mom) die for him so what could give him more protection than dumbledore himself dying to save harry now that his mom's protection had been overcome, and i bet that in the final showdown with big v harry will have to trust malfoy and snape and they will either stay out of the fight and let harry kill voldermort or they will help harry do it. harry will use dumbledores love to turn them.
i also think that when dumbledore was killed and he said please to severus, he wasnt saying let me live, he was saying keep malfoy and harry safe.

Ginny and Harry aren't over, it's just a temporary break off until Voldemort is dead, and I am sooo happy they finlly hooked up!

I though this book was by far the best one!!!