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Potter Profile - Elizabeth

April 22, 2006

Give us your review of Half-Blood Prince.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is my favorite book to date in the series. I was really fascinated with the way Harry seemed to identify with the Half-Blood Prince, which made the reveal of Snape quite intriguing. I also enjoyed getting some of Voldemort's back story and seeing how Harry began to fully appreciate the challenges before him. Harry experienced tremendous growth in this book and I liked that a bit of moral ambiguity crept into his purpose, in the form of his desire for revenge against Snape, because it emphasizes more dramatically how Harry's choices will define the ultimate outcome.

I know a lot of people weren't crazy about the relationship stuff, but I also enjoyed that. I found it totally realistic that Hermione, so brilliant in all things scholastic and intellectual, is a complete mess when it comes to romance. I also found “Won-Won” and Lavender really amusing. Although not a big shipper in general, I admit I let out an audible cheer when Harry and Ginny got together.

I expected Dumbledore to die, but I was completely surprised at the manner of his death. I think JKR has set up a really interesting character dynamic between Harry, Voldemort, and Snape and I'm really looking forward to Book Seven.

Did you like the fourth movie or not and why?
I liked it very much. I felt like this particular film was very character-driven. The actors playing the trio get better with each film. I really hope they stick it out for all seven movies, because I can't really imagine anyone else playing those parts.

I enjoyed the boarding school feel to the film and the emphasis given to the mystery. Like most, I have favorite parts I wish hadn't been cut—one of the things I enjoyed about the book that was absent from the movie was the complete shock at the Barty Crouch, Jr. reveal. The way JKR wrote it, I kind of wondered if maybe he wasn't wrongly accused. So when it turned out he was the bad guy, I was really surprised. The film completely removed that ambiguity and provided so many tells that Mad-Eye was a bit fishy, that it took a little enjoyment out of it. However, Malfoy turning into a ferret? That will never, ever get old.

If you could spend the day as one EVIL character from the books, who would it be?
I'd have to be Narcissa because she's just so cold—even Bellatrix seemed a little afraid of her. Besides she loves Draco enough to risk really ticking off Voldemort and I think that particular character trait makes her more interesting.

Which GOOD character would you want to be for a day?
I would love to be Tonks because it would be so cool to be able to change my appearance at will.

If you could have any magical power what would it be?
See above re: changing appearance at will. How cool is that??!

What is your favourite moment of the series so far?
I have too many to name—one of my favorite moments in Book Six was Dumbledore and the Dursleys. I thoroughly enjoyed that. Also—at the end when the trio was together, Harry tells Ron and Hermione that he won't be coming back to Hogwarts and they reply that they'll be with him the whole way. Even though Harry was a bit taken aback, it's so typical of their friendship.

Is Snape REALLY good or evil and is Dumbledore REALLY dead?
I think Snape is for Snape. I do think he will have a choice to make at some point in the future, but all along, I think he's been acting in his own self-interest, which is, after all, a key defining characteristic of a true Slytherin.

Dumbledore is dead. Dead, dead, dead. Sorry. That doesn't mean he hasn't left anything to help Harry (memories, etc.) or that his portrait in the headmaster's office might have a bit of useful advice, but he's definitely dead. As a doornail. Extra dead.

Will Harry survive the 7th book?
I don't know, but I want him to, so I say yes, Harry will survive.

Do you have anything else you'd like to add? Maybe a theory you've concocted, a shout-out?
No big theories—just something interesting I found when I recently reread Book One. When Harry has that dream his first night at Hogwarts, I was really struck by the sheer amount of foreshadowing. Go back and read it, keeping in mind the end of Book Six. It's really interesting!! And (shout out to my sister) hey, Faith!

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