It seems like by now, everyone would realize they should listen to Harry..
Such a sad end :( I knew that was going to happen before starting the series, but didn't know when. It still got me in the feels, though.
The book as a whole was really fun and entertaining. I love the mystery and learning more about Voldemort. The romance drama was funny as well.
I can't wait to see what adventures the next book brings and how it all concludes..

Another wonderful installment in this fantastic series!
J.K. Rowling's writing style continues to blow me away. The way she writes is just so easy to read and always makes me feel super "comfortable" in the world she created. And what a wonderful world that is! My love for each character grows bigger and bigger with every book. Their development is very well done - it's realistic and believable.

This book explores a lot of Lord Voldemort's past, which was great, because you learn so many things that make this character even more interesting. The way these flashback scenes were integrated was so well done and perfectly fit into the story. I also found the overall concept of the Half-Blood Prince very nice.
My most favorite thing about this book has to be Draco's arc and storyline, though. He is one of my top fictional characters ever created, and to see him playing such a huge role made me incredibly happy.

There is just one little thing I've got to complain about: Harry's and Ginny's devoloping relationship. I just don't see it?? I don't know, I just feel like Harry's feelings came out of nowhere. For a while I was even wondering if Ginny slipped some Love Potion into one of his drinks...
Ron and Hermione on the other hand...

Do you know what is better than this book (this book being already amazing)? This book narrated by Stephen Fry.
I swear, this was my second attempt EVER to listen to an audiobook and the narration was so good I actually enjoyed it so much. And I hate listening to audiobooks!

Since pretty much everyone I know has read these books, I figure reviewing them is pretty pointless. But with the new book coming out in a couple of days, I have to go through them beginning to end. To make the reviews more entertaining, I will be doing them in a variety of unexpected formats. For this review, I will be writing as a power ballad.

(Intro: Piano and strings)

You were always by my side
You will always be my guide
But the road I'm on
Goes on and on
And I've left you beHIIIIIND!

(Big crunchy electric guitar)

(DUMBLEDORE!)
I will never forget the strength you showed!
(DUMBLEDORE!)
I will never forget the debt you're owed!
(DUMBLEDORE!)
And when I face the final hour
(DUMBLEDORE!)
I will call on all your power!

(Guitar solo)

There's no way back again
But if I can find a friend
To see me though
And remember you
I'll make it to the EEEENNNND!

(DUMBLEDORE!)
When I finally catch that snake in the grass
(DUMBLEDORE!)
You will be able to rest at last!
(DUMBLEDORE!)
You know he never will escape
(DUMBLEDORE!)
I'm comin' for you SNAAAAAAAAPE!!!!

(Guitar solo)

(Guitar solo with children's choir singing "Run, Snape, Run!")

(Guitar solo with fireworks)

(Drums explode)

EDITOR'S NOTE: Yes, I know, it's horrible. I'm not proud....

I could revisit this world over and over!!

Mel

What stands out in book 6:

* The introduction of the Horcrux.
* Molly Weasley asking Arthur Weasley about his "dearest ambition." Rowling has always been great at revealing little intriguing bits about her characters at a time, and Arthur’s answer "to find out how airplanes stay up" reminds us about his obsession with Muggles.
* Harry's private lessons with Dumbledore, and more time spent with the fascinating and dangerous pensieve, arguably one of Rowling’s most ingenious inventions.
* Fred and George Weasley’s Joke Shop, and the slogan: "Why Are You Worrying About You-Know-Who? You Should Be Worrying About U-NO-POO--the Constipation Sensation That's Gripping the Nation!"
* Luna's Quidditch commentary. Rowling created scores of Luna Lovegood fans with hilarious and bizarre commentary from the most unlikely Quidditch commentator.
* The effects of Felix Felicis.
* We get a fascinating view of the history of Tom Riddle.
* The major question of the book: Whose side is Snape really on?

Amazon Review:
The long-awaited, eagerly anticipated, arguably over-hyped Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince has arrived, and the question on the minds of kids, adults, fans, and skeptics alike is, "Is it worth the hype?" The answer, luckily, is simple: yep. A magnificent spectacle more than worth the price of admission, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will blow you away. However, given that so much has gone into protecting the secrets of the book (including armored trucks and injunctions), don't expect any spoilers in this review. It's much more fun not knowing what's coming--and in the case of Rowling's delicious sixth book, you don't want to know. Just sit tight, despite the earth-shattering revelations that will have your head in your hands as you hope the words will rearrange themselves into a different story. But take one warning to heart: do not open Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince until you have first found a secluded spot, safe from curious eyes, where you can tuck in for a good long read. Because once you start, you won't stop until you reach the very last page.
A darker book than any in the series thus far with a level of sophistication belying its genre, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince moves the series into murkier waters and marks the arrival of Rowling onto the adult literary scene. While she has long been praised for her cleverness and wit, the strength of Book 6 lies in her subtle development of key characters, as well as her carefully nuanced depiction of a community at war. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, no one and nothing is safe, including preconceived notions of good and evil and of right and wrong. With each book in her increasingly remarkable series, fans have nervously watched J.K. Rowling raise the stakes; gone are the simple delights of butterbeer and enchanted candy, and days when the worst ailment could be cured by a bite of chocolate. A series that began as a colorful lark full of magic and discovery has become a dark and deadly war zone. But this should not come as a shock to loyal readers. Rowling readied fans with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by killing off popular characters and engaging the young students in battle. Still, there is an unexpected bleakness from the start of Book 6 that casts a mean shadow over Quidditch games, silly flirtations, and mountains of homework. Ready or not, the tremendous ending of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will leave stunned fans wondering what great and terrible events await in Book 7 if this sinister darkness is meant to light the way.

I'm pretty sure the universe only exists so the Harry Potter series could be written.

Dark and emotional, with war coming into the wizarding world for real. Besides a very impactful death near the end of the book, also teenage love and obsession take a prominent place
Voldemort created his own worst enemy, like tyrants always do

A very enjoyable reread, with much more background on Voldemort and his devices. Some observations:
- Interesting how Narcissa her love for Draco already is so similar to the love Harry his mother felt for him.
- That Inferni are introduced back in chapter 3, was something I didn’t notice before.
- Shall we assume... - Dumbledore his conversation style is very useful, even for real life as well
- Slughorn his club of special students and extracurricular activities are very realistic compared to the earlier lack of focus on careers in the series.
- How did Ron ever became a prefect? As Nearly Neckless Nick says: Once again you show all the sensitivity of a blunt axe
- Rowling is such a good winter writer, I felt in the middle of snow again in this book.
- Dumbledore says people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right. He should have a book of aphorisms and sas.
- There is no need to call me sir, professor. No wonder Snape hates Harry. And I need more Snape teaching Defense against the Dark Arts
- Hermione sabotaging Ron his Quidditch rival

(A) 86% | Extraordinary
Notes: A relationshippy respite, it’s Sturm und Drang defogging: all lovesick woe, observing foes, and problematic snogging.

*Check out progress updates for detailed commentary:

Progress updates:

06/24/2020 - 3%

(1) The Muggle Prime Minister would have been John Major.
- No wonder he lost the 1997 election in a landslide.
- Likely fictional, though, as Major wasn't elected to power, and his predecessor wasn't male.
(2) Fudge: "Is a man alive if he can't be killed? I don't really understand it, and Dumbledore won't explain properly."
- Well, horcruxes are forbidden knowledge.

06/25/2020 - 6%

(1) "A threadbare sofa, an old armchair, and a rickety table stood grouped together in a pool of dim light cast by a candle-filled lamp."
- How vampire-chic.
- Snape's house could use a woman's touch.
(2) "In her fury [Bellatrix] looked slightly mad."
- I guess she's always in her "fury" then.
(3) I never hear of wizard divorces... perhaps they make unbreakable vows?

06/26/2020 - 9%

(1) "Rufus Scrimgeour ... has succeeded Cornelius Fudge as Minister of Magic. The appointment has largely been greeted with enthusiasm."
- Appointment? By who? There doesn't appear to be any wizarding monarch or anything.
(2) J.K. Rowling does love giving animal descriptions to antagonists: Scrimgeour is "lionlike," Petunia has a "horsey face," Vernon has "piggy eyes," etc.

06/27/2020 - 13%

(1) We're introduced to the idea of inferi, which are essentially zombies. The lack of a full-blown zombie chase is one of the series' big missed opportunities.
(2) "The wandlight sparkled on [Slughorn's] shiny pate, his prominent eyes, his enormous, silver, walruslike mustache ..."
- Again with the animal descriptors.
(3) Gwenog Jones must be the Welshest name ever.

06/28/2020 - 17%

Harry and Ginny be like, "I shouldn't have been so happy about that hug."

(1) Two weeks since last book and Hermione's already at the Burrow when Harry arrives? Poor Hermione's parents.
(2) "Hermione flashed a warning look at Ron, and Ron changed tack at top speed."
- Already giving each other married couple signals.
(3) Hermione: "I know I failed everything!"

06/29/2020 - 20%

(1) Fred to Ginny: "Moving through boyfriends a bit fast, aren't you?"
- Well, one per year's not so fast. Though, compared to the other Weasleys, I suppose.
(2) '"Our Decoy Detonators are just walking off the shelves, look," said Fred, pointing at a number of weird-looking black hooter-type objects.'
- I presume "hooter" means something different in British English.

06/30/2020 - 23%

(1) '"She has let 'erself go, zat Tonks," Fleur mused.'
- Sounds like Fleur's finally cottoned onto Molly and Ginny's cunning plan to get Bill to dump her for Tonks.
(2) In the books, Luna's Spectrespecs are a kind of snake oil novelty. In the film they actually work! Film Luna is treated as more of an eccentric than the books, where she's sort of a lovable gullible.

07/01/2020 - 26%

Ginny be like: "Get a room you two."

(1) It's a mark of Ron and Hermione's closeness that she's comfortable enough to hit him repeatedly with a book, and he's comfortable enough to let her.
(2) Nearly Headless Nick: "I would rather die than betray [Harry's] trust."
Ron: "That's not saying much, seeing as you're already dead."
- Ron again with the common sense.

07/02/2020 - 29%

Finally! Book-accurate bushy hair!

(1) Snape: "We are practicing nonverbal spells, Potter."
Harry: "Yes."
Snape: "Yes, sir."
Harry: "There's no need to call me 'sir,' Professor."
- New levels of reckless sass.
(2) Harry smells something flowery in the love potion. Just 10 pages later, Harry smells something flowery and turns to see Ginny.
- Not exactly subtle.

07/03/2020 - 33%

(1) The House of Gaunt has a very Craster's Keep vibe to it.
(2) Merope seems right out of a Jane Austen novel.
(3) Dumbledore: "The Gaunts [were] noted for a vein of instability and violence that flourished through the generations due to their habit of marrying their own cousins."
- Not so different than European royals, then... and a fair bit better than Egyptians.

07/04/2020 - 36%

(1) Ron gets attention from Lavender, Hermione gives him the cold shoulder. Hermione congratulates Ron, Lavender walks off grumpy. Meanwhile, Ron's totally oblivious.
(2) Harry: "But wasn't that dishonest, Hermione? I mean, you're a prefect, aren't you?"
- Hermione gets a taste of her own medicine here, seeing as she says this to Ron all the time, albeit less polite.

07/05/2020 - 39%

Callback/Mirroring: You've got something on your face.

(1) Harry: "The Prince had proved a much more effective teacher than Snape so far."
- Oh the irony.
(2) Hermione: "Ron, what are you staring at?"
Ron: "Nothing."
Hermione: "I expect 'nothing's' in the back getting more firewhisky."
- Ron crushing on Madam Rosmerta and Hermione being jealous never gets old.

07/06/2020 - 42%

(1) Wonder if Caractacus Burke was named after the Briton chieftain or the dad from Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang?
(2) Orphanage matron: "He was to be named Tom, for his father, and Marvolo, for her father — yes, I know, funny name, isn't it? We wondered whether she came from a circus."
- Hmm... The Great Marvolo!
(3) Young Voldemort owning a harmonica is just plain funny.

07/07/2020 - 44%

(1) Harry: "What if Ron and Hermione started going out together, then split up? Could their friendship survive it?"
- Depends how much they enjoy bickering... it's kind of their thing.
(2) "What if they didn't split up? What if ... it became excruciatingly embarrassing to be in their presence, so that he was shut out for good?"
- Classic third-wheel talk right there.

07/08/2020 - 46%

(1) Harry: "Ginny, don't call Ron a prat, you're not the Captain of this team."
Ginny: "Well, you seemed too busy to call him a prat."
- Can't fault the logic.
(2) Ginny teases Ron for "never snogg[ing] anyone in his life." She also tells Ron "Hermione snogged Viktor Krum." Enraged and shamed, Ron snogs stalkerish Lavender Brown. Ergo, Ginny's to blame for that mess.

07/09/2020 - 48%

Ron makes Hermione cry on stairs a lot.

(1) Ron: "She can't complain ... She snogged Krum. So she's found out someone wants to snog me too ... I haven't done anything wrong."
- Ron's not wrong, but misses the point.
(2) Hermione: "He's at perfect liberty to kiss whomever he likes ... I really couldn't care less."
- She sure talks about it a lot for not caring.

07/10/2020 - 49%

(1) '"Are you going out with [Cormac], then?" asked Parvati, wide-eyed.
"Oh — yes — didn't you know?" said Hermione, with a most un-Hermione-ish giggle.'
- I doubt there's even a Hermione-ish giggle. Mostly she blushes.
(2) Harry: "Serves you right for coming with [Cormac]."
Hermione: "I thought he'd annoy Ron most."
- I expect no less from a jealousy-fueled romance.

07/11/2020 - 51%

(1) "Harry ... was still trying not to think about Ginny any more than he could help, despite the fact that she kept cropping up in his dreams in ways that made him devoutly thankful that Ron could not perform Legilimency."
- Hopefully those dreams aren't Voldemort's doing.
(2) "Harry was left to ponder in silence the depths to which girls would sink to get revenge."

07/12/2020 - 53%

Harry and Ginny be like: Not cool bro!

(1) Kreacher gifts Harry a box of maggots. Not useful, but it's the thought that counts.
(2) '"Harry, you've got a maggot in your hair,' said Ginny cheerfully, leaning across the table to pick it out; Harry felt goose bumps erupt up his neck that had nothing to do with the maggot.'
- Most romantic maggot scene in fiction?

07/13/2020 - 56%

(1) "Abstinence" is the new common room password. Sneaky, having students recite it repeatedly.
(2) Harry: "Hermione, can't you [make up with Ron]?"
Hermione: "No, I can't... So don't even ask."
- Can't or won't?
(3) "The contents proved difficult to empty into the Pensieve, as though they had congealed slightly; did memories go bad?"
- Eh, only the regrettable ones.

07/14/2020 - 58%

(1) Hermione: "Oh, well, if Won-Won thinks that, you'd better do it ... After all, when has Won-Won's judgment ever been faulty?"
- It's contagious! Now Hermione's saying "Won-Won." Sarcasm, yes, but "Won-Won" regardless.
(2) "Friends they might be, but if Ron started calling Lavender 'Lav-Lav,' [Harry] would have to put his foot down."
- The buck stops at "Lav-Lav"!

07/15/2020 - 60%

Poor Lavender :(

(1) Hermione: "Golpalott's Third Law states that the antidote for a blended poison will be equal to more than the sum of the antidotes for each of the separate components."
- That makes no sense! How can something be equal to more than a sum? It would just be greater than it!
(2) The gif never happens in the book, but it's my favorite scene :)

07/16/2020 - 62%

(1) "[Harry] was now being dogged wherever he went by Cormac McLaggen and Lavender Brown. He could not decide which of them was more annoying."
- I vote Lavender.
(2) "Harry's imagination zoomed into overdrive ... Ginny, weeping over his lifeless form, confessed her feelings of deep attraction to him while Ron gave them his blessing."
- Pretty passive ambition there.

07/17/2020 - 64%

(1) Lavender: "Is Hermione Granger still visiting [Ron]?"
Harry: "Yeah, I think so. Well, they're friends, aren't they?"
Lavender: "Friends, don't make me laugh ... She didn't talk to him for weeks after he started going out with me! But I suppose she wants to make up with him now he's all interesting."
- Now we know what Lavender looks for in a partner. Interesting.

07/18/2020 - 68%

(1) Lavender to Ron: "Why didn't you tell me you were getting out today? And why was she with you?"
- I suppose a condition of being Lavender's boyfriend is having to cut loose all your female friends.
(2) Voldemort: "You are omniscient as ever, Dumbledore."
Dumbledore: "Oh no, merely friendly with the local barmen."
- That's some stealthy foreshadowing there.

07/19/2020 - 71%

(1) Ron: "I love you, Hermione."
Hermione: "Don't let Lavender hear you saying that."
Ron: "I won't ... Or maybe I will ... then she'll ditch me."
- Essentially, that's what happened in the film.
(2) The Imperius Curse = Temporary insanity defense.
(3) Harry supposes Tonks was in love with Sirius, which no one thinks is weird. Wizard views on incest are oddly casual.

07/20/2020 - 73%

(1) Ron: "Quick, hide me!"
Hermione: "It isn't Lavender!"
- If it were Lavender, I think hiding behind Hermione would make things much worse.
(2) Harry hesitates to use his vial of Felix Felicis, having saved it to break up Ginny and Dean. Luckily, that happened as a side effect of his Slughorn mission. So, bonus points.
- Incidentally, Harry's low-key a homewrecker.

07/21/2020 - 75%

(1) '"What were you doing up there with her?" shrieked Lavender Brown, staring right through Harry at Ron and Hermione emerging together from the boys' dormitories.'
- Lavender's suspicions confirmed!
- Lucky all around... except Lavender.
(2) Slughorn: "Had a house-elf taste every bottle after what happened to your poor friend Rupert."
- I see what she did there :)

07/22/2020 - 78%

(1) '"You have [uncommon skill and power]," said Dumbledore firmly. "You have a power that Voldemort has never had. You can —"
"I know!" said Harry impatiently. "I can love!" It was only with difficulty that he stopped himself adding, "Big deal!".'
- I had the same reaction as Harry to the ending of "The Fifth Element." "Really? Love is the greatest power there is?"

07/23/2020 - 82%

(1) Flitwick: "A little less talk, a little more action."
- Wasn't that an Elvis song? No, wait, that was "A Little Less Conversation."
(2) Harry's mind: "She's Ron's sister. But she's ditched Dean! She's still Ron's sister. I'm his best mate! That'll make it worse. If I talked to him first — He'd hit you. What if I don't care? He's your best mate!"
- Ron, Ron, Ron.

07/24/2020 - 85%

(1) Ginny: "All Romilda Vane does is ask me if it's true you've got a hippogriff tattooed across your chest ... I told her it's a Hungarian Horntail ... Much more macho."
- Harry's already kinda got a lightning bolt tattoo, and on his face too! I'd guess that's be even more macho.
(2) "Rage and resentment fought shock and excitement."
- Fight it! Angst was so Book 5.

07/25/2020 - 86%

(1) Perhaps Harry's grown too used to magic. He's fine charging headlong into danger, but a short swim in cold water totally freaks him out. Who is he? Film-Ron?
(2) "Harry had long since learned that bangs and smoke were more often the marks of ineptitude than expertise."
- I wonder if he's referring to Seamus, who's gimmick is he often accidentally blows things up?

07/26/2020 - 87%

(1) How is Harry shocked that blood magic is a thing? Voldemort was revived by his blood!
(2) Dumbldore: "You are underage and unqualified. Voldemort would never have expected a sixteen-year-old to reach this place: I think it unlikely that your powers will register compared to mine."
- So... Harry should be glad the alarm can't detect his negligible amount of magic.

07/27/2020 - 88%

(1) Harry needs blood to open the archway. Luckily, he was already cut whilst fighting Inferi. Even zombies have a silver lining.
(2) '"It's going to be all right, sir," Harry said over and over again ... "Don't worry..."
"I am not worried, Harry," said Dumbledore, his voice a little stronger despite the freezing water. "I am with you."'
- Hits me right in the feels.

*character limit

"5. Should you feel that a family member, colleague, friend, or neighbor is acting in a strange manner, contact the Magical Law Enforcement Squad at once. They may have been put under the Imperius Curse."

Time for interesting little subplots is over. We've arrived finally, where everything is closely tied to the core of the story and progressing fast. It's always delightful to see, everything that was great about the series still remains the same, if not better. However, disappointments, sorrow and hardships are what the reader is going to encounter for the most part. As I finished reading Half-Blood Prince, more than ever before, I feel being trapped in a hopeless situation filled with nothing but forebodings.

"Destination...determination...deliberation..."

One would imagine, we're beyond being accommodated with new characters, but the author will quickly convince you otherwise, and introduction of new and interesting characters continues. It's great to see how Rowling keeps outperforming herself with each new book . Harry's ill-tempered nature and suspicions does not end with the last book as I hoped it would, but the results are quite the opposite this time around. Honestly, I did not anticipate the way how things turned out right till the last three chapters.

"To friendship! To generosity! To ten Galleons a hair!

We've been somewhat used to happy ending in the first four books (relatively) with 5th being a bit disappointing but this one, it was the most depressing ending for me yet. It probably comes down to reinforcing the suspense toward the final book but, it's a difficult place to be in - especially if you had to wait for a year..

"Eet 'as been too long!"

This is, hands down, my favorite book of the series. I will make no apologies. I will not even really write a proper review, because who doesn't know this book at this point? I will, however, tell you exactly n  whyn this is my favorite book of the series.

In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Dumbledore finally decides that it is time to teach Harry everything he knows about Voldemort so that Harry can eventually defeat him. But Dumbledore knows Harry well, and he knows his faults and weaknesses. Enter Harry's two best friends, Ron and Hermione. You guys, this book is about the power of friendship.

Tom Riddle has always worked alone, friendless and self-sufficient. He trusts no one and has no sense of obligation, even to his loyal followers. They are disposable. He has no one to tell him that his ideas suck, or that he is going about things the wrong way, or that his ideas n  really reallyn suck, and he wouldn't listen to them if he did.

In contrast, since Dumbledore understands that Harry's faults and weakness are made up for by his two friends, he encourages Harry to share everything he learns with them. Hermione is exceptionally brilliant and cautious, while Ron is brave and has tons of practical common sense. Hermione and Ron help balance out Harry's often reckless, undisciplined, how-I-feel-at-this-moment-is-all-that-matters brain. They have learned to rely on each other and listen even if they don't always agree. This has created a very strong bond of fierce loyalty, responsibility, and obligation.

Even Ron and Hermione's constant skepticism of Harry's ideas throughout this book is an indication of how great this friendship is. As seen in books 1-5, Harry's ideas are sometimes right and sometimes horribly, horribly wrong. These friends don't take "the chosen one" at his word. They challenge him and question him. They aren't just along for the ride. They are in it to freaking win it. Together.

But how difficult is it when, in a group of 3, person 1 and 2 start falling for each other and person 3 starts falling for the sister of person 1? Ugh, teenage hormones. The friendship and support Harry has always had through all the terrible things and difficult tasks are suddenly at risk. Watching them work this out is cringe-worthy but oh so true.

As the book progresses, it becomes increasingly apparent that defeating Voldemort will be an exceptionally difficult task. However, it has been emphasized over and over again throughout the entire series that it will take teamwork to rid the world of evil. In The Sorcerer's Stone, none of the 3 by themselves could have made it through each of the tasks leading up to finding the stone. In The Chamber of Secrets, each of them again played an important role in destroying the first horcrux (which didn't die easily, by the way), along with the crucial assistance of a phoenix and a hat. In The Prisoner of Azkaban, what in the world would have happened if any of the 3 had not taken part? In The Goblet of Fire, Harry would have never gotten through the tournament if the others hadn't help him learn the necessary skills. In The Order of the Phoenix, Harry would have died for sure in the Dept of Mysteries without the D.A. And in this book, we find that Dumbledore himself acted rashly with the second horcrux (which also didn't die easily, by the way), and that this man, perhaps the greatest wizard who ever lived, couldn't have retrieved horcrux #3 without a second person being there to help.

When Harry realizes what he has to do at the end of the book, Ron and Hermione quickly, calmly, and unselfishly insist that they will leave their families and their education and go with him whether he likes it or not. Harry sets out on this nearly impossible task with no army except his two soulmates, which might give him a fighting chance against a man with an army of evil but no soul.

***WARNING: This review will contain spoilers that will not be marked so if you haven’t read this book then I don’t recommend you read my review. I don’t usually write reviews like this where I talk less about how good the book is but more about what goes on in the plot***

**Also this was a re-read for me**

This book was so much better than I expected. I cannot remember enjoying this book as much as I did now. I actually thought this was one of my least favorite in the series but now I’ve realized that it’s actually one of my favorites. I liked this book much more than the fifth and read it much faster. I have no idea why but I found many parts in this book funny. I laughed a lot more than usual when I read Harry Potter books. This book was perfect and amazing in every way possible.

My second favorite character in the series is Draco and in this book, I felt so bad for him. He probably wouldn’t have gone off to the dark side if his dad wasn't there first. It was obvious that he and his mother didn’t want to follow Voldemort. When he hesitated to kill Dumbledore and was considering taking his offer of leaving the dark side I felt so bad for him. Also in the bathroom when he was crying really made me feel sorry for him because I don’t think he would be all rude and mean if it wasn’t for his parents and the way he was brought up.

Harry and Ginny. To me, they should have never been a thing. I have always hated Ginny and the fact that Harry starts to like her annoys me so much. I hated her from the beginning and I have no idea why. I always wanted Harry with Hermione and not with Ron but my ships always crash. But then again Hermione is way too smart for Harry and Ron. Harry being with Ginny slightly rubbed off on me after re-reading this book, but keyword being slightly. Although, I still don’t like Ginny and I don’t think I ever will. I always disliked her since the beginning and I also don't think I will be completely okay with them together.

This book proves that Harry Potter is an idiot and there was a reason he was never put in Ravenclaw. I mentioned this in my review of the first book but one day my friend and I were talking about HP and she told about how Harry is so dumb. First of all, Snape has been teaching him for 5 years. 5 YEARS yet Harry wasn’t able to recognize his handwriting. I cannot understand how Harry could not pick it up. I mean Snape had been his teacher for 5 years and was writing in front of them yet Harry couldn't put two and two together. Hermione probably could have figured it out but she never read the book. Does he not pay attention at all? I mean you’d have to never listen or read anything in class to not pick it up.

After he finds this book, which has spells written around it, he thinks it's perfectly fine to start using them. This book obviously belonged to someone who was a dark wizard but yet he sees these spells and thinks ‘oh nothing bad should happen I mean this book only was written by someone who was interested in the darks arts’. Then he decides to test a spell on Draco and he doesn’t even know what the spell does. I get Draco was trying to torture him with the Cruciatus Curse but there are still other spells he could have used to stop him. Then he tries to convince Snape that his nickname is Roonil Wazlib. Obviously, Snape won't fall for that. Don’t get me wrong I love this series and I do like Harry but he is so stupid.

I enjoyed this book a lot and found it really funny. I feel like reading this book made me love the series more and I’m not sure if that was even possible. I wish after finishing the series I can erase my mind and re-read the series. I am so excited to carry on even though I know what happens next. I want to wait for a little before carrying on to the last book because I don't want to finish re-reading the series. I don’t want it to end becuase I’m so obsessed with this series!!!