Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (novel)/Fridge
Fridge Brilliance
- It seemed at first that Voldemort cursed the position of the DADA teacher purely out of spite (if I can't have it, nobody can). Then, after the evidences of abysmal ineptitude of the general wizarding population was presented (like the Ministry of Magic having to buy hats imbued with a Shield Charm from a prank shop), I suddenly comprehended the strategic magnificence of V's move. He ensured that the DADA classes would become a total mess, no consistent teaching routine would be possible, and before long the school would run out of decent DADA teachers completely, thus dealing a crushing blow to the opposition. - Gess
- I'm surprised no one seems to have picked up on this: throughout the series, characters speculate on why Dumbledore never gives Snape the Defense Against the Dark Arts job. Generally, the idea is that Dumbledore doesn't trust him near the subject. Actually, it's because Dumbledore knew the job was jinxed so that no one would last more than a year, so he put off giving it to Snape to make sure Snape was always around... until there came a time when he knew that Snape would be leaving before the end of the year anyway.
- It occurred to me that Lily might have been so good at potions (according to Slughorn) because she was friends with Snape. If that's the case, then Slughorn was right about Harry being just like his mother. They both got their potions skills from the Half-Blood Prince.
- Arthur Weasley is promoted out of the understaffed Misuse of Muggle Artefacts office because war is imminent and it's not a priority. The same thing must have happened in the First Wizarding War - how else could Sirius could keep hold of an illegal flying motorbike?
- Throughout the first five books, Hermione performs brilliantly at potions, while Harry, failing to pay close enough attention to Snape's instructions, is mediocre at best. In the sixth, he starts making each potion perfectly by following the Prince's advice, which is what he should have been doing all along!
- Who is the Half-Blood Prince and why is Lily mentioned in here more than in any other book?... Gotcha.
- A comment from my sister helped me grasp Snape's true allegiance much better, instead of just a last minute change (as the author herself was unsure). In this book, Snape is about to kill Dumbledore, and Dumbledore is left begging, "Severus please...". At first it seems like he's weakly shocked at betrayal by Snape. Actually, it's because he's begging Snape to kill him. Because Snape is putting Dumbledore out of his misery, it doesn't harm his soul. That's why he spent the night searching for him.- blueflame724
- I put this in the WMG section, but it deserves as much to be over here (or maybe in Fridge Horror...if you think so, please move it). Blaise Zabini. First off, he doesn't exactly come out of nowhere - he's mentioned in passing in Book 1 because he was (alphabetically) the last new student in Harry's year. Of course, from then, the Fandom tried to make a character out of him...or "her" in some fanfics. Then we finally find out (partially through the movie) that he's indeed a Black male. He gets into the Slug Club because his mother is famous. She married seven times, each time to a wealthy husband. Each husband died mysteriously, leaving Blaise and his mother with all the wealth. Of course, the implications there are obvious. Zabini's mom is a "Black widow." The black widow, of course, is a spider that's known for being very poisonous, first off, and second, killing her mates - and the term has been used for a woman who has killed a succession of husbands or boyfriends. The fact that Zabini's mom (more than likely) literally is a Black widow (in terms of race) just makes this even more brilliant.
- When Snape gives Harry several weeks of detention, the sessions begin getting longer at the expense of Harry's time with Ginny. Snape was quick to point this out and gloat at him over it, and it wasn't just because he was being his nasty self. He was purposely keeping the Potter boy from spending time with his beautiful, talented, and red-haired girlfriend.
Fridge Horror
- I recently realized something about Half-Blood Prince. The scene involving Harry making Dumbledore drink the potion was nasty enough to begin with, but it becomes much worse when you realize what that potion actually does, as hinted by the flashbacks in Deathly Hallows: It makes you live through your worst memories over and over, presumably worse each time.
- Made the connection before of 'worst memories' but seeing it here surrounded by other HP stuff just made me realize... The other major things in HP that make one relive horrible memories are Dementors! So possibly that potion uses... I don't know, liquid Dementor's breath or something? And it's said that Voldy can get Dementors to sort-of obey him. Maybe he has a deal where he somehow managed to get a couple to sign up for experiments and following orders, and in return they get freer reign than normal? Getting into WMG, but yeah. -katrani
- When you realise what that potion did, you can't help to be incredibly amazed at Regulus Black. True, Dumbledore must have seen many more things at the age of more than 100 years than Regulus at his 20s, but Regulus was still a Death Eater and he lived with his family, which wasn't exactly the best one. Dumbledore could only drink three mouthfuls of that potion before Harry had to help him do it. As you hear Kreacher tell his tale, you realise that at no moment he says something about helping Regulus drink the potion, which means Regulus was able to drink it all on his own. - Milarqui
- Amortentia, Love Potion, is, essentially, a magical date-rape drug. They distribute these openly.
- Furthermore, think of the Power Perversion Potential of polyjuice potions. What is your creepy stalker going to do when they get one of your hairs and essentially have a free run with your body?
- Polyjuice potion is supposed to be difficult to make, so it could be that very few people actually manage to make any. Of course, three 12 year olds manage it, and there is at least one adult (Mad-Eye) with a stockpile of the stuff, which kind of calls into question how difficult it really is to make.
- It might have been quite difficult in the sense of being "beyond the talents of a second-year student" as well as containing items that couldn't usually be procured through legal means. But one of said 12-year-olds was a Pre-teen Genius that got her hands on the exact instructions, and the other was a Death Eater playing the part of a retired Auror - who probably would have also been privy to the same instructions one way or another.
- Polyjuice potion is supposed to be difficult to make, so it could be that very few people actually manage to make any. Of course, three 12 year olds manage it, and there is at least one adult (Mad-Eye) with a stockpile of the stuff, which kind of calls into question how difficult it really is to make.
- Here's a little tidbit you might be interested in knowing about: Voldemort's mother Merope used a Love Potion on Tom Riddle to get him to "love" her and have a child. Yes, Voldemort is a Child by Rape and it's implied that he is a Complete Monster and The Sociopath as a result of this. Unfortunate Implications.
- Dumbledore does theorize that Merope was far more powerful (and apparently far better trained, despite never having attended Hogwarts and not seeming to have been taught much by her father Marvolo) than she appeared to be when she was being terrified into magical ineptitude by her father, and that once her father and brother Morfin were gone, she used a love potion on Riddle. But there is no evidence. Everything is "I supposed" or "can you not think of a possibility?" or "the villagers guessed" or "the rumor flew around the neighbourhood." In fact, Dumbledore even blames Merope for things that hurt her, such as Tom Riddle, Sr. deserting her when she was pregnant. Unfortunately, Harry never questions that Dumbledore is correct, which furthers the illusion that Dumbledore is stating facts rather than suppositions.
- Furthermore, think of the Power Perversion Potential of polyjuice potions. What is your creepy stalker going to do when they get one of your hairs and essentially have a free run with your body?
- During Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows, there's an army of Dementors "breeding" all over Britain and no one controlling them. Not only that, there's no spell described in the books that can actually kill them (a Patronus just repels them) and Word of God says they're immortal.
- Presumably, though, they are killable by Killing Curse, which Aurors are allowed to use.
- Fenrir Grayback is a werewolf who tries to bite as many people as possible, in order to get enough werewolves to overcome the wizards. He specializes in biting children, even putting himself close to them so he'll infect them when the moon turns full. There are some very deliberate parallels with pedophilia, but the metaphor gets even more horrifying when you learn or remember that victims of pedophiles have a higher chance of becoming molesters themselves. Now think about what this means for Lupin.
- ... oh my god. Is that why he was so worried about having a kid ?
- And it gets worse. Because according to Word of God, Fenrir went after six-year-old Remus because he wanted vengeance on Remus's father for something unspecified. Ergo, Lupin not only has to worry about his child inheriting lycanthropy in much the same way that some children of infected mothers are born with AIDS, but he also has to fear Fenrir, who's still free, seeking out Remus's child in second-generation revenge—and either turning the child or killing him. Also, just for yucks, Fenrir persistently talks about children in terms of satisfying his hunger/taste/need/appetites. So it's not really clear whether or not he sexually molests his victims before turning or killing them. And the Ministry is being run by Voldemort's supporters at that point, so if anything happens to his child, he'd most likely be the one blamed for turning or killing the baby and would be either banged up in Azkaban or given the Wizarding version of capital punishment—having his soul sucked out and eaten. Small wonder he was in a panic before Teddy was born.
- There's also the possibility that lycanthropy is an allegory for HIV/AIDS... In which case this allegory means that a pedophile raped a young boy and gave him AIDS.
- Word of God, it is an allegory for HIV. At least in Lupin's case.
- Also when they all get captured in Deathly Hallows Fenrir very much looks forward to having free reign with Hermione. The whole scene is very creepy and certainly reminds you the above mentioned implications. Luna Lovegood was in the Malfoy Manor for months and might have come across Fenrir during that time.
- ... oh my god. Is that why he was so worried about having a kid ?
- The Sectumsepmpra spell which almost made Draco bleed out is noted as "for enemies"by its creator...Gee, I wonder who those enemies were? Answer?Sirius and James.
- James and Sirius stole Snape's book at one point. How else did James know 'Levicorpus' when Snape was the one who invented the spell? They probably yanked his book, saw the note about Sectumsempra, and (although they didn't know what Sectumsempra did) figured out that he was plotting revenge. And they both knew that he was fascinated by the Dark Arts as well.
- In Half-Blood Prince, Trelawney draws four spade cards that, if you know Tarot (spades being swords in Tarot), spell out the entire plot of the book. Two of Swords: the calm before the storm, though the situation is increasingly dire. Someone paralyzed by indecision and therefore taking no action despite crushing problems (hi there, Draco). Seven of Swords: Slyness and guile, and the card itself involves theft for profit. A warning that someone is facing betrayal (Dumbledore and Draco, Harry and Mundungus). Evil strategems, treachery and cunning are also indicated. Ten of Swords: disaster, destruction and catastrophe. Betrayal and ambush (Dumbledore again). The epitome of failure (which seems to apply to multiple people). Knight of Swords: hasty plans. Charging into action with fear and uncertainty (Harry). The possibility that some of those areas for action may involve slyness, undue speed, or conspiracies. In addition, the upright Seven of Swords, followed by the upright Knight of Swords, indicates disappointment and loss, an unexpected failure...and a singularly destructive theft. (That just screamed Mundungus Fletcher.) The upright Ten of Swords and the upright Knight of Swords in the same spread indicate destruction with great force, devastation and loss..and a sudden end.