I finished the Half-Blood Prince within 7 hours of opening it. I snatched it of the postman, done a little gig with it, licked it and began to read. I have to register some disappointment with it but, overall, I enjoyed it.

The following little section will be done in white so that those who have not had the pleasure of finishing it, cannot have the ending spoilt. I plan to be quite, erm, open about my views on it.  SPOILER WARNING, SPOILER WARNING! This is going to be crap if you don’t read it!

 The romance is my main issue. Yes, everyone and their grandparents know that Hermione and Ron were obviously going to “get it on” but, seriously, why? They are complete opposites. Hermione has been, somehow, transformed into a giggling Lavender/Parvati and I am utterly raging. Hermione was the only main character who I actually liked but I’m not sure I can enjoy a boy-crazed, irritant substance. I am sorry but where has Hermione gone?

Harry/Ginny just came out of nowhere, even though it was the second most popular relationship. It was vile! It was sickly sweet and nausea inducing. Who really manages to get their first crush to fall in love with them? Hmm, do I sense a love potion? I actually just glazed over the romance because I disliked it too much. I cannot believe so much of the book was dedicated to Hermione/Ron fighting (LAVENDER, RON, LAVENDER? Oh shoot yourself!) and Harry wondering about Ginny. It’s a Harry Potter book, not a trashy romance novel!

Okay the only good ships to come out of it were Tonks/Remus and Bill/Fleur. I am a fan of Tonks/Remus so I barely restrained a little jig. It is so perfect! I know I usually put Remus with Sirius but I really like Remus/Tonks. He deserves happiness and she, quite obviously, adores him.

I never really warmed to Fleur in the first few chapters after the whole Phlegm name and Mrs Weasley’s reaction to her. At the end I almost choked in sweetness. She still loves him, no matter what he looks like. Molly was put into her place as she fully became aware that Fleur is more than a pretty face. She is a Twiwizard champion.

Romance over? Yep. Characters next.

I love Severus Snape! I know that most people were hissing in anger after the final chapter (myself included) but once you realise why he did it, you begin to think “Wow, go Snape”. The Unbreakable Vow meant that if Draco didn’t kill Dumbledore, Snape would have to or else he would die, himself. Now, Dumbledore quite obviously knows that there is no way in hell, Draco is going to kill him. Dumbledore understands that what the Order needs is information and the only way of getting it is from Lord Voldemort himself. It’s obvious that Dumbledore told Snape to kill him. Dumbledore was dying, he knew he couldn’t be saved, so he asks Snape to do his duty and kill him. This means that Snape is still a spy and still useful to the Order. Snape is not an “evil” character. Snape did not betray Dumbledore.

 More proof? Read over Prisoner of Azkaban. What happens when Snape finds Sirius? He gloats, he sneers, he takes great pleasure in winning. How come when he kills Dumbledore, he is angry and upset? He doesn’t gloat, he doesn’t sneer and he, obviously, does not take great pleasure in winning. Snape is not the villain of this book. Snape is the hero because he is the one who did what was best for the Order. The main theme of this book is chosing between what is right and what is easy. Snape did what was right and now will be hated for it. He is not a coward.

Unless he really is an evil twat who did betray everyone to save himself. Oh well, I knew it from the start!

This is Snape’s book, not Harry’s. He is the Half-Blood Prince. I liked that whole Half-Blood Prince twist. Isn’t just ironic that Harry depends so much on the Half-Blood Prince while he hates Snape?

Dumbledore knew he was going to die the entire book. He was acting like a dying man, divulging everything he knew to Harry, everything he thought Harry might need.

He knew he was going to die, but not just because of Draco and Snape. I think he was dying - The blackened hand. He never really explained just how much damage destroying the ring did to him. Didn't he say other men would have died? Maybe he only postponed the inevitable.

When Snape made the Unbreakable Vow, he made it to keep his place as a spy and he fully expected to die from breaking it, because there was no way he was going to kill Dumbledore.

But I suspect that when he told Dumbledore about the Vow, Dumbledore had other ideas. Like Dumbledore told Harry in the cave, he is old and unimportant. There are more important things at stake.

Dumbledore and Snape both knew that Snape would never be doubted as a Death Eater again if he killed Dumbledore and they could use that to their advantage. Perhaps to find a way to kill him. Dumbledore already suspected Voldemort had split his soul. Maybe they hoped he would confide in Snape.

Snape didn't want to do it - they argued in the forest about it - but Dumbledore pulled him into line with his loyalty the same way he pulled Harry into line in the cave (making him drink). He asked Snape to obey him no matter what. And at the end he asked, "Severus please..."

And Severus obeyed.

Dumbledore's man through and through.

Draco has come an awful long way in one book! How do you turn from snivelling, arrogant little twat into a Death Eater, ordered to kill? Easy, have your father thrown into Azkaban. I loved it when he was crying with Myrtle. I loved it when he discovered Harry and done that trick to him. I love how he acts at the end scene with Dumbledore. Draco has turned into a wonderfully interesting character with very human-like traits. I hope we see more of him.

Who else ADORED the Kreacher/Dobby fight? I was off my seat in joy! GO DOBBY! GO DOBBY!!

Luna is the best character EVER!! I LOVED her commentary of the Qudditch match and her going to the party with Harry. I wish there was more of her!

Dumbledore... Dumbledore... I have never been a fan but I cried when he died. I’ll put my hands up and admit that I couldn’t read on for the tears. His funeral just broke my heart, especially with Madam Maxime, the Merpeople and the Centaurs. He was such an amazing character. After I finished, I bought a packet of Lemon Drops and just sat there. I was mourning.

They have demonized Voldemort. AHHH!! No-one is born evil! NO-ONE!!! I feel that the character has been ruined now. He’s got too many weaknesses and not enough power. He has been replaced by Snape as my new favourite character. Okay, I’ve always loved Snape but now he is officially my favourite.

The End. For Now

She-Who-Is-An-Eternal-Snape-Fan,

Ag   (Erm, it's meant to be Snape)