I have finally finished reading _Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince_.
And I would like to ask you, who have also finished this book, how inspired was the casting of Alan Rickman?
Spoilers ahead.
Really.
Stop reading if you have not finished the book.
I'm serious.
Stop now.
Okay...
Lots has already been said about the book. Snape on this side, Snape on that side. Dumbledore meant him to do it. He didn't. Etc. I fall into the camp that Snape had to do it, because of the Unbreakable Vow. In addition, I think Dumbledore meant him to do it. (It has been said that Dumbledore would never have pleaded for something so transient as his life.) I think they knew it had to come to this. I think Dumbledore delayed Draco so that Snape could do the deed (remember, Draco has not yet killed, so he is still redeemable). I think he incapacitated Harry so that he would not prevent Snape from doing it. I think that Harry is wrong when he says that while there have been a long line of people standing before him to protect him (James, Lily, Sirius, Dumbledore) that he is now alone. I think Snape is there, too.
Furthermore, I think that the final conflict, the final _emotional_ conflict in the series will not be between Harry and Voldemort, but rather between Harry and Severus Snape. I'm sure Harry's clash with Voldemort will be the last thing that happens, but I think it will not be the emotional center of the last book. But the moment when Harry learns that love is in fact the strongest power, blah blah blah, will be when he confronts Snape. Good or bad, Snape is the crux of Harry's finally becoming the wizard he needs to be to defeat Voldemort.
Or at least, that's how I would write it.
Now if Ms. Rowling would just get a move on.
I'm not sure I agree that Dumbledore meant Snape to do it, but I think he may have understood that Snape had to do it.
Anyway, it was a great read, and you're right. The real fun is going to be when Harry confronts Snape at last.
I think that something is up with Dumbledore's death. I recall that when Hagrid was recounting for Harry, Hermione and Ron the recollection of the conversation he heard between Dumbledore and Snape, Snape said that he did not want to do it and Dumbledore told him he had to. Maybe he is not really dead or something.
I guess I hope that's not the case. I'd like the dead to stay dead, it makes the emotional price worth it, in my opinion. I am intrigued by the Headmaster portraits, however. Do they have all the person's memories? Or just their character?
In other words, do the portrait Headmasters just offer up their opinions of events, or can they offer material assistance?
I'm leaning towards the former, but it could be the latter.