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As I went through this book, I was also surprised by how emotionally intelligent Harry is. I knew he was much more sassy in the books, but multiple times he's very aware of circumstances and how it might make people feel in the last book and this one. Like when the Weasley's are talking about affording the books for next year, he's there thinking about the gold he has sitting in his vault.

Then of course there's Lockhart, and I really wasn't a fan of this. Like why did we need all the girls, Hermione included, to fawn over him? I know girls and women do this all the time, but just because it's accurate doesn't mean I want it in my fantasy novel.

I also think the parallels between Riddle and Harry were done much better in the movie. And some of the pacing is a little off for the climactic moments. I think there should have been more detail in destroying the diary and Dobby's freedom.

I do have to say that they did the time travel thing much better in the movie. Maybe it's because of the medium, but we don't actually get much of a time travel loop in the book. We get hints that Hermione is up to something, but the actual going back in time thing was a little underwhelming. In the movie, we see things that aren't explained until Harry and Hermione go back in time, and it's put in a different context. For the book, they just stay out of sight and rescue two beings. Which is a little boring.

I do love that Hagrid gets a teaching position the year after his name is cleared. And it's not like it's unrealistic that Malfoy tries to screw it up, but I'm surprised that he was able to fake an injury at a magical school. Idk shouldn't Madam Pomfrey be able to attest that he's fine? And yeah Malfoy tries to get a hippogriff executed, but then Hermione straight up slaps him and there's no consequences. Like at all. Like I love Hermione getting a little more unhinged, but that seemed out of character for Malfoy.

And we're still getting Hermione bullying. I can't say I really like the trio as a trio because Ron is constantly treating Hermione terribly and Harry kinda just goes along with it? Like he knows Ron's being an ass most of the time but doesn't really take Hermione's side. And I know they're kids, and you know they fight, whatever, but they've known each other for two years at this point. Shouldn't they like each other? I don't really get the sense that they do. Not to mention she was literally petrified last year. It's also strange that they don't seem to speak to or hang out with other Gryffindors outside their year. Of course they don't take classes with anyone but third years, but it's kind of weird to put such an emphasis on a house being a family and only having a limited number of interactions with other Gryffindors.

I've seen many people talk about how movie 4 is the worst one because it gives away the twist in the beginning, and now having read the book, I can understand why. I truly don't know what the director was thinking when placing Crouch Jr. in the beginning of movie. It's still a bit of a twist when his identity is revealed, but in the book, you're under the impression that he's dead. I'm honestly not sure how to feel about this twist because it was such a big reveal and impressive feat when it's revealed how Sirius escaped Azkaban last book. He was so scary because he broke out when no one else could and no one could figure out how he did it. Turns out, he wasn't the first, so it kinda undermines that entire thing.

I do find it funny that Rowling is keeping that running joke of Malfoy being a ferret. During this scene, I also thought it clever that fake Moody is taunting Malfoy about his father, given he thinks he's a more loyal servant to Voldemort.

We're also getting into more serious topics and the injustice in the wizarding world, which I appreciate, but I don't think she goes about it the right way. Like Hermione is up in arms about the house elves, which makes sense because she's a righteous person and didn't grow up in the wizarding world, so it wouldn't be normalized for her. Ron did, and he's more rough around the edges, so he would be defending it. But we don't really get Harry's thoughts about this, which I found really weird. Like he was friends with Dobby, he didn't grow up here either, but we just don't get any opinion from him until later, until he finally says he kinda agrees with Hermione, but she's going about it in an embarrassing way. Like this actually seems contradictory to how Harry's been characterized before.

And this continues to play into the two boys not appreciating Hermione again. It's getting tiring. Yes, they think the elf thing is cringey, but she gets hate mail later in the book, and there's just not much of a reaction from them. They barely seem to defend her. And her whole thing with Krum is still weird. He's too old for him to be taking interest in her, and this isn't the only younger girl, older guy couple either. Fleur and Bill get together later in the story, and he's like six years older than her. I don't get this.

I also don't understand the movie's choice to make Harry a looser who no one wants to go out with. Multiple girls ask him out in the book, he just turns them down because he's interesting in Cho. But they made him a looser male in the movie, and I don't understand why males have this fantasy. You'll see this a lot in anime with the most cringe, plain guy being the main character. It doesn't make sense to me.

I also didn't realize how much Hagrid kinda... sucks. In the movies, he's endearing, but in the books, he's not even a halfway decent professor. He's still supportive of our main cast, but I found him way too annoying and stupid in the middle of the book.

What I did find really well done was the entire graveyard scene. Any Lucius defenders really need to reread this book because it is genuinely horrifying when Voldemort has Harry under his thumb and all the Death Eaters are laughing and jeering. It's also genius for Voldemort to use the pureblood's supremacy ideals to gain followers and manipulate them, despite himself being a halfblood. Whether he actually believes in it doesn't matter. It gives him a solid advantage and framework to build off of.

What I didn't find compelling was Harry's reaction to Cedric's death. I needed more from him. And I know he's in shock in the moment, but it didn't work for me. We could have used more from Harry here. And I might be misremembering, but aren't the horseless carriages supposed to be dragged by Thestrals? Why wouldn't Harry be able to see them, now that he's seen Cedric die? Maybe I'll find out in the next book.

At the very end, it's revealed that Hermione captured Skeeter, and I do like that we're getting Hermione as being a little more unhinged, but it felt too little, too late. She already published multiple articles, lying and getting away with breaking the rules for so long, so it felt like it didn't matter in the end.

I love that Harry is actually being more of a brat, picking a fight with his cousin when he definitely does not need to. Kinda bringing out the side of him that's more similar to his dad.

When they go to the trial, I find it weird that Harry dumps his whole purse into the fountain there. Even though I know he said he would, and he's a man of his word. Like on the same page, we get an entire paragraph about the wizard-centric nature of the statue that's right above. And the proceeds do go to St. Mungo's, but they again mostly treat wizards and witches. It's weird, but I appreciate the setup for the themes and plot points down the line.

I still don't get why Harry wasn't able to see thestrals unless Rowling changed it or it's a plot hole. Luna says they've always pulled the carriages, so I don't get why Harry couldn't see them at the end of the last book. If anyone wants to explain, please let me know.

I also can't justify or believe Dumbledore let the DADA position be so vacant that the Ministry filled it themselves. Why not have someone in the Order fill it? Or choose literally anyone? Snape literally wants the position, give it to him, and hire someone else for Potions. I genuinely don't understand why he allows this.

Unfortunately, Sirius isn't a good godfather. I really wish he was, but he isn't. He's very endearing and supportive in the movies, and I know they're different characters, but he's just in his own head so much of the time when Harry needs him not to be. There are multiple moments like this. I think he was way more supporting in the last book actually. And I understand it's part of his tragic character and story, but still. He says that James wasn't a prefect either, but it wasn't out of any desire to reassure Harry; he just says it. And Moody is the one to show him a picture of his parents, not Sirius, though I'm aware this gesture doesn't do very much for Harry. (And for a reason I can't understand. I understand Harry not liking he's looking at a picture of dead people, but he wants everything to do with his parents. Why wouldn't he like to have the picture?)

I also can't believe Lupin and Kingsley have that conversation about not making Harry prefect while he's in earshot. Like that's just bonkers. Go somewhere else. And I know there's an explanation for why Dumbledore is doing all this stuff, keeping him in the dark, etc., that we get at the very end, but it's not good enough. There was no reason he couldn't have sent Harry one letter letting him know what was going on. Distancing? Fine. But cutting off contact completely with everyone is just insane.

While at Grimmauld Place, it's actually crazy for Lupin to say that everyone would look after Ron and Ginny when Molly is worrying about her children with Harry in the room. Like that's actually just loon behavior. I was surprised when Harry didn't just blow up at that.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about Luna. I know she's a very beloved character, and I don't hate her. She just gets offended when they have a go at the Quibbler but then says that everyone in Ravenclaw thinks Hagrid is a bad teacher. That just seems odd for her to speak her mind then get huffy when someone does the same thing.

I've also never really liked the Sorting Hat's song. And this one was super long this year. I might have liked it if it had affected anything, but despite its pleas for the Houses to work together, no one gives it a second thought as the year goes on. In the same vein, it's also so weird for Dumbledore to harp on being a united front when he's the reason Harry doesn't go to him for help in the first place. Like despite his tongue wagging, he's a major reason everyone is so fragmented this year.

And there is no reaction from Hermione about Harry's hand, which I just cannot comprehend. No outrage whatsoever. This girl who is up in arms about the house elves just kinda brushes off the torture and tells him to keep his head down, and I'm genuinely flabbergasted.

Some things that I really liked: the D.A. meetings were super fun to read; Harry's disaster date with Cho was also ridiculous and funny; McGonagall also shined and had a few great moments. My favorite part of this book was definitely Harry's crashout at the end. It was so justified and gratifying to read. I just wish this part did more than just vent his trauma and had actual consequences.

I was also super confused why Rowling brought up the two way mirrors, only to not use them. Harry only remembers they exist after Sirius dies, so before that, you're wondering how on earth he could forget such a thing. I think they're used later in the books, but right now, they seemed really out of place.

And personally I don't like the confrontation of the Dursleys at the end. It just felt very too little, too late, even though Harry appreciates it. Like after all this time now you're going to act like their treatment requires action? Just didn't feel very satisfying or important in the long run.

I also loved Harry and Hermione's dynamic so much. I love that last book Harry said he didn't think Hermione was ugly so earnestly and that he said she was the top of their class. Out of all the relationships in this series, theirs is the one I just love the most. Not even as a romance, though I get it for those people who like them like that. They're just really sweet with each other, and I loved it when it's just the two of them.

When it comes to Hinny though... I'm not a fan. I'm not against them per say, and we do get a lot more of Ginny in this book, which is good, but I still think their romance comes out of nowhere. Harry didn't have any interest in Ginny before this book, so when he starts talking about being jealous (and I didn't really like those descriptions, I found them super weird and out of nowhere), it was really jarring for me. I also don't think we that many scenes of them as a couple. Romione has obviously had a lot more buildup , and I do like that Harry is just over them being into each other and making it everyone else's problem.

But yet again, we get the filmmakers making Harry like super lame when he's way more confident and capable in the books. I don't get the urge for men to like... downgrade? their male protagonists sometimes. A male character is either the most Mary Sue, overpowered man you've ever met with women falling over themselves to suck his dick, or he's like the most average guy, lame as hell, yet gets the girl anyway.

I also believe that revealing the word horcrux in Slughorn's warped memory was a mistake. This is where I think the film actually did a better job of holding onto the reveal until the proper moment. Because in the book, Dumbledore already knows about horcruxes when he sends Harry off to get the full memory from Slughorn, so like... what's the big deal now? We already know the big crucial information, the only thing we really glean from the unwarped memory is how many. Which I don't find as important.

I knew this was the case prior to reading this book, but Sirius' death is just not talked about. Whereas the previous book was overshadowed by Cedric's death constantly, Sirius barely gets a mention, which is disappointing. Harry's response to his godfather dying is next to nothing, and it makes the emotional weight of this book feel very shallow. And I get it, going back to Harry's trauma constantly would be tiring, but she could have done something new with his response. Perhaps this year, he's just numb to everything because last year, he was angry at everyone. Like I get that Harry does have a crash out at the end of the previous book because of Sirius, but I just think we should have felt the ramifications in this one too.

In addition to getting more Ginny, we also get more Dumbledore, which I love. I do think he's a great character, even though people like to make him the most manipulative, dark, and evil man in the fandom. It was also nice to get so much of him before he died, which was obviously necessary for the story. I think his death, like Cedric's, were well done and built up and mattered. I liked the aftermath of his death and Harry chasing after Snape, and the heaviness of his funeral, where you can see just how many different people and groups respected and mourned him.

However... we move passed Harry almost killing Draco way too fast. Again, another thing I think was better handled in the movie. We actually get to see the consequences of Harry's actions and sit with that for a moment. In the books, Harry is just frantic about hiding the Half Blood Prince's book, and almost in the immediate aftermath, Harry wins a Quidditch match and gets together with Ginny. Like??? It felt really weird pacing wise because it's almost as if the writing is rewarding Harry for almost killing someone. Don't get me wrong, I like the scene, I think it's important for both Draco and Harry's characters, I just think the aftermath is weak. I think this would have worked so much better if it was obvious that the reason Harry does a 180 on Draco is because he almost killed him. Because later in the book when Draco tries to kill Dumbledore, Harry feels really bad for Draco, and you're like? Where did this come from? You didn't seem to care you almost killed him, but now you feel bad because he's scared? It doesn't make much sense.