Top Three Countdown: Day 3

On this, the Half-Blood Prince movie's eve-eve, I'm ready to announce the beginning of my TOP THREE HP MOMENTS!

Numero tres:

Dead Dobby!




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Sorry. Was that too flip? Dobby's death really did move me, more than any other death in the series (yes, more than Dumbledore's). The house elf plight, given short shrift in the films, is an important thread in the novels. The elves are the lowest rung of the magical ladder, and yet, they are, arguably, the most powerful creatures. Their love of service and passivity make them easy to push around. But not Dobby! Dobby rescues the trio and friends at their most dire hour, sacrificing himself for them, foreshadowing what Harry must do later. It was a lesson Harry had to learn. That he digs Dobby's grave by hand is also testament to Harry's gratitude to Dobby. After all, Dobby is Harry's biggest fan. And I'm Dobby's:)

Everything about Dobby's funeral is perfect (and in complete contrast to Dumbledore's extravagant ceremony). Luna's speech is a tear-jerker, and the headstone, "Here Lies Dobby, A Free Elf" is the ideal tribute.

One Week Countdown: Day 4

Four days is totally manageable, right? You can do this, HP fans!

My #4 favorite Potter moment:

Malfoy Freaking Manor!



Can you say heart in your throat, edge of your seat, omgwtfbbq storytelling? And keeping the action in the cellar with Ron and Harry, having Hermione's screams as the only indication of the horror above their heads, is brilliant and tense and, dare I say, Hitchcockian. Of course, the story demands that control, as the perspective is always Harry's. Nevertheless, there is nothing more chilling in all of the books put together than Ron clawing the walls to get to Hermione, who is being tortured to death, and nothing more telling about Harry's and Hermione's characters as the fact that they keep it together in that moment.

And that artist up there, Makani? Isn't she AMAZING?

One Week Countdown: Day 6

Number 6 on my Half-Blood Prince Movie countdown of my favorite HP moments is:

Neville's Destiny




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I love how history repeats itself, first with the James/Lily/Sirius generation and the creation of the Order, then with Harry/Hermione/Ron, etc. and Dumbledore's Army. The most poignant element of the cyclical nature of this rebellious group is Neville's backstory.

Neville's visit to his parents at the hospital is a bit of brilliant storytelling. His mother, Alice, hands him a gum wrapper, obviously unaware of who her son is, and Neville pockets it, tenderly. I imagine that he keeps little wrappers with him, and later, when Neville becomes the man he should be, these, along with the image of his parents, fuel him.

I love, too, how the Boy Who Lived could have been Neville. Voldemort chose his enemy, and easily, his red gaze could have turned on Neville. This speaks to the overriding theme of the novels--that it is our choices that define us. Truer words were never spoken (thanks, JK). Neville makes all the right choices when it really matters.

Two Week Countdown: Day 7

One week to go! This time next week, all the anticipation will be a thing of the past.

My #7 best HP moment is...

Angsty Harry!



The Order of the Phoenix, though a dark, dark book, stands out in my imagination as an authentic rendering of teenage angst. Harry goes through a lot (understatement of year) and reacts predictably--isolating himself, begrudging his friends, indulging in whine after whine. The film captured this well, too. And so, angsty Harry it is for number seven.

And as a "Week to Go" treat, here's some Wizard Angst, courtesy of the Potter Puppet Pals!



"I feel cranky and pubescent today and I don't know why!" (shake, shake)

Two Week Countdown: Days 10 AND 9

Ack! Nine days away!

My #10 favorite HP moment has to be a shippy one (more of those to follow):

"I love you, Hermione."



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After all the teen romance angst in Half-Blood Prince, this moment with the trio in the common room comes as a sigh of relief. Hermione has just repaired Ron's essay, and he, thankful, casual says, "I love you, Hermione." Hermy blushes, Ron is nonplussed, and around the world, Ron/Hermione shippers rejoiced. Yay.

#9--Dumbledore laying the smackdown on the Dursleys



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In Half-Blood Prince, Dumbledore makes a visit to the Dursleys, which includes, predictably, a flustered and angry Vernon, and some general mockery of Harry's foster family (glassware knocking them on the head repeatedly=priceless). Later, Dumbledore lays the smackdown, telling the Dursleys how disappointed he is in them, how, thankfully, they've done more damage to Dudley than to Harry. For Petunia, especially, this stings, as we know she and Dumbledore have been in communication before.

Two Week Countdown: Days 12 AND 11

We're nearly out of the double-digit wait, folks!

My #12 pick for best Harry Potter moment is Fourth of July themed, and something I've posted before:

Weasley fireworks!

#11 is also related to the Weasley twins:

Potterwatch from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!



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I think it's super sweet that members of Dumbledore's Army and the Order are broadcasting clandestine anti-Voldemort radio shows. It all has this underground revolutionary flavor what with the code names (Rapier! Ha!) and everything. Hope this scene stays in the films.

Prof. H

Two Week Countdown: Day 13

It's 13 days until HBP! And time for...

My #13 favorite moment from the Harry Potter series:

Charlie Weasley adopts Norbert!



Art by my favorite fan-artist, L. Berghol

Here's one not in the films. In fact, Charlie is the missing Weasley in the cinema, mentioned only by name here and there. In The Sorcerer's Stone, Harry and Hermione save Hagrid's hairy butt (not for the first time) by arranging for Charlie Weasley, the second eldest Weasley and dragon expert, to take Norbert off of Hogwart's property.

I love Charlie for that, and also, because he remains an uncorrupted character for me, the way he looks frozen in my imagination, and not altered by the films. The truth is, whenever I read the books now, I see Radcliffe, Watson, Grint and company, in my head. But Charlie is just my version of him. BTW, he's a total hottie in my mind:)

Two Week Countdown: Day 14

So, here we are in the two week wait for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. In an effort to pass the time, I'm going to share my fourteen favorite moments of the HP series, one a day, until premiere day.

Number 14...



Snape at Spinner's End, which we will see in this flick. I love how we get to see Snape's home life here, the absolute snubbing he gives to Bellatrix, and the humanity we begin to see in Narcissa Malfoy, a humanity that we know will be very important at the end of the series. This chapter is perfection.

How about you, V.? Jedi J.? What's #14 on your list?

Prof H.

The Burrow! It BUURRRNNNNSSS!!!

Ack! Another One! I Can't Keep Up!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Exclusive Clip

New Half-Blood Prince Clip

New HBP scene!New HBP scene!New HBP scene!New HBP scene!New HBP scene!New HBP scene!New HBP scene!New HBP scene!New HBP scene!New HBP scene!New HBP scene!New HBP scene!New HBP scene!New HBP scene!New HBP scene!New HBP scene!New HBP scene!New HBP scene!

All trio-y! Ginny! Yay!

HPB Featurette and Ron in Love

Warner Bros. has just released the first HBP featurette, in which we see some behind the scenes action, and a few new bits with Harry and Dumbledore. Of note is Harry's line about not needing luck, "I"m with Dumbledore."



We also have a clip from the film of Ron after he's ingested Romilda's chocolate love potion.



Enjoy

Prof. H

HBP First Look

Here's a "First Look" of Half-Blood Prince with some footage we haven't seen before. There's a fantastic Bellatrix moment right in the beginning. Bonham-Carter plays her sooooo crazy. Wonderful. We get to see Lav-Lav and Won-Won snog, plus Hermione's canaries make an appearance (this last is my FAVORITE scene in the book).



Aah, so good. July is ever closer.
Prof. H