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JULY 26, 2004 at 8:13 AM
Posted by GERI
Source: JKRowling.com
to address pressing questions about Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
She answers questions about Arthur Weasley (Ron's dad), Tom Riddle (the future Voldemort) and what is the relation between Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (book 2) and the upcoming book six.
Why are some people in the wizarding world (e.g., Harry) called 'half-blood' even though both their parents were magical?
The expressions 'pure-blood', 'half-blood' and 'Muggle-born' have been coined by people to whom these distinctions matter, and express their originators' prejudices. As far as somebody like Lucius Malfoy is concerned, for instance, a Muggle-born is as 'bad' as a Muggle. Therefore Harry would be considered only 'half' wizard, because of his mother's grandparents.
If you think this is far-fetched, look at some of the real charts the Nazis used to show what constituted 'Aryan' or 'Jewish' blood. I saw one in the Holocaust Museum in Washington when I had already devised the 'pure-blood', 'half-blood' and 'Muggle-born' definitions, and was chilled to see that the Nazis used precisely the same warped logic as the Death Eaters. A single Jewish grandparent 'polluted' the blood, according to their propaganda.
Read the additional questions and answers:
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226-231
Prefect
Points: 341
Mimbulus Mimbletonia says:
I've read about it and..she says "it relates to a discovery that Harry made in "Chamber" that foreshadows something hefinds out in "Prince".... could it be that Gryffindor sword, that relates him to Gryffindor so closely?
any other clues?
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 8:34 AM EST
Student
Points: 294
Moaning.Myrtle says:
ahhhh Mr. Weasley is not going to be MoM????? Damn.... and I so wanted him to be it!
OH and something harry discovered in 'chamber' forshadows something that he finds out in 'prince'....!!! Very very interesting.... off to read 'Chamber' again....!
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 8:42 AM EST
Student
Points: 210
kachosweet says:
It's really cool of her to answer questions of HP fans. Now I know that everything in there is based on prejudice!
She have a open mind to express things very clearly and make us feel more comfortable with that.I mean,now we can answer big deal questions and don't have to worry about the answers,because the own author is going to give it to us,cool!
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 8:43 AM EST
Points: 15101
xeon says:
Wow, i never saw the relations to the Death Eaters and Nazis!
Oh well, i guess it shows that all evil comes from the same place.
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 8:44 AM EST
Obliviator
(Moderator)
Points: 8468
Prof. Dish says:
I'm on my way there as I'm typing this!! I love it when she updates her site, it gives me a little something to look forward to every month, and give me hope maybe that door will open again soon!
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 8:56 AM EST
Magical Sanitary Supplier
Points: 2518
5225 says:
It is good for us to have recent updates from the author herself. It clears up all the 'out-there' theories. Well, about the blood thing, I somehow already know it, but to have it compared to the nazis, well, that's something new. And to have real horrific examples like that clears up confusion.
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 9:05 AM EST
True Gryffie
Points: 2581
Harry_Potter_Lover says:
I am so glad she can clear all those questions up! Now she can get back to writing! :) Too bad Authur isnt the MoM!
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 9:06 AM EST
Pesky Pixie Presidente
Points: 4359
Firebolt_909 says:
Whao! what's awesome!
its cool on how JK rowling derives her characters and and wrods of her book from real meanings and names!
and everything in her book is related to the non-wizarding world somehow...
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 9:10 AM EST
Witch
Points: 833
Purplelicious Star says:
great. now we know more....
the book seems to be better than ever.
This is soooo cool
I WANT THE BOOK!!!
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 9:13 AM EST
Witch
Points: 507
o-chan says:
argh!!
This is really bugging me now!! Hmm.. I SO can't wait for the 6th book to come out!!
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 9:16 AM EST
Squib
Points: 113
ThePotterBoy says:
Oh! My God
It makes me think even harder
What on earth did Harry discover in 'Chamber' that foreshadow 'Prince'
Was it the story of 4 founders of Hogwarts?
Please!!!! Jo hurry up with the book, I'm dying to read it !!!!!!!!!
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 9:21 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1147
Spirits*of*Fire says:
I'm glad she finally told us what half-blood meant because I thought it was a mistake. Both Harry's parents are wizards so that would make him pure-blood. But I get it.
So it has to do with something Harry discovered in the Chamber....I must go back & read the book!! So excited!! Please hurry with the book JKR!!
[i]Lupin: Harry, I've left a letter telling your aunt and uncle not to worry -
Harry: They won't.
Lupin: - that you're safe-
Harry: That'll just depress them.
Lupin: - and you'll see them next summer.
Harry: Do I have to?[./i]
--Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 9:24 AM EST
The Labyrinthine Brain
Points: 3337
DevilsSnare says:
She is really getting really, really generous. Well then if Arthur Weasley is not going to be minister of magic I would figure Amelia Bones or Mr. Shacklebolt. And good for her for finally saying that Riddle and Voldemort are indeed the same person...I don't know why some people didn't believe it. Let's think about about what Harry discovered in book 2?
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 9:26 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 379
Harry's Girlfriend says:
I am so glad she answered some questions. I can't wait for the 6th book to come out!!!!!!!!!!
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 9:26 AM EST
Witch
Points: 741
Auror Tonks says:
OH! I wonder if she is still answering people's questions. :-) I think Riddle may be back in the 6th book... well not as voldemort though... you know what i mean. Maybe the other founders have their own secret stuff. Just speculating. I think Dumbledore's the Half Blood Prince. oh! I CAN'T wait till i can read it!
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 9:26 AM EST
School Librarian
Points: 6733
bookworm says:
Wondefful, am off to read morem iof the stuff. Glad that explained some things didbn't understand.
Love the spoilers! hehe1 can't wait for the rest of books.
sorry bad spelling,
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 9:41 AM EST
Student
Points: 208
Sanae says:
Great news...and as usual JK Rowling gives out explanations that are both exhaustive and unarguable!! She's such a clever woman!!
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 9:44 AM EST
Keeper of Harry's Fate
Points: 8934
TheOneWhoMustBeNamed says:
Interesting reading. It is fun to learn more about the upcoming book and to see that there is such subtle twists. Since she is giving stuff out, I have to imagine the book is nearly finished and she is starting to build interest. My guess is that it will be out in early spring next year.
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 9:45 AM EST
Transfiguration Professor
Points: 2990
Choralee says:
Nice answers - although the questions I really wanted answered were left with cryptic sentences giving me nothing! I have never been a good sleuth so I am in the dark usually when it comes to figuring out JKR's next move in the books.
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 9:56 AM EST
Points: 216
RhondaWeasley says:
I'm glad she clearly pointed out tom and voldie are one, so tom can't be the hbp, because voldie isn't. I said that from the beginning, but people kept emphasizing a distinction between them.
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 10:09 AM EST
Student
Points: 227
Voldermort14 says:
this is Very cool. i still say im going for a '05 summer HBP release. I mean we know A LOT about book 6 she is not going to want to to give us really any more information on it. I think it will be around 700 pages.
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 10:11 AM EST
Not the Messiah!
Points: 3735
icabarburus says:
Hmm, so many answers, yet so many more questions... The suspense is building!
I'm definitely going to have to re-read CoS and pay more attention to it this time... Even if I study it and learn it by heart I still won't be able to see all the twists and bumps Jo has in line for us. I am good at studying books, but Jo is a master at producing twists...
Roll on launch day! (as long as she doesn't over tax herself during her pregnancy...)
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 10:30 AM EST
Witch
Points: 688
hpgirl0701 says:
Oh, I love when she answers these questions. Very interesting I must say. I better go read the others..
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 10:37 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1392
SiriusFan says:
Whenever Jo answers more of the questions people ask her I just end up having more questions :-) I love it but I'm also getting rather anxious for the book. I have lots to think about now and am definitely going to start reading Chamber of Secrets again. I keep reading GoF over and over (it's my favorite) but maybe it's time I give CoS another go. Thanks Jo for all the great new info.
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 10:44 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1208
danradcliffelovr says:
Well that's good that she is giving us more hints on HBP. But wasn't it obvious that Riddle and Voldemort were the same person?
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 10:46 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1018
Peitouche says:
I'm so glad she made this website! It's great hearing things straight from her and not some news media that often gets it mixed up. It's great fun theorizing about what is to come.
Posted Jul 26, 2004 at 10:47 AM EST
226-231
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