deathtocapslock | HBP: Chapters 1 & 2: A Different Point of View

I'll leave the in-depth commentary to the professionals, but here are my impressions of the first two chapters:

- "The Other Minister", aside from being Rowling's attempt at keeping the "Previously on Harry Potter.." bits fresh, serves the necessary purpose of establishing how Things Are Different Now: Big Bad Voldie is on the loose, political "intrigue" is out of the way (taking Fudge along with it), and the breeding Dementors are a grim foreshadowing of the rampant snogging later in the book.

- Scrimgeour is also introduced as an imposing figure who later in the book ends up being rather incompetent in his recruiting maneuvers, signalling how the mighty Death Eaters, scourge of the Wizarding World, can be fought to a standstill by self-taught students. Such are the perils of being in a work of youth lit.

- And finally, since JKR doesn't need to prove the Strength of Woman any longer, she can now dispose of the ancillary female characters introduced in OotP. Thus, Amelia Bones (voted "Most Likely To Become MoM" by the Post-OotP fandom) and Emmeline Vance (classy-looking background Order member) get an off-screen death, as if having a vagina were the equivalent to wearing a red shirt in this universe.

- "Spinner's End", besides showing us Snape's swinging bachelor pad, signals the first time in the books in which Narcissa gets a speaking part. This is surprising, given how Rowling doesn't care about updating her feminist cred anymore, but since Draco's (finally) getting an important part in the storyline, it stands to reason that he would share some of his spotlight with his dear old Mum.

- Upon reading through Snape's verbose explanation about how all the stuff he did in the past five books was really on the service of the Dark Lord Voldemort, no really!, the readers who most identify with Harry wonder why JKR blew the "Snape was a bad guy all along!!!1" plot twist so early. The more discerning ones are considering the fact that he's saying all this to an insecure ('cause she's a girl!), insanely loyal Death Eater, and also ponder what he's not saying, like the time he told Dumbledore about Voldemort's impending return the moment the Mark started regaining strength, or the Occlumency lessons.

- There's also the obvious conclusion that Snape loves the sound of his own voice, but anyone who didn't already know that since PS/SS hasn't been paying attention.

- Wormtail pops up for a cameo that may or may not lead to anything in Book 7. The fact that he's been chilling with Snape for who-knows-how long: a) explains why Voldemort went with the plan for OotP and why he's sending the younger Malfoy to a suicide mission, and b) is fodder for Snape/Pettigrew fanfic.

- The Unbreakable Vow, aka The Great White Hope For All Snape Fans, aka Snarcissa fic fodder.

Yeah, it's hard to snark on Chapter 2, what with it being arguably the best chapter in the book. I suppose someone who doesn't like Snape, or always believed him to be evil ('cause he picks on Harry), might have more snark for this part, to the tune of "Thanks for saying what was obvious from the start, Jo. Now everyone can focus on the ship wars in 'peace'."