Post #6

     "He accused me of being "Dumbledore's man through and through,"."

     "How very rude of him."

     "I told him I was."

     Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak and then closed it again.  Behind Harry, Fawkes the phoenix let out a low, soft, musical cry.  To Harry's intense embarrassment, he suddenly realised that Dumbeldore's bright blue eyes looked rather watery, and stared hastily at his own knees." (J.K Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood prince 334)

     This part of the book shows us that Harry Potter, the hero of the Harry Potter series, proudly follows Albus Dumbledore.  Generally, when someone follows someone they do it because they assume it will help them; this is what makes me believe that Albus Dumbledore is a mentor (as mentors are known for helping the hero).   However, this isn't the only action that links Albus Dumbledore to that archetype.  Albus Dumbledore is an older man, as most mentors are, with exceptional wisdom.  Also, before the above quote, Albus Dumbledore was about to teach Harry Potter in the hope of helping him on his journey (to defeat Voldemort).  Some might argue that that was done for a selfish reason; I personally don't think that matters.  It is a mentor's purpose to aid the hero and through the whole Harry  Potter series that is what Albus Dumbledore did.

Side Note:  It has been pointed out to me that Albus Dumbledor is also a bit of a shape shifter.  I have to agree with that now that I have read The Deathly Hallows.  Albus Dumbledor wasn't always good.  He used to help the previous dark lord gain power.  Then, there is the small fact that he neglected to inform Harry that he had to die in the end.

Post #5

      Classic:  Judged over a period of time to be of the highest quality and outstanding of its kind (Google Define).
     
     Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K Rowling has the potential to become a classic.  It is a part of one of the most popular book series, proving it is beyond a doubt outstanding and of high quality.  However, according to the above quote it must keep that popularity, along with it's praises, in order for it to rightfully be called a classic.  My copy of the book was published in 2005 and has already endured some of the time required for it to become a classic, though I personally believe that the new Deathly Hallows movie has done its fair share of work in keeping the memory of the series alive.  The quote I posted does not give a specific time the book has to be kept alive, so to speak, for it to achieve this statues.  Truthfully, I think that label should be given by the fans.  The fans are the ones to judge the series and, therefore, are the ones most fit to call it a classic.