How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Quote #1
DUMBLEDORE: This memory is everything. Without it, we are blind. Without it, we leave the fate of our world to chance. You have no choice. You must not fail.
Hmm, well, the fact is, Harry does have a choice—he could totally run screaming from all this responsibility. He won't, though, since the entire Wizarding world hangs in the balance. He's just brave like that.
So, we suppose Dumbledore is kind of right: He doesn't have a choice, since the idea of not stepping up just wouldn't compute for Harry.
Quote #2
SNAPE: Once again, you astonish with your gifts, Potter. Gifts mere mortals can only dream of possessing. How grand it must be to be the Chosen One.
Ha. Not everyone is as enthusiastic about Harry's special place in life. Here, Snape is making fun of all the rumors that Harry has somehow been chosen or singled out to defeat Voldemort. Well, really, he's making fun of Harry for saying he "just knows" that Malfoy cursed Katie without offering any evidence…but the other stuff is embedded in the dig as well. Shade.
Quote #3
HERMIONE: Hey, she's only interested in you because she thinks you're the Chosen One.
HARRY: But I am the Chosen One. [Hermione smacks him with a paper.] Okay, sorry, um, kidding.
Harry doesn't take his whole "special status" as the Chosen One very seriously at all, as you can probably tell from this exchange. Romilda Vane thinks it's a big deal, though, and according to Hermione, it's why she's interested in him .