Of course, that doesn't get us any closer to why Mab wants to change Harry; except it tells us that Mab was looking for someone who is clever enough to match wits with other immortals;

I don't think she is trying to change him. I think she is trying to employ him, not as a servant, but as an agent, given considerably more latitude than a servant. Lara has called him a weapon, Mab is simply trying to aim it a little.

I'm assuming the mantles of the Winter Queens are off limits to Harry.

One word - RuHarry.....

Thomas has skills to help...

Plus, if the mortal Daniel Webster could out argue Satan, I doubt Harry needs to beat Satan to a pulp or anything like it. 

Plus, Obama kicked her butt in the primaries in 2008


Leave Harry mortal. No Jack Frost or Old Man Winter.

  Actually I don't they are much different from Mab's twins, Maeve and Sarissa, in that they have totally different personalities and the resentments that go along with it.  It would be interesting to go back and see what Mab and Titania were like in pre-Mantel days.  Who knows Mab may not have been that much unlike her daughter Maeve back then and grew into the job.

That might be an interesting short story, not really in the plotline, like Luccio riding around the Old West was.

I don't think so, what I remember Harry saying is that Mort hid his power from the White Council because he didn't want to be a part of it.  Elaine did the same thing, so it is possible to appear to be a lot weaker than one really is.  So apparently short of a soul gaze there really isn't a way to gauge just how strong a talent a person has except by the magic one can do, which can be hidden.  In the case of Mort, I believe Harry also said he had also thought Mort was a minor power until Ghost Story and he really saw him in action.  That's when he made the remark that Mort had hidden his talent to stay out of White Council hands.  I believe earlier Elaine remarked to him that she thought the Wardens were pretty easy to fool, she had done it for years.

Harry had thought him stronger at one time...in Grave Peril (p. 84, pb)
Harry says "I've read your books, Morty. Ghosts of Chicago.The Sppok Factor. Two or three others. You did good work there." and later "your powers wouldn't have faded like they have".

On the next page Mort says "I've lost my powers, remember?"

on p. 87 Harry says "If you give yourself a chance, the power will come back."

If Mort has put out at least 4 books, I am sure the WC is aware of him.  Harry seems to think, from what he has read, and the WC should have read, that he knows what he is about. He may no longer have that kind of power, but he has had it, and might again.

  I don't think Harry needed to memorize it, as a wizard he no doubt already knows most of the principles, he is just forbidden to do them.  It is like if you understand calculus then read a book on calculus, you don't have to memorize the book to be able to do the calculus that is written in it.

Knowing first year calc is not going to get you higher differentials quickly. This is the highest level of the stuff. Getting it 95% right might get you 100% dead. 

  I still think the chance is greater that he retained all of the Word.  It isn't like Harry didn't already have existing talent, powerful talent, and as a star born to boot, I think he does retain all of the Word.. And knows how to use it.  Consider this when Lash translated the Word for Harry, she wasn't dealing with a blank slate like she was when she translated Ghoul for him.  Harry would have already understood all of the concepts, most likely knew them already save for the forbidden bits.

memorizing a book is HARD, and takes time... this is likely one of those things if you do not have EVERYTHING right to the nth degree it can go boom on you. If, say, someone hits you with a staff. Or that circle they used on the Archive. Harry was in awe of that one.. but knew how to break it.

I think he retains a lot, but likely not enough to DO it. Maybe if someone who knew ALMOST everything read it thru once they could do it. It would fill in gaps. But Harry is not that person.

I highly doubt that anything short of the Mothers could stop a Nemfected Mab.

Have we seen a massive power boost to the Nemfected? Nemfected Lea couldn't overthrow Mab. And regular Lea was second in power there beforehand. I'd think Ethnieu is capable, and we do not know that Ethnieu is the most powerful  prisoner, either. We were led to believe a Nic could strike thru Titanic Bronze, given the opportunity. Makes me think that if a Nemfected Mab lets her guard down, a Swordbearer could take her down, or someone with the Spear of Destiny. If they can get close enough, which Mab cannot allow.

But Mother Winter could likely just pull the Mantle, as G33K says, and then Mab is on Justine's level.... crazy human

So the incident really doesn't reveal what the island could really do if pressed.

Right. We don't KNOW what it can do.

But even an infected Mab can be killed, even if it is only one day a year.. Or an infected Mab can be lured to the island and jailed.. It would be bad, yes, but the opposition isn't without tools to fight her.

Agreed. And Harry could call out Ethnieu, who is shown to be more powerful, and have Ethnieu bring her back to a cell. Possibly Vadderrung too.