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{{Out of universe}}
 
{{Out of universe}}
{{youmay|the novel|the [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|film]], [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)|video game]], [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] or [[Severus Snape|character]] with the same name}}
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{{Youmay|the novel|the [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|film]], [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (soundtrack)|soundtrack]], [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)|video game]], [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game soundtrack)|video game soundtrack]] with the same name or the [[Severus Snape|man nicknamed Half-Blood Prince]]}}
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{{Real book infobox
{{Real_book_infobox
 
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|image=Half-Blood Prince new cover.jpg
|image=[[File:Harry_Potter_and_the_Half-Blood_Prince.jpg|250px]]
 
 
|name=''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince''
 
|name=''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince''
 
|author=[[J. K. Rowling]]
 
|author=[[J. K. Rowling]]
|cover artist=*[[Mary GrandPré]] (US)
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|cover artist=*[[Jason Cockcroft]] (UK)
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*[[Jonny Duddle]] (UK) {{c|Children's Edition redesign}}
*[[Jason Cockcroft]] (UK)
 
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*[[Mary GrandPré]] (US)
|publisher=*[[Bloomsbury]] ([[Great Britain|UK]])
 
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*[[Kazu Kibuishi]] (US) {{c|15th Anniversary Edition}}
*[[Scholastic]] ([[United States of America|US]])
 
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*[[Olly Moss]] (Pottermore eBook)
|release date=[[16 July]], [[2000s|2005]]
 
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|interior=*[[Mary GrandPré]] (US)
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|narrator=*[[Stephen Fry]] (UK)
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*[[Jim Dale]] (US)
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|publisher=*[[Bloomsbury Publishing|Bloomsbury]] ([[Great Britain|UK]], [[Canada]])
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*[[Scholastic]] ([[United States of America|US]])
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*[[Raincoast Books]] ([[Canada]] (formerly))
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*Yapı Kredi Yayınları ([[Turkey]])
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|release date=[[16 July]] [[2005]]
 
|pages=*607 ([[Great Britain|UK]])
 
|pages=*607 ([[Great Britain|UK]])
*652 ([[United States of America|US]])
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*799 ([[United States of America|US]])
  +
*594 ([[Turkey]])
|preceded by=''[[Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix]]''
 
  +
|preceded by={{OOTP}}
|followed by=''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''
 
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|followed by={{DH}}
 
}}
 
}}
[[File:Harry potter HBP Scholastic edition.jpg|thumb|United States cover of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]
 
 
 
{{Quote|I really like how the sixth book is going. A lot happens in the sixth book and a lot of questions are answered. I really have a sense that we are nearly there and it is time for answers, not more questions and clues, although obviously there are a few clues as I am not quite finished yet.|[[J. K. Rowling]]}}
 
{{Quote|I really like how the sixth book is going. A lot happens in the sixth book and a lot of questions are answered. I really have a sense that we are nearly there and it is time for answers, not more questions and clues, although obviously there are a few clues as I am not quite finished yet.|[[J. K. Rowling]]}}
   
'''''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince''''' is the sixth novel in [[J. K. Rowling]]'s ''Harry Potter'' series. Set during [[Harry Potter]]'s 6th year at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]], [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] is definitely back and with a vengeance. [[Harry Potter|Harry]] finds his world is yet again changing. [[Wizards|Wizards and witches]] and [[Muggle]]s are dying despite the efforts of the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] and the [[Order of the Phoenix]] to stop them. The war is back on. Despite the danger, Harry and his best friends, [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] and [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]], reunite and return to the familiar life of Hogwarts for their 6th year. They find yet another [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] teacher; Professor Snape. They begin their [[Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test|N.E.W.T.]] classes in preparation for life after Hogwarts, and Harry gets some much needed Potions help from the mysterious [[Severus Snape|Half-Blood Prince]]. [[Quidditch]] is as popular as ever, Harry is nominated Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, and he finds himself reforming his team.
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'''''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince''''' is the sixth novel in [[J. K. Rowling]]'s [[Harry Potter (book series)|''Harry Potter'' book series]]. Set during [[Harry Potter]]'s [[sixth year]] at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]], [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] is definitely back, and with a vengeance. [[Harry Potter|Harry]] finds his world is yet again changing: [[Wizardkind|wizards and witches]] and [[Non-magic people|Muggles]] alike are dying, despite the efforts of the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]] and the [[Order of the Phoenix]]. Despite the danger, Harry and his best friends, [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] and [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]], return to the familiar life of Hogwarts for their sixth year. They find yet another [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] teacher: Professor Snape. They begin their [[Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test|N.E.W.T.]] classes in preparation for life after Hogwarts, and Harry gets some much needed Potions help from the mysterious [[Severus Snape|Half-Blood Prince]]. [[Quidditch]] is as popular as ever, Harry is nominated as Gryffindor Quidditch Captain.
   
As well, this book sees the introduction ever-popular [[Slug Club]], along with the appointment of a new Potions teacher, [[Horace Slughorn]]. Romance again comes to Hogwarts, and is a welcome balance to the grim happenings elsewhere. Harry deeply questions his own feelings for [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny Weasley]], Ron's younger sister, while trying to understand the effect it is having on his friends. Yet while life at Hogwarts continues, the deaths also continue, with someone trying to bring it into Hogwarts. Danger seems to lurk around every corner, and Harry is as determined as ever to unmask it. [[Albus Dumbledore]] takes Harry under his guidance and together they explore Lord Voldemort's past, to find a way to stop him before it is too late. Ultimately, Harry finds he must accept what he must do as The Chosen One against Voldemort and choose between what is right, and what is easy.
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As well, this book sees the re-introduction of the [[Slug Club]], along with the appointment of a new [[Potion]]s teacher, [[Horace Slughorn]]. Romance again comes to Hogwarts, and is a welcome balance to the grim happenings elsewhere. Harry deeply questions his own feelings for [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny Weasley]], who is Ron's younger sister, while trying to understand the effect it is having on his friends. Yet, while life at Hogwarts continues, the deaths also continue, with several near-fatal incidents occurring at Hogwarts. Danger seems to lurk around every corner, and Harry is as determined as ever to unmask it. [[Albus Dumbledore]] takes Harry under his guidance and together they explore Lord Voldemort's past, to find a way to stop him before it is too late. Ultimately, Harry realises he must accepts his role as The Chosen One, and his destiny to either kill or be killed by Voldemort, as neither can live while the other survives. They all must choose between what is right and what is easy.
   
When it was released on [[16 July]], 2005, it was the first book in the United Kingdom to have a simultaneous standard print, large print, and Braille edition release. Within the first 24 hours, the book sold 6.9 million copies in the U.S. alone, roughly moving 250,000 an hour, making it the fastest selling book in history. It generated more than $100 million in sales out of the gate, outpacing even the combined take of the top films at the box office. Bookseller Barnes and Noble reported sales averaging 105 copies per second in the first hour of sales. It is also the first book in the series to be shorter than the book preceding it.
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When released on [[16 July]] [[2005]], ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'' was the first book in the United Kingdom to have a simultaneous standard print, large print, and Braille edition release. Within the first 24 hours, it sold 6.9 million copies in the U.S. alone, roughly moving 250,000 an hour, making it the fastest selling book in history. It generated more than $100 million in sales out of the gate, outpacing even the combined take of the top films at the box office. Bookseller Barnes and Noble reported sales averaging 105 copies per second in the first hour of sales. It is also the first book in the series to be shorter than the book preceding it.
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==Book description==
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[[File:Harry potter HBP Scholastic edition.jpg|150px|thumb|right|US edition cover by [[Mary GrandPré]]]]
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''It is [[Harry Potter]] 's sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As [[Death Eaters|Voldemort's sinister forces]] amass and a spirit of gloom and fear sweeps the land, it becomes more and more clear to Harry that he will soon have to confront his [[Sybill Trelawney's first prophecy|destiny]]. But is he up to the [[Sixth year|challenges]] ahead of him?''
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===Raincoast Bloomsbury edition===
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''It is the middle of the summer, but there is an unseasonal mist pressing against the window panes. [[Harry Potter]] is waiting nervously in his bedroom at the [[Dursley Family|Dursleys']] house in [[Privet Drive]] for a visit from [[Albus Dumbledore|Professor Dumbledore]] himself. One of the last times he saw the [[Headmaster]] was in a fierce one-to-one [[Duel in the Ministry Atrium|duel]] with [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], and Harry can't quite believe that Professor Dumbledore will actually appear at the Dursleys' of all places. Why is the Professor coming to visit him now? What is it that cannot wait until Harry returns to [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] in a few weeks' time? Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts has already got off to an unusual start, as the worlds of [[Non-magic people|Muggle]] and [[magic]] start to intertwine...''
   
 
==Dedication==
 
==Dedication==
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[[File:Books chapterart hbp 00.jpg|150px|thumb|''Advanced Potion-Making'']]
 
Rowling became pregnant with her third child during the writing of this book, and often joked about them racing each other into the world. For this reason, the book was dedicated to her:
 
Rowling became pregnant with her third child during the writing of this book, and often joked about them racing each other into the world. For this reason, the book was dedicated to her:
   
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:''My beautiful daughter,''
 
:''My beautiful daughter,''
 
:''I dedicate''
 
:''I dedicate''
:''Her ink-and-paper twin''
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:''Her ink-and-paper twin.''
 
==Book description==
 
''It is [[Harry Potter]] 's sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As [[Death Eaters|Voldemort's sinister forces]] amass and a spirit of gloom and fear sweeps the land, it becomes more and more clear to Harry that he will soon have to confront his [[Sybill Trelawney's first prophecy|destiny]] . But is he up to the [[Sixth year|challenges]] ahead of him?''
 
 
===Raincoast Bloomsbury edition===
 
''It is the middle of the summer, but there is an unseasonal mist pressing against the window panes. [[Harry Potter]] is waiting nervously in his bedroom at the [[Dursley Family|Dursleys']] house in [[Privet Drive]] for a visit from [[Albus Dumbledore|Professor Dumbledore]] himself. One of the last times he saw the [[Headmaster]] was in a fierce one-to-one [[Duel in the Ministry Atrium|duel]] with [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], and Harry can't quite believe that Professor Dumbledore will actually appear at the Dursleys' of all places. Why is the Professor coming to visit him now? What is it that cannot wait until Harry returns to [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] in a few weeks' time? Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts has already got off to an unusual start, as the worlds of [[Muggle]] and [[magic]] start to intertwine ...''
 
   
 
==Plot==
 
==Plot==
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===Chapter 1: The [[Prime Minister|Other Minister]]===
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_01.jpg|thumb|left|"The Other Minister" Chapter Picture.]]
 
===Chapter 1: The [[Rufus Scrimgeour|Other Minister]]===
 
 
{{Quote|The trouble is, the other side can do magic too, Prime Minister.|Rufus Scrimgeour, to the Muggle Prime Minister.}}
 
{{Quote|The trouble is, the other side can do magic too, Prime Minister.|Rufus Scrimgeour, to the Muggle Prime Minister.}}
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[[File:Books chapterart hbp 01.jpg|thumb|left|Portrait of [[Ulick Gamp]] in the [[Prime Minister's office]]]]
   
The [[Prime Minister|Muggle Prime Minister]] receives a notice that [[Cornelius Fudge]] is to meet him. He then recollects Fudge's earlier meetings with him: his first meeting with Fudge soon after he became the Prime Minister, [[Sirius Black]]'s escape from [[Azkaban]], the [[Quidditch World Cup]], the [[Triwizard Tournament]] and the 1996 Azkaban mass breakout. When Fudge finally arrives, he reveals a number of incidents which had occured in the Muggle world and for which the Prime Minister is forced to owe responsibility: the collapse of the [[Brockdale Bridge]], a supposed hurricane in the West Country, the deaths of [[Amelia Bones]] and [[Emmeline Vance]] and the insanity of Junior Minister [[Herbert Chorley]] which have all been caused by [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], his followers the [[Death Eaters]] and their [[Giant]] allies. In short, the [[Second Wizarding War]] has begun. Fudge also reveals that he has been sacked and replaced by [[Rufus Scrimgeour]] as [[Minister for Magic]]. Scrimgeour too meets the Prime Minister and discusses security arrangements with him.
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The [[Prime Minister|Muggle Prime Minister]] receives a notice that [[Cornelius Fudge]] is to meet him. He then recollects Fudge's earlier meetings with him: his first meeting with Fudge soon after he became the Prime Minister, [[Sirius Black]]'s escape from [[Azkaban]], the [[Quidditch World Cup]], the [[Triwizard Tournament]] and the 1996 Azkaban mass breakout. When Fudge finally arrives, he reveals a number of incidents which had occurred in the Muggle world and for which the Prime Minister is forced to owe responsibility: the collapse of the [[Brockdale Bridge]], a supposed hurricane in the West Country, the deaths of [[Amelia Bones]] and [[Emmeline Vance]] and the insanity of Junior Minister [[Herbert Chorley]] which have all been caused by [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]], his followers the [[Death Eaters]] and their [[Giant]] allies. In short, the [[Second Wizarding War]] has begun. Fudge also reveals that he has been sacked and replaced by [[Rufus Scrimgeour]] as [[Minister for Magic]]. Scrimgeour too meets the Prime Minister and discusses security arrangements with him. He also reveals that Fudge will be a laison between them.
   
 
===Chapter 2: [[Spinner's End]]===
 
===Chapter 2: [[Spinner's End]]===
{{Quote|Do you really think that the Dark Lord has not asked me each and every one of those questions? And do you really think that, had I not been able to give satisfactory answers, I would be sitting here talking to you?|Snape, to Bellatrix Lestrange.}}
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{{Quote|Do you really think that the Dark Lord has not asked me each and every one of those questions? And do you really think that, had I not been able to give satisfactory answers, I would be sitting here talking to you?|Snape, to Bellatrix Lestrange.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 02.jpg|thumb|Bellatrix and Narcissa Malfoy at Snape's House]]
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_02.jpg|thumb|Bellatrix and Narcissa Malfoy at Snape's House.]]
 
 
[[Narcissa Malfoy]] and her sister [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] visit [[Severus Snape]] at [[Spinner's End]], a poverty-stricken neighbourhood in a northern mill town. Narcissa wants Snape to help her protect her son [[Draco Malfoy|Draco]], who has been made a [[Death Eater]] and has been assigned a mission by [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] himself. Bellatrix advises against this, distrusting Snape for not taking part in the [[Battle of the Department of Mysteries]] at the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]], and for his many suspicious actions through the years which make her doubt whether Snape is actually on their side. Snape explains his behaviour as necessary to serve Voldemort in his role as a spy on [[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore]], but still does not gain Bellatrix's trust. Narcissa then explains that Draco is almost certain to fail in the mission he was assigned for; she and Snape believe this is to punish the Malfoys for [[Lucius Malfoy]]'s failure to retrieve the [[Sybill Trelawney's first prophecy|prophecy]] at the Department of Mysteries. Snape makes an [[Unbreakable Vow]] to Narcissa, magically binding him to aid Draco in his first mission as a Death Eater. Failure to fulfill the Unbreakable Vow will result in Snape's [[death]]. Bellatrix is astounded at this and finally believes Snape.
 
   
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[[Narcissa Malfoy]] and her sister [[Bellatrix Lestrange]] visit [[Severus Snape]] at [[Spinner's End]], a poverty-stricken neighbourhood in a northern mill town. Narcissa wants Snape to help her protect her son [[Draco Malfoy|Draco]], who has been made a [[Death Eaters|Death Eater]] and has been assigned a mission by [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] himself. Bellatrix advises against this, distrusting Snape for not taking part in the [[Battle of the Department of Mysteries]] at the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry of Magic]], and for his many suspicious actions through the years which make her doubt whether Snape is actually on their side. Snape explains his behaviour: He was at Hogwarts when Voldemort fell to be a spy for him, he didn't seek him out for the same reason her brother in law and the other deserters didn't look for him, he stopped Voldemort from getting the Philosopher's Stone because he thought Quirrell wanted it for himself, he never tried to kill Harry Potter because Dumbledore would know about it, and he didn't take part in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries because Voldemort ordered him to stay at Hogwarts. Snape also tells Narcissa that he knows about Draco's mission. Bellatrix tells her sister she should be proud but Narcissa believes that Voldemort is sending him on a suicide mission as punishment for her husband's failure. Snape offers to help Draco. Narcissa asks him to make an Unbreakable Vow and he agrees. With Bellatrix as their Bonder, Narcissa asks Snape to agree to the following terms:
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_03.jpg|thumb|left|The Dursleys being served by Dumbledore.]]
 
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#That he watch over Draco while he attempts to carry out his mission as a Death Eater.
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#That he protect him and make sure he comes to no harm.
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#That he do the job for Draco if he proves unable to do it himself.
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Snape agrees to all three terms and the vow is made.
   
 
===Chapter 3: [[Sirius Black's will|Will]] and [[Kreacher|Won't]]===
 
===Chapter 3: [[Sirius Black's will|Will]] and [[Kreacher|Won't]]===
{{Quote|"It is a long time since my last visit... I must say, your agapanthus are flourishing.|Dumbledore, to the Dursleys.}}
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{{Quote|"It is a long time since my last visit... I must say, your agapanthus are flourishing.|Dumbledore, to the Dursleys.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 03.jpg|thumb|left|The Dursleys being served by Dumbledore]]
   
[[Albus Dumbledore]] comes to visit [[Harry Potter]] at [[4 Privet Drive]] to take him to [[The Burrow]], where he would spend the rest of his summer holidays. Dumbledore reads [[Sirius Black]]'s will: Harry inherits his deceased godfather's wealth, the [[Black family]] house at [[12 Grimmauld Place]], which Harry lets the [[Order of the Phoenix]] continue to use as headquarters, and the [[House-elf]] [[Kreacher]], whom Harry sends to work at the [[Hogwarts kitchens]]. Dumbledore then chastises [[the Dursleys]] for their neglect and mistreatment of Harry but asks that he be allowed to return to Privet Drive one final time, and he and Harry depart.
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[[Albus Dumbledore]] comes to visit [[Harry Potter]] at [[4 Privet Drive]] to take him to [[The Burrow]], where he would spend the rest of his summer holidays. Dumbledore reads [[Sirius Black]]'s will: Harry inherits his deceased godfather's wealth, the [[House of Black|Black family]] house at [[12 Grimmauld Place]], which Harry lets the [[Order of the Phoenix]] continue to use as headquarters, and the [[House-elf]] [[Kreacher]], whom Harry sends to work at the [[Hogwarts kitchens]]. Dumbledore then chastises [[Dursley family|the Dursleys]] for their neglect and mistreatment of Harry but asks that he be allowed to return to Privet Drive one final time, and he and Harry depart.
   
 
===Chapter 4: [[Horace Slughorn]]===
 
===Chapter 4: [[Horace Slughorn]]===
{{Quote|He seemed remarkably unabashed for a man who had just been discovered pretending to be an armchair.|Description of Horace Slughorn.}}
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{{Quote|He seemed remarkably unabashed for a man who had just been discovered pretending to be an armchair.|Description of Horace Slughorn.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 04.jpg|thumb|The Slughorn Armchair]]
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Harry notices Dumbledore has received a serious injury to his right hand, but the Headmaster dismisses it as unimportant. Dumbledore then asks Harry's help in convincing an old [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] teacher, [[Horace Slughorn]], to come out of retirement. They pay him a visit, but Slughorn is reluctant to return to the school, fearing it may put his life in danger from Death Eaters. Harry tells him that no teachers have died since Dumbledore became Headmaster, except [[Quirinus Quirrell|Professor Quirrell]], who was working for Voldemort, and reassures him that teachers at the school do not have to be members of the [[Order of the Phoenix]]. This dubious comfort, and the opportunity to get Harry to join his [[Slug Club]], persuades Slughorn to return to [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]]. Dumbledore then drops Harry off at [[The Burrow]], praising him for the way he has handled his godfather's untimely death and reveals that he would take private classes for him in the forthcoming academic year.
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_04.jpg|thumb|The Slughorn Armchair.]]
 
Harry notices Dumbledore has received a serious injury to his right hand, but the Headmaster dismisses it as unimportant. Dumbledore then asks Harry's help in convincing an old [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]] teacher, [[Horace Slughorn]], to come out of retirement. They pay him a visit, but Slughorn is reluctant to return to the school, fearing it may put his life in danger from Death Eaters. Harry tells him that no teachers have died since Dumbledore became Headmaster, except [[Quirinus Quirrell|Professor Quirrell]], who was working for Voldemort. This dubious comfort, and the opportunity to get Harry to join his [[Slug Club]], persuades Slughorn to return to [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]]. Dumbledore then drops Harry off at The Burrow, praises him for the way he has handled his godfather's untimely death and reveals that he would take private classes for him in the forthcoming academic year.
 
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_05.jpg|thumb|left|Fleur's Phlegm]]
 
 
 
===Chapter 5: An Excess of [[Fleur Delacour|Phlegm]]===
 
===Chapter 5: An Excess of [[Fleur Delacour|Phlegm]]===
{{Quote|Seven OWLs, that's more than Fred and George got together!|Molly Weasley, to Ron.}}
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{{Quote|Seven OWLs, that's more than Fred and George got together!|Molly Weasley, to Ron.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 05.jpg|thumb|left|Phlegm (Fleur Delacour)]]
   
Harry is warmly received at The Burrow by the [[Weasley family]], who offer him [[Fred and George Weasley|Fred and George's]] bedroom to sleep in. Harry meets his best friends [[Ron Weasley]] and [[Hermione Granger]] and Ron's younger sister [[Ginny Weasley]] the following morning. He also meets [[Triwizard Champions|Triwizard Champion]] [[Fleur Delacour]], who is now working at [[Gringotts]] and is engaged to Ron's oldest brother [[Bill Weasley]], which is not liked by Hermione and the rest of the Weasleys (except Ron). Later in the day, the trio receive their [[Ordinary Wizarding Level|O.W.L.]] results; Harry and Ron receive 7 O.W.L.'s while Hermione receives 10. However, Harry is slightly disappointed as he has only achieved [[Exceeds Expectations]] in [[Potions (class)|Potions]], meaning he can no longer realise his ambition as an [[Auror]] as Snape only takes students who have achieved [[Outstanding]] into his [[Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test|N.E.W.T.]] Potions class.
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Harry is warmly received at The Burrow by the [[Weasley family]], who offer him [[Fred and George Weasley|Fred and George's]] bedroom to sleep in. Harry meets his best friends [[Ronald Weasley|Ron Weasley]] and [[Hermione Granger]] and Ron's younger sister [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny Weasley]] the following morning. He also meets [[Triwizard Tournament#1994 Triwizard Tournament|Triwizard Champion]] [[Fleur Delacour]], who is now working at [[Gringotts Wizarding Bank|Gringotts]] and is engaged to Ron's oldest brother [[William Weasley|Bill Weasley]], which is not liked by Hermione, Ginny, and the rest of the Weasleys (except Arthur and Ron). Later in the day, the trio receive their [[Ordinary Wizarding Level|O.W.L.]] results; Harry and Ron receive 7 O.W.L.s while Hermione receives 10. However, Harry is slightly disappointed as he has only achieved '[[Exceeds Expectations]]' in [[Potions (class)|Potions]], meaning he can no longer realise his ambition as an [[Auror]] as Snape only takes students who have achieved '[[Outstanding]]' into his [[Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test|N.E.W.T.]] Potions class.
   
 
===Chapter 6: [[Draco Malfoy|Draco]]'s [[Borgin and Burkes|Detour]]===
 
===Chapter 6: [[Draco Malfoy|Draco]]'s [[Borgin and Burkes|Detour]]===
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{{Quote|WHY ARE YOU WORRYING ABOUT YOU-KNOW-WHO? YOU SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT U-NO-POO — THE CONSTIPATION SENSATION THAT'S GRIPPING THE NATION!|Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes poster.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 06.jpg|thumb|Draco proving a robe at Madam Malkin's]]After spending the next few weeks at The Burrow, Harry and Hermione go with the Weasleys to [[Diagon Alley]] to get school supplies. [[Rubeus Hagrid]] is entrusted with providing security to the group. After a fight with Draco Malfoy and his mother at [[Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions|Madam Malkin's]], the entire group go to [[Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes]], Fred and George's successful joke shop. Harry insists on paying for the merchandise, but Fred and George refuse his money as he was the one who gave them the money to start the joke shop, and Ginny buys a [[Pygmy Puff]] as a pet. While still in the store, Harry, Ron, and Hermione spot Malfoy walking through Diagon Alley without his mother and follow him under the [[Invisibility Cloak]] to [[Knockturn Alley]] and see him enter [[Borgin and Burkes]], a shop that sells dark artefacts. The trio wait outside, listening to Draco by [[Extendable Ears]] and watching him through a window. They hear Malfoy talking with the owner [[Borgin]], about repairing an object and keeping another object safe. Malfoy also shows Borgin something which Harry suspects is the [[Dark Mark]] (a mark branded on the left forearm of each Death Eater), and threatens Borgin by referring to the [[werewolf]] [[Fenrir Greyback]]. Harry comes to the conclusion that Malfoy has become a Death Eater and is up to no good, a theory which is dismissed by Ron and Hermione.
{{Quote|WHY ARE YOU WORRYING ABOUT YOU-KNOW-WHO? YOU SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT U-NO-POO - THE CONSTIPATION SENSATION THAT'S GRIPPING THE NATION!|Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes poster.}}
 
 
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_06.jpg|thumb|Draco proving a robe at Madam Malkin's.]]After spending the next few weeks at The Burrow, Harry and Hermione go with the Weasleys to [[Diagon Alley]] to get school supplies. [[Rubeus Hagrid]] is entrusted with providing security to the group. After a fight with Draco Malfoy and his mother at [[Madam Malkin's]], the entire group go to [[Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes]], Fred and George's successful joke shop. Harry insists on paying for the merchandise, but Fred and George refuse his money as he was the one who gave them the money to start the joke shop, and Ginny buys a [[Pygmy Puff]] as a pet. While still in the store, Harry, Ron, and Hermione spot Malfoy walking through Diagon Alley without his mother and follow him under the [[Invisibility Cloak]] to [[Knockturn Alley]] and see him enter [[Borgin and Burkes]], a dark artefact shop. The trio wait outside, listening to Draco by [[Extendable Ears]] and watching him through a window. They hear Malfoy talking with the owner [[Borgin]], about repairing an object and keeping another object safe. Malfoy also shows Borgin something which Harry suspects is the [[Dark Mark]], the mark of the Death Eaters, and threatens Borgin by referring to the [[werewolf]] [[Fenrir Greyback]]. Harry comes to the conclusion that Malfoy has become a Death Eater and is up to no good, a theory which is rubbished by Ron and Hermione.
 
 
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_07.jpg|thumb|left|Harry, Neville and Luna on the Hogwart's Express.]]
 
   
 
===Chapter 7: The [[Slug Club]]===
 
===Chapter 7: The [[Slug Club]]===
{{Quote|I enjoyed the meetings too... It was like having friends.|Luna Lovegood, about the D.A meetings.}}
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{{Quote|I enjoyed the meetings too... It was like having friends.|Luna Lovegood, about the D.A meetings.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 07.jpg|thumb|left|Harry, Neville and Luna on the Hogwart's Express]]
   
On the Hogwarts Express, Harry meets his other friends [[Neville Longbottom]] and [[Luna Lovegood]] and shares a compartment with them as Ron and Hermione are in the [[prefect|Prefect Carriage]]. By now, Harry finds himself attracted to Ginny, although she appears to have long given up on her crush on him and is currently dating Harry's classmate [[Dean Thomas]]. Harry and Neville are invited for lunch to Slughorn's compartment on the train along with Ginny and some other students with connections to well known or influential people. Before reaching [[Hogsmeade station]], Harry enters Malfoy's compartment using his [[Invisibility Cloak]] to prove his suspicions of Malfoy. His suspicions are proved correct; Malfoy tells his friends [[Vincent Crabbe]], [[Gregory Goyle]], [[Pansy Parkinson]] and [[Blaise Zabini]] that he has become a Death Eater and he may not return to Hogwarts for his final year if the mission he was assigned by Voldemort is successful. Unfortunately for Harry, Malfoy notices Harry spying on him and once his friends have alighted from the train, he [[Full Body-Bind Curse|paralyses]] Harry, breaks his nose, covers the Invisibility Cloak on him and leaves him on the train.
+
On the Hogwarts Express, Harry meets his other friends [[Neville Longbottom]] and [[Luna Lovegood]] and shares a compartment with them, as Ron and Hermione are in the [[Prefect]] Carriage. By now, Harry finds himself attracted to Ginny, although she appears to have long given up on her crush on him and is currently dating Harry's classmate [[Dean Thomas]]. Harry and Neville are invited for lunch to Slughorn's compartment on the train along with Ginny and some other students with connections to well known or influential people. Before reaching [[Hogsmeade station]], Harry enters Malfoy's compartment using his [[Invisibility Cloak]] to prove his suspicions about Malfoy. His suspicions are proven correct: Malfoy tells his friends [[Vincent Crabbe]], [[Gregory Goyle]], [[Pansy Parkinson]] and [[Blaise Zabini]] that he has become a Death Eater and he may not return to Hogwarts for his final year if the mission he was assigned by Voldemort is successful. Unfortunately for Harry, Malfoy notices Harry spying on him and once his friends have alighted from the train, he [[Full Body-Bind Curse|paralyses]] Harry, breaks his nose, covers him with the Invisibility Cloak and leaves him on the train.
   
  +
===Chapter 8: [[Severus Snape|Snape]] [[Defence Against the Dark Arts|Victorious]]===
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_08.jpg|thumb|Tonk's Patronus.]]
 
  +
{{Quote|I think you were better off with the old one. The new one looks weak.|Snape, about Tonks' Patronus.}} [[File:Books chapterart hbp 08.jpg|thumb|Tonks making the Patronus Charm]]
   
  +
[[Nymphadora Tonks]], who is assigned by the Ministry of Magic to guard [[Hogsmeade]], comes to Harry's rescue. She takes him to the school, where he is received by Snape. At the [[Start-of-Term Feast]], Dumbledore announces, to Harry's shock, that Snape is taking over the post of [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] teacher, while Slughorn will be taking Snape's vacated job as Potions Master. This allows Harry and Ron to continue with Potions, as Slughorn takes students who have received '[[Exceeds Expectations]]' in their Potions O.W.L.
===Chapter 8: [[Severus Snape|Snape]] Victorious===
 
{{Quote|I think you were better off with the old one. The new one looks weak.|Snape, about Tonks' Patronus.}}
 
[[Nymphadora Tonks|Tonks]], who is assigned by the Ministry of Magic to guard [[Hogsmeade]], comes to Harry's rescue. She takes him to the school, where he is received by Snape. At the [[Start-of-Term Feast]], Dumbledore announces, to Harry's shock, that Snape is taking over the post of [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]] teacher, while Slughorn will be taking Snape's vacated job as Potions Master. This allows Harry and Ron to continue with Potions, as Slughorn takes students who have received Exceeds Expectations in their Potions O.W.L.. 
 
 
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_09.jpg|thumb|left|"Felix Felicis.]]
 
   
 
===Chapter 9: The [[Severus Snape|Half-Blood Prince]]===
 
===Chapter 9: The [[Severus Snape|Half-Blood Prince]]===
{{Quote|Slughorn could've handed me that book, but no, I get the one no one's ever written on. Puked on, by the look of page fifty-two...|Ron, about Harry taking the Half-Blood Prince book.}}
+
{{Quote|Slughorn could've handed me that book, but no, I get the one no one's ever written on. Puked on, by the look of page fifty-two...|Ron, about Harry taking the Half-Blood Prince book.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 09.jpg|thumb|left|"Felix Felicis"]]
   
Harry and Ron take up [[Charms (class)|Charms]], Defence Against the Dark Arts, [[Herbology]], Potions and [[Transfiguration]] as their N.E.W.T. subjects. During the first Defence Against The Arts Class of the year, Harry receives a detention from Snape as he had talked back to him following Snape trying to use him as a guinea pig to show how a [[nonverbal spell]] works. Later that day, they attend Potions, where Harry and Ron receive old copies of [[Advanced Potion Making]] from Slughorn as they did not buy the book. Harry's book, previously owned by someone named ''The Half-Blood Prince,'' contains a large number of short cuts on making various potions, which prove useful in brewing the [[Draught of Living Death]]. To everyone's surprise, Harry's potion is adjudged the best by Slughorn and is awarded a bottle of [[Felix Felicis]] as a prize. When Harry tells Ron and Hermione about the book, Ginny overhears them and angrily confronts Harry about following the directions of this mysterious book in fear that it may be cursed like [[Tom Riddle's diary]]. Hermione then tries various spells to reveal the true nature of the book, but the book proves to be a normal one, allaying Ginny and Hermione's fears.
+
Harry and Ron take up [[Charms (class)|Charms]], Defence Against the Dark Arts, [[Herbology]], Potions and [[Transfiguration]] as their N.E.W.T. subjects. During the first Defence Against the Arts class of the year, Harry receives a detention from Snape as he had talked back to him following Snape trying to use him as a guinea pig to show how a [[nonverbal spell]] works. Later that day, they attend Potions, where Harry and Ron receive old copies of ''[[Advanced Potion-Making]]'' from Slughorn as they did not buy the book. Harry's book, previously owned by someone named ''The Half-Blood Prince'', contains a large number of shortcuts on making various potions, which prove useful in brewing the [[Draught of Living Death]]. To everyone's surprise, Harry's potion is judged the best by Slughorn and is awarded a bottle of [[Felix Felicis]] as a prize. When Harry tells Ron and Hermione about the book, Ginny overhears them and angrily confronts Harry about following the directions of this mysterious book in fear that it may be cursed like [[T. M. Riddle's Diary|Tom Riddle's diary]]. A jealous Hermione then tries various spells to reveal the true nature of the book, but the book proves to be a normal one, allaying Ginny and Hermione's fears.
   
===Chapter 10: The [[Gaunt shack|House]] of [[House of Gaunt|Gaunt]]===
+
===Chapter 10: The [[Gaunt Shack|House]] of [[House of Gaunt|Gaunt]]===
  +
{{Quote|From here on in, Harry, I may be as woefully wrong as Humphrey Belcher, who believed the time was ripe for a cheese cauldron.|Dumbledore, about his assumptions about Riddle's plans.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 10.jpg|thumb|The house of the Gaunt family]]As promised at The Burrow, [[Albus Dumbledore]] begins the private series of lessons with Harry concerning Lord Voldemort. In the first lesson, Dumbledore shows Harry the first of a number of memories he has collected concerning Voldemort's past using [[Pensieve|The Pensieve]]. It shows a former Head of the [[Magical Law Enforcement Patrol]], [[Bob Ogden]] visiting a man named [[Marvolo Gaunt]] in order to summon his son [[Morfin Gaunt|Morfin]] to a Ministry hearing in connection with an attack on a [[Non-magic people|Muggle]] named [[Tom Riddle Senior|Tom Riddle]]. A huge commotion occurs: Morfin attacks Ogden, with Marvolo stoutly defending his son's actions. Marvolo also tries to attack his daughter [[Merope Riddle|Merope]] after finding out that she has a crush on Riddle. After viewing this memory, Dumbledore tells Harry that both Marvolo and Morfin were sentenced to six months and three years imprisonment respectively in [[Azkaban]] due to their behaviour to Ogden and other Ministry officials. He also reveals that Merope Gaunt was Voldemort's mother and Riddle was his father, thus making Marvolo Voldemort's maternal grandfather and Morfin his maternal uncle. He then speculates that following Marvolo and Morfin's arrest, Merope may have offered a [[love potion]] to Riddle or used the [[Imperius Curse]], as a result of which they fell in [[love]] and got married. Later, when Merope was pregnant, she may have stopped giving the potion to Riddle, which may have led to Riddle, who had no love for Merope, leaving her and returning to his [[Great Hangleton|village]].
{{Quote|From here on in, Harry, I may be as woefully wrong as Humphrey Belcher, who believed the time was ripe for a cheese cauldron.|Dumbledore, about his assumptions about Riddle plans.}}
 
 
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_10.jpg|thumb|The house of the Gaunt family.]]As promised at The Burrow, [[Albus Dumbledore]] begins the private series of lessons with Harry concerning Lord Voldemort. In the first lesson, Dumbledore shows Harry the first of a number of memories he has collected concerning Voldemort's past using [[Pensieve|The Pensieve]]. It shows a former Head of the [[Magical Law Enforcement Patrol]] [[Bob Ogden]] visiting a man named [[Marvolo Gaunt]] in order to summon his son [[Morfin Gaunt|Morfin]] to a Ministry hearing in connection with an attack on a [[Muggle]] named [[Thomas Riddle|Tom Riddle Sr.]]. A huge commotion occurs; Morfin attacks Ogden, with Marvolo stoutly defending his son's actions. Marvolo also tries to attack his daughter [[Merope Gaunt|Merope]] after finding out that she has a crush on Riddle. After viewing this memory, Dumbledore tells Harry that both Marvolo and Morfin were sentenced to six months and three years imprisonment respectively in [[Azkaban]] due to their behaviour to Ogden and other Ministry officials. He also reveals that Merope Gaunt was Voldemort's mother and Riddle was his father. He then speculates that following Marvolo and Morfin's arrest, Merope may have offered a [[Love Potion]] to Riddle, as a result of which they fell in love and got married. Later, when Merope was pregnant, she may have stopped giving the potion to Riddle, which may have led to Riddle, who had no love for Merope, leaving her and returning to his [[Great Hangleton|village]].
 
   
 
===Chapter 11: [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]]'s [[Confundus Charm|Helping Hand]]===
 
===Chapter 11: [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]]'s [[Confundus Charm|Helping Hand]]===
{{Quote|Oh, come on, Harry, It's not Quidditch that's popular, it's you! You've never been more interesting, and frankly, you've never been more fanciable.|Hermione about Harry.}}
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{{Quote|Oh, come on, Harry, It's not Quidditch that's popular, it's you! You've never been more interesting, and frankly, you've never been more fanciable.|Hermione about Harry.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 11.jpg|thumb|left|Confunded McLaggen during the Quidditch tryout]]
  +
Harry, the new [[Gryffindor Quidditch team|Gryffindor Quidditch]] [[Quidditch Captain#Hogwarts Quidditch Captains|Captain]], holds trials to select the team for the annual [[Inter-House Quidditch Cup|Quidditch Cup]]. Due to Harry's popularity, it proves to be extremely taxing and difficult, with even first-years, [[Ravenclaw]]s and [[Hufflepuff]]s turning up for the trials. In the end, Harry selects a team which includes among others, seventh-year [[Katie Bell]], the only member remaining from the Quidditch team Harry joined in his first year, Ginny, who returned as a chaser, and Ron, who returned to his position as [[Keeper]], staving off competition from another seventh-year and Slug Club member [[Cormac McLaggen]]. Later Harry, Ron and Hermione go visit Hagrid, who is upset at them as they had dropped his subject, [[Care of Magical Creatures]]. After lying to Hagrid that they had dropped Care of Magical Creatures as they could not fit it into their timetables, Hagrid reconciles with them. When the trio return to the [[Great Hall]] for dinner, Harry finds out that Hermione had used the [[Confundus Charm]] on McLaggen so that Ron would become Keeper, but he does not tell Ron this. Slughorn then invites Harry and Hermione for dinner with the other Slug Club members in his office, which Harry declines as he has to do his detention with Snape.
   
  +
===Chapter 12: [[House of Black|Silver]] and [[Opal Necklace|Opals]]===
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_11.jpg|thumb|left|Confunded McLaggen during the Quidditch tryout.]]
 
  +
{{Quote|He did not usually lie in bed reading his textbooks; that sort of behaviour, as Ron rightly said, was indecent in anybody except Hermione, who was simply weird that way.|Description of Harry's obsession about the Half-Blood Prince book.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 12.jpg|thumb|Imperiused Katie Bell touching a cursed necklace]]
Harry, the new [[Gryffindor Quidditch team|Gryffindor Quidditch]] [[Hogwarts Quidditch Captain|Captain]], holds trials to select the team for the annual [[Quidditch Cup]]. Due to Harry's popularity, it proves to be extemely taxing and difficult, with even first-years, [[Ravenclaw]]s and [[Hufflepuff]]s turning up for the trials. In the end, Harry selects a team which includes among others, final-year [[Katie Bell]], the only member remaining from the Quidditch team Harry joined in his first year, Ginny and Ron, who returned to his position as [[Keeper]], staving off competition from another final-year and Slug Club member [[Cormac McLaggen]]. Later Harry, Ron and Hermione go visit Hagrid, who is upset at them as they had dropped his subject [[Care of Magical Creatures]]. After lying to Hagrid that they had dropped Care of Magical Creatures as they could not fit it into their timetables, Hagrid reconciles with them. When the trio return to the [[Great Hall]] for dinner, Harry finds out that Hermione had used the [[Confundus Charm]] on McLaggen so that Ron would become Keeper, but he does not tell Ron this. Slughorn then invites Harry and Hermione for dinner with the other Slug Club members in his staff room, which Harry declines as he has to do his detention with Snape.
 
   
  +
Harry finds a couple of spells scribbled on the Half-Blood Prince's textbook. He tries one of them (''[[Dangling Jinx|Levicorpus]]'') in his [[Gryffindor Boys' Dormitory|dormitory]], but points his wand at Ron by mistake, which results in Ron hanging by his ankle from the ceiling. Later that day, Harry, Ron and Hermione go to [[Hogsmeade]], where they witness Katie being cursed after touching a strange [[Opal Necklace|necklace]]. Remembering seeing the same necklace in Borgin's shop, Harry voices his suspicions of Malfoy to [[Professor]] [[Minerva McGonagall|McGonagall]], but she, like Ron and Hermione, rubbishes his theory, stating that [[Draco Malfoy|Malfoy]] did not go to Hogsmeade as he had a detention with her, and that there is no proof that he bought the necklace.
===Chapter 12: [[House of Black|Silver]] and [[Opal necklace|Opals]]===
 
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_12.jpg|thumb|Imperiused Katie Bell touching a cursed necklace.]]
 
 
{{Quote|He did not usually lie in bed reading his textbooks; that sort of behaviour, as Ron rightly said, was indecent in anybody except Hermione, who was simply weird that way.|Description of Harry's obsession about the Half-Blood Prince book.}}
 
 
Harry finds a couple of spells scribbled on the Half-Blood Prince's textbook. He tries one of them (''[[Levicorpus]]'') in his [[Gryffindor Boys' Dormitory|dormitory]], but points his wand at Ron by mistake, as a result of which Ron hangs by his ankle from the ceiling. Later that day, Harry, Ron and Hermione go to [[Hogsmeade]], where they witness Katie being cursed after touching a strange [[Opal necklace|necklace]]. Remembering seeing the same necklace in Borgin's shop, Harry voices his suspicions of Malfoy to [[Professor]] [[McGonagall]], but she, like Ron and Hermione, rubbishes his theory, stating that [[Draco Malfoy|Malfoy]] did not go to Hogsmeade as he had a detention with her, and that there is no proof that he bought the necklace.
 
   
 
===Chapter 13: The [[Tom Riddle|Secret Riddle]]===
 
===Chapter 13: The [[Tom Riddle|Secret Riddle]]===
{{Quote|I can make bad things happen to people who annoy me. I can make them hurt if I want to.|Tom Riddle (child), to Dumbledore.}}
+
{{Quote|I can make bad things happen to people who annoy me. I can make them hurt if I want to.|Tom Riddle, to Dumbledore.}}[[File:Tomriddleleven.jpg|150px|thumb|left|Tom Riddle reading on his bed at Wool's Orphanage in Dumbledore's memory]]
  +
In his second lesson with Dumbledore, [[Harry Potter|Harry]] first sees [[Caractacus Burke]] talking about a locket of [[Salazar Slytherin]]'s that a pregnant and desperate [[Merope Riddle|Merope Gaunt]] had sold him, Riddle having abandoned her when she stopped bewitching him, then goes into a memory of Dumbledore's to the orphanage that Riddle had grown up in. [[Harry Potter|Harry]] learns that Merope had later died in childbirth, and that even at an early age, Riddle had developed his powers, which he used to punish people who annoyed him and had a sadistic, cruel and independent nature, just like the adult [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]]. Dumbledore also reveals to Harry that Voldemort likes to collect trophies.
[[File:Tomriddleleven.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Tom Riddle reading on his bed at Wool's Orphanage in Dumbledore's memory.]]
 
In his second lesson with Dumbledore, [[Harry Potter|Harry]] first sees [[Caractacus Burke]] talking about a locket of [[Salazar Slytherin]]'s that a pregnant and desperate [[Merope Gaunt]] had sold him, Riddle having abandoned her when she stopped giving him [[Love Potion]], then goes into a memory of Dumbledore's to the orphanage that Riddle had grown up in. [[Harry Potter|Harry]] learns that Merope had later died in childbirth, and that even at an early age, Riddle had developed his powers, which he used to punish people who annoyed him and had a sadistical, cruel and independent nature, just like the adult [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]].
 
   
 
===Chapter 14: [[Felix Felicis]]===
 
===Chapter 14: [[Felix Felicis]]===
{{Quote|Ron... you're my best mate, but carry on treating the rest of them like this and I'm going to kick you off the team.|Harry to Ron.}}
+
{{Quote|Ron... you're my best mate, but carry on treating the rest of them like this and I'm going to kick you off the team.|Harry to Ron.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 14.jpg|thumb|Ron "drinking" the Felix Felicis Potion]]
  +
During a [[Herbology]] lesson, [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] expresses his jealousy of not being invited to Slughorn's upcoming [[Christmas]] party, to the point of teasing [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]] about it. When she tells him that she was planning to invite him, however, his attitude changes, and they begin to show signs of attraction to each other. Harry is unsure how he feels about this, remembering his unsuccessful relationship with [[Cho Chang]] during his fifth year. With Katie unable to play, [[Harry Potter|Harry]] recruits [[Dean Thomas]] onto the [[Quidditch team]], which continues to improve. On their way back from practice however, [[Harry Potter|Harry]] and [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] come across Dean and [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny]] kissing behind a tapestry. [[Harry Potter|Harry]] feels a huge surge of jealousy toward Dean, while Ron and Ginny have a heated argument. [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] states that he doesn't want to see his sister "snogging" (kissing) people in public, while Ginny tells him that her [[love]] life is none of his business, and that he's only upset because he's never kissed anyone, referencing [[Harry Potter|Harry]] and Cho's relationship and revealing that [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]] had once kissed [[Viktor Krum]]. This piece of information wrecks Ron's relationship with [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]], as well as his [[Quidditch]] skills, and badly alters his personality. [[Harry Potter|Harry]] meanwhile tries to convince himself that his feelings for [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny]] are entirely elder brotherly, but eventually realises that he has fallen in love with her. To improve Ron's Quidditch and mend his friendship with Hermione, Harry pretends to slip Ron some Felix Felicis on the day of the match between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Feeling lucky, Ron goes on to save everything the Slytherin chasers throw at him, and Gryffindor hammers Slytherin. However, the plan backfires. After the match, Ron accuses Hermione of not having faith in his Quidditch abilities, because she thought he really had taken Felix Felicis and starts going out with Lavender Brown to spite her, and Hermione in response, uses the [[Oppugno Jinx]] to have a flock of [[Bird-Conjuring Charm|conjured birds]] viciously attack him.
 
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_14.jpg|thumb|Ron "drinking" the Felix Felicis Potion.]]
 
During a [[Herbology]] lesson, [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] expresses his jealousy of not being invited to Slughorn's upcoming [[Christmas]] party, to the point of teasing [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]] about it. When she tells him that she was planning to invite him, however, his attitude changes, and they begin to show signs of attraction to each other. Harry is unsure how he feels about this, remembering his unsuccessful relationship with [[Cho Chang]] during his fifth year. With Katie unable to play, [[Harry Potter|Harry]] recruits [[Dean Thomas]] onto the [[Quidditch]] team, which continues to improve. On their way back from practice however, [[Harry Potter|Harry]] and [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] come across Dean and [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny]] kissing behind a tapestry. [[Harry Potter|Harry]] feels a huge surge of jealousy toward Dean, while Ron and Ginny have a heated argument. [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] states that he doesn't want to see his sister "snogging" (kissing) people in public, while Ginny tells him that her [[love]] life is none of his business, and that he's only upset because he's never kissed anyone, referencing [[Harry Potter|Harry]] and Cho's relationship and revealing that [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]] had once kissed [[Viktor Krum]]. This piece of information wrecks Ron's relationship with [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]], as well as his [[Quidditch]] skills, and badly alters his personality. [[Harry Potter|Harry]] meanwhile tries to convince himself that his feelings for [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny]] are brotherly, but eventually realises that he has fallen in love with her.
 
 
To improve Ron's Quidditch and mend his relationship with Hermione, Harry pretends to slip Ron some Felix Felicis on the day of the match between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Feeling lucky, Ron goes on to save everything the Slytherin chasers throw at him, and Gryffindor hammers Slytherin. However, the plan backfires. After the match, Ron accuses Hermione of not having faith in his Quidditch abilities, because she thought he really had taken lucky potion, and starts going out with Lavender Brown to spite her.
 
   
 
===Chapter 15: The [[Unbreakable Vow]]===
 
===Chapter 15: The [[Unbreakable Vow]]===
  +
{{Quote|"How would you like to come with me to Slughorn's party tonight?|Harry Potter asks Luna Lovegood to Slughorn's party.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 15.jpg|thumb|left|Malfoy caught by Filch prowling the corridors]]As Slughorn's Christmas party approaches, [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]] warns [[Harry Potter|Harry]] that a number of girls, particularly [[Romilda Vane]], plan to slip him a love potion, to get him to invite them. [[Harry Potter|Harry]] gets around this by going to the party with Luna, while Hermione goes with [[Cormac McLaggen]] to get back at [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] (which she regrets very much later). During the party, [[Draco Malfoy|Malfoy]] is dragged in, in trouble for lurking in a certain deserted corridor and claiming to be gatecrashing; Slughorn lets him off the hook. [[Severus Snape|Snape]], however, takes [[Draco Malfoy|Malfoy]] out of the party and into a deserted classroom. [[Harry Potter|Harry]] follows them both and overhears [[Severus Snape|Snape]] offering to help Malfoy with his mission, which Malfoy flatly refuses, accusing [[Severus Snape|Snape]] of trying to interfere and steal his glory.
 
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_15.jpg|thumb|left|Malfoy caught by Filch prowling the corridors.]]As Slughorn's Christmas party approaches, [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]] warns [[Harry Potter|Harry]] that a number of girls, particularly [[Romilda Vane]], plan to slip him a love potion, to get him to invite them. [[Harry Potter|Harry]] gets round this by going to the party with Luna, while Hermione goes with [[Cormac McLaggen]] to get back at [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]] (which she regrets very much later). During the party, [[Draco Malfoy|Malfoy]] is dragged in, in trouble for lurking in a certain deserted corridor and claiming to be gatecrashing; Slughorn lets him off the hook. [[Severus Snape|Snape]] however takes [[Draco Malfoy|Malfoy]] out of the party and into a deserted classroom. [[Harry Potter|Harry]] follows them both and overhears [[Severus Snape|Snape]] offering to help Malfoy with his mission, which Malfoy flatly refuses, accusing [[Severus Snape|Snape]] of trying to interfere.
 
   
 
===Chapter 16: A [[Rufus Scrimgeour|Very Frosty]] [[Christmas]]===
 
===Chapter 16: A [[Rufus Scrimgeour|Very Frosty]] [[Christmas]]===
  +
{{Quote|Dumbledore's man through and through, aren't you, Potter?|Rufus Scrimgeour, after Harry's negation to work for the Ministry.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 16.jpg|thumb|Burrow's Christmas Tree]]During the [[Christmas]] holidays at [[the Burrow]], [[Harry Potter|Harry]] tells [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]], his father [[Arthur Weasley]] and [[Remus Lupin]] what he overheard, but they believe that [[Severus Snape|Snape]] was trying to find out [[Draco Malfoy|Malfoy]]'s plan so he could tell [[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore]]. Later, [[Rufus Scrimgeour]] visits [[the Burrow]], and requests that [[Harry Potter|Harry]] appear to work alongside the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry]], to boost the morale of the public. [[Harry Potter|Harry]] turns it down, knowing that the Ministry is arresting and imprisoning innocent people and remembering how they persecuted him last year.
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_16.jpg|thumb|Burrow's Christmas Tree.]]
 
{{Quote|Dumbledore's man through and through, aren't you, Potter?|Rufus Scrimgeour, after Harry negation to work for the Ministry.}}
 
 
During the [[Christmas]] holidays at [[the Burrow]], [[Harry Potter|Harry]] tells [[Ronald Weasley|Ron]], his father [[Arthur Weasley]] and [[Remus Lupin]] what he overheard, but they believe that [[Severus Snape|Snape]] was trying to find out [[Draco Malfoy|Malfoy]]'s plan so he could tell [[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore]]. Later, [[Rufus Scrimgeour]] visits [[the Burrow]], and requests that [[Harry Potter|Harry]] appear to work alongside the [[British Ministry of Magic|Ministry]], to boost the morale of the public. [[Harry Potter|Harry]] turns it down, knowing that the Ministry is arresting and imprisoning innocent people and remembering how they persecuted him last year.
 
   
 
===Chapter 17: A [[Horace Slughorn|Sluggish]] [[Pensieve|Memory]]===
 
===Chapter 17: A [[Horace Slughorn|Sluggish]] [[Pensieve|Memory]]===
{{dialogue a-b|Phineas Nigellus|I can't see why the boy should be able to do it better than you, Dumbledore.|Albus Dumbledore|I wouldn't expect you to, Phineas.|Phineas Nigellus about Dumbledore's mission to Harry.}}
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{{dialogue a-b|Phineas Nigellus|I can't see why the boy should be able to do it better than you, Dumbledore.|Albus Dumbledore|I wouldn't expect you to, Phineas.|Phineas Nigellus about Dumbledore's mission to Harry.}}[[File:HBP chapter 17 BW.jpg|150px|thumb|left|Voldemort speaking with his uncle, Morfin Gaunt]]
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On their return to [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]], [[Harry Potter|Harry]] notices [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny]] is not enthusiastic about meeting Dean, and tells [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]] about what he heard between [[Draco Malfoy|Malfoy]] and [[Severus Snape|Snape]], but she also believes [[Severus Snape|Snape]] was working on [[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore]]'s orders. When [[Harry Potter|Harry]] mentions [[Fenrir Greyback]], a [[werewolf]] Lupin had told him about during the holidays and the werewolf that bit him, she recalls [[Draco Malfoy|Malfoy]] threatening Borgin with him, and [[Harry Potter|Harry]] states that this proves [[Draco Malfoy|Malfoy]]'s a [[Death Eaters|Death Eater]]. Hermione, however, got past this one, saying that it might have been "an empty threat." In his third lesson with [[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore]], [[Harry Potter|Harry]] learns that during his time at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]], [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] had gathered a mixture of friends who became the forerunners of the [[Death Eaters]], and researched his family. He first investigated his father, and later assumed the name [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] upon discovering his father was a [[Non-magic people|Muggle]] and never attended Hogwarts. Dumbledore and Harry then go into [[Morfin Gaunt]]'s memory, where he reveals to his nephew, [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] how he was conceived. After hearing this, Voldemort went on to murder his [[Non-magic people|Muggle]] ancestors, taking revenge on them for abandoning him, eliminating the last of the "unworthy" Riddle line, stealing Morfin's father's ring and implanted false memories into Morfin, framing him for the murders. In the next memory, Voldemort asks Slughorn about [[Horcrux]]es, which results in Slughorn yelling that he knows nothing about them. Dumbledore is confident that the memory has been tampered with, however, noting patches of grey fog that came up when Slughorn was shouting, and asks Harry to retrieve the true memory. Realising Harry is on to him after a botched attempt from Harry to get the memory, Slughorn starts avoiding him, and Harry instead chooses to focus on investigating Malfoy, using the [[Marauder's Map]], noticing that Malfoy disappears off it at certain times.
[[File:Morfin.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Voldemort speaking with his uncle, Morfin Gaunt]]
 
On their return to [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]], [[Harry Potter|Harry]] notices [[Ginevra Weasley|Ginny]] is not enthusiastic about meeting Dean, and tells [[Hermione Granger|Hermione]] about what he heard between [[Draco Malfoy|Malfoy]] and [[Severus Snape|Snape]], but she also believes [[Severus Snape|Snape]] was working on [[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore]]'s orders. When [[Harry Potter|Harry]] mentions [[Fenrir Greyback]], a [[werewolf]] Lupin had told him about during the holidays and the werewolf that bit him, she recalls [[Draco Malfoy|Malfoy]] threatening Borgin with him, and [[Harry Potter|Harry]] states that this proves [[Draco Malfoy|Malfoy]]'s a [[Death Eaters|Death Eater]]. Hermione, however, got past this one, saying that it might have been "an empty threat."
 
 
In his third lesson with [[Albus Dumbledore|Dumbledore]], [[Harry Potter|Harry]] learns that during his time at [[Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry|Hogwarts]], [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] had gathered a mixture of friends who became the forerunners of the [[Death Eaters]], and researched his family. He first investigated his father, and later assumed the name [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]] upon discovering his father was a [[Muggle]] and never attended Hogwarts. Dumbledore and Harry then go into [[Morfin Gaunt]]'s memory, where he reveals to his nephew, [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] how he was conceived. After hearing this, Voldemort went on to murder his [[Muggle]] ancestors, taking revenge on them for abandoning him, eliminating the last of the "unworthy" Riddle line, stealing Morfin's father's ring and implanted false memories into Morfin, framing him for the murders.
 
 
In the next memory, Voldemort asks Slughorn about [[Horcrux]]es, which results in Slughorn yelling that he knows nothing about them. Dumbledore is confident that the memory has been tampered with, however, noting patches of grey fog that came up when Slughorn was shouting, and asks Harry to retrieve the true memory. Realising Harry is on to him, after a botched attempt to get the memory, Slughorn starts avoiding him, and Harry instead chooses to focus on investigating Malfoy, using the [[Marauder's Map]], noticing that Malfoy disappears off it at certain times.
 
   
 
===Chapter 18: [[Ronald Weasley's seventeenth birthday|Birthday]] [[Love Potion|Surprises]]===
 
===Chapter 18: [[Ronald Weasley's seventeenth birthday|Birthday]] [[Love Potion|Surprises]]===
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{{Quote|Meanwhile, the Hogwarts library had failed Hermione for the first time in living memory. She was so shocked, she even forgot that she was annoyed at Harry for his trick with the bezoar.|Hermione not finding about Horcruxes on the Library.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 18.jpg|thumb|Harry at the apparition lesson]]Harry is still doing the apparation lessons and has no luck of apparating. Here [[Wilkie Twycross]], Ministry of Magic official and Apparition Instructor, tries the sixth year batch to teach apparation and according to him, one has but to recall '''The Three D's'': Destination, Determination and Deliberation'. One must be completely ''determined'' to reach one's ''destination'', and move without haste, but with ''deliberation''.
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_18.jpg|thumb|Harry at the apparition lesson.]]
 
{{Quote|Meanwhile, the Hogwarts library had failed Hermione for the first time in living memory. She was so shocked, she even forgot that she was annoyed at Harry for his trick with the bezoar.|Hermione not finding about Horcruxes on the Library.}}
 
   
March has arrived and on Ron's seventeenth birthday he consumes a number of [[Chocolate Cauldrons]] containing a [[Love Potion]] (courtesy of [[Romilda Vane|Romilda]] and intended for Harry). Harry takes him down to Slughorn for an antidote, and the three of them decide to have some of Rosmerta's Mulled Mead, originally meant for Dumbledore. Ron discovers, '''after''' drinking it, that it is poisoned, but Harry manages to save him with a [[Bezoar]].
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March has arrived and on Ron's seventeenth birthday (first of March) he consumes a number of [[Chocolate Cauldrons]] containing a [[love potion]] (courtesy of [[Romilda Vane|Romilda]] and intended for Harry). Harry takes him down to Slughorn for an antidote, and the three of them decide to have some of Rosmerta's [[Mulled Mead]], originally meant for Dumbledore. However, Ron drinks it and discovers (too late, of course) that it is poisoned. Thankfully, Harry manages to save him with a [[Bezoar]].
   
 
===Chapter 19: [[House-elf|Elf]] Tails===
 
===Chapter 19: [[House-elf|Elf]] Tails===
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_19.jpg|thumb|left|Kreacher and Dobby.]]
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{{Quote|Surely nobody in their right mind would have let Luna Lovegood commentate?|Harry, about Luna.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 19.jpg|thumb|left|Kreacher and Dobby]]
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Ron reconciles with Hermione and Ginny. Some time afterwards, [[Rubeus Hagrid|Hagrid]] tells Harry that he overheard Dumbledore and Snape arguing, and [[Cormac McLaggen]] confronts Harry to ensure he can play in Ron's place in the upcoming Quidditch match. Harry also finds out that Ron has been avoiding [[Lavender Brown|Lavender]]. Later, at the Quidditch match, with Luna commentating, McLaggen grabs a beater's bat to show the beater how to hit the bludgers, and accidentally cracks Harry's skull. Finally, in the hospital wing, Harry summons Kreacher and Dobby and orders them to tail [[Draco Malfoy|Malfoy]].
 
{{Quote|Surely nobody in their right mind would have let Luna Lovegood commentate?|Harry, about Luna.}}
 
Ron reconciles with Hermione and Ginny. Some time afterwards, [[Rubeus Hagrid|Hagrid ]] tells Harry that he overheard Dumbledore and Snape arguing, [[Cormac McLaggen|McLaggen ]] talks to Harry to ensure he can play in Ron's place in the upcoming Quidditch match. Harry also finds out that Ron has been avoiding [[Lavender Brown|Lavender]]. Late, at the Quidditch match, with Luna commentating, McLaggen grabs a beater's bat and cracks Harry's skull. Finally, in the hospital wing, Harry summons Kreacher and Dobby and orders them to tail [[Draco Malfoy|Malfoy]] .
 
   
 
===Chapter 20: [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]'s Request===
 
===Chapter 20: [[Tom Riddle|Lord Voldemort]]'s Request===
{{Quote|You see, we have never been able to keep a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher for longer than a year since I refused the post to Voldemort.|Dumbledore, about Tom Riddle's request.}}
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{{Quote|You see, we have never been able to keep a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher for longer than a year since I refused the post to Voldemort.|Dumbledore, about Tom Riddle's request.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 20.jpg|thumb|Hepzibah Smith with Slytherin's locket]]
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In their fourth lesson, Dumbledore is disappointed that Harry failed to obtain Slughorn's true memory. Harry apologises and promises to try harder, which Dumbledore is happier about. Dumbledore shows him two memories: one of Tom Riddle being shown [[Slytherin's Locket|Salazar Slytherin's Locket]] and [[Hufflepuff's Cup|Helga Hufflepuff's Cup]] by a wealthy woman named [[Hepzibah Smith]], the other of Riddle applying for the Defence Against the Dark Arts teaching post at Hogwarts, which Dumbledore rejects as he felt that it was an attempt by Riddle to further search the school for secrets and recruit followers. Dumbledore explains that Smith was murdered by Riddle and stole the locket and cup. The post for Defence Against the Dark Arts was jinxed by Riddle out of spite; teachers never held the post for more than a year, suffering some terrible fate or humiliation which caused them to leave the position.
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_20.jpg|thumb|Hepzibah Smith with Slytherin's locket.]]
 
In their fourth lesson, Dumbledore is disappointed Harry failed to obtain Slughorn's true memory. Dumbledore shows him two memories: one of Tom Riddle being shown [[Salazar Slytherin's Locket]] and [[Helga Hufflepuff's Cup]] by a wealthy woman named [[Hepzibah Smith]] (both of which he later stole), the other of Riddle applying for the Defence Against the Dark Arts teaching post at Hogwarts, which Dumbledore rejects as he felt that it was an attempt by Riddle to further search the school for secrets and recruit followers. This post was thenceforth jinxed by Riddle; teachers never held the post for more than a year, suffering some terrible fate or humiliation which caused them to leave the position.
 
   
 
===Chapter 21: The [[Room of Requirement|Unknowable Room]]===
 
===Chapter 21: The [[Room of Requirement|Unknowable Room]]===
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{{Quote|And I bet that's why he's been disappearing off the map - come to think of it, I've never seen the Room of Requirement on there!|Harry, about the Marauder's Map.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 21.jpg|thumb|left|Hermione fixing Ron's essay that's spilled with ink.]]Ron wants to break up with Lavender but doesn't know how. Harry learns from Kreacher and Dobby that Malfoy is regularly visiting the Room of Requirement (which doesn't appear on the Marauder's Map), and spends the next few days trying to get inside. Not knowing what Malfoy is using it for, he has no success. Ron and Hermione come back from the Hogsmeade Apparition test, in which Hermione is successful but not Ron, who will take the exam with Harry again.
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_21.jpg|thumb|left|Chapter Twenty-One:
 
The Unknowable Room Picture.]]
 
 
{{Quote|And I bet that's why he's been disappearing off the map - come to think of it, I've never seen the Room of Requirement on there!|Harry, about the Marauder's Map.}}
 
While still unconscious in the hospital wing, Ron unknowingly expresses his love to Hermione (which causes the latter to blush faintly and Lavender to break up with Ron). Harry learns from Kreacher and Dobby that Malfoy is regularly visiting the Room of Requirement (which doesn't appear on the Marauder's Map), and spends the next few days trying to get inside. Not knowing what Malfoy is using it for, he has no success.
 
   
 
===Chapter 22: After the [[Funeral of Aragog|Burial]]===
 
===Chapter 22: After the [[Funeral of Aragog|Burial]]===
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{{Quote|You didn't meet him, Hermione. Believe me, being dead will have improved him a lot.|Ron, about Aragog.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 22.jpg|thumb|Aragog's Burial]]Harry again fails to convince Slughorn to share his true memory, and Ron suggests he use the Felix Felicis. Harry takes the Felix Felicis and goes down to Hagrid's hut because Aragog died and Hagrid wanted Harry to go to the burial. On the way to Hagrid's hut, Harry ''luckily'' meets Professor Slughorn on the way and goes with Harry to Hagrid's because he wants to collect Aragog's venom (Acromantula venom is very rare and expensive). Aragog is buried and the adults get drunk, so Harry has a good opportunity to get the memory. As a result of the Felix Felicis, Harry is able to get the memory with ease.
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_22.jpg|thumb|Aragog's Burial.]]
 
 
{{Quote|You didn't meet him, Hermione. Believe me, being dead will have improved him a lot.|Ron, about Aragog.}}
 
Harry again fails to convince Slughorn to share his true memory, and Ron suggests he use the Felix Felicis. As a result, Harry is able to get the memory with ease, and shows it to Dumbledore.
 
   
 
===Chapter 23: [[Horcrux]]es===
 
===Chapter 23: [[Horcrux]]es===
{{Quote|It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew - and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents - that there was all the difference in the world.|Harry thinking about Riddle's search for immortality.}}
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{{Quote|It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew - and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents - that there was all the difference in the world.|Harry thinking about Riddle's search for immortality.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 23.jpg|thumb|left|Harry and Dumbledore watching Slughorn's memory]]
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It turns out that in reality, Slughorn told Riddle everything he wanted to know about Horcruxes. He reluctantly explains that Horcruxes are extremely dark objects which a person conceals a piece of soul in, to achieve immortality. Riddle questions Slughorn if it was possible to have multiple Horcruxes, something that horrifies Slughorn. This explains how Voldemort was able to survive his rebounding killing curse. Dumbledore believed that Voldemort made six Horcruxes: his diary (which Harry destroyed four years earlier), the Gaunt's ring (which Dumbledore destroyed the previous year, greatly injuring his hand in the process), he theorises that the other four are important artefacts to Voldemort; the locket, the cup, an object pertaining to [[Rowena Ravenclaw]]'s and the snake [[Nagini]].
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_23.jpg|thumb|left|Harry and Dumbledore watching Slughorn's memory.]]
 
It turns out that in reality, Slughorn told Riddle everything he wanted to know about Horcruxes, how they were objects that a person can conceal a part of his or her soul in. This explains how Voldemort was able to survive his rebounding killing curse. Dumbledore believed that Voldemort made six Horcruxes: his diary (which Harry destroyed four years earlier), the Gaunt's Ring (which Dumbledore destroyed the previous year, greatly injuring his hand in the process), the locket, the cup, an object of [[Rowena Ravenclaw]]'s and the snake [[Nagini]].
 
   
 
===Chapter 24: [[Sectumsempra]]===
 
===Chapter 24: [[Sectumsempra]]===
{{Quote|Who would have thought you knew such Dark Magic?|Snape, to Harry.}}
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{{Quote|Who would have thought you knew such Dark Magic?|Snape, to Harry.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 24.jpg|thumb|The Vanishing Cabinet at the Room of Requirement]]
 
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_24.jpg|thumb|The Vanishing Cabinet at the Room of Requirement.]]
 
 
Harry learns the next day that Ginny and Dean have split up. He is unwilling to ask her out though, fearing Ron's reaction. Meanwhile, a recovered Katie Bell has returned to the school, and Harry asks who gave her the necklace. She states that someone Imperiused her in the girl's bathroom at Rosmerta's Pub in Hogsmeade. Shortly before the final Quidditch match of the year, Harry finds Malfoy crying over how his mission is failing. When he sees Harry, he attacks him. During the ensuing duel, Harry uses [[Sectumsempra|a spell]] written in The Half Blood Prince's book, which badly injures Malfoy. Snape witnesses the event, heals Malfoy, and gives Harry a large number of detentions that cause him to miss the match. Upon returning to the Gryffindor common room after his first detention, he discovers that the team had won the Quidditch Cup in his absence, and Ginny runs up and hugs him. At this point, Harry finally reveals his feelings for Ginny and kisses her. Both of them are ecstatic and start dating.
 
Harry learns the next day that Ginny and Dean have split up. He is unwilling to ask her out though, fearing Ron's reaction. Meanwhile, a recovered Katie Bell has returned to the school, and Harry asks who gave her the necklace. She states that someone Imperiused her in the girl's bathroom at Rosmerta's Pub in Hogsmeade. Shortly before the final Quidditch match of the year, Harry finds Malfoy crying over how his mission is failing. When he sees Harry, he attacks him. During the ensuing duel, Harry uses [[Sectumsempra|a spell]] written in The Half Blood Prince's book, which badly injures Malfoy. Snape witnesses the event, heals Malfoy, and gives Harry a large number of detentions that cause him to miss the match. Upon returning to the Gryffindor common room after his first detention, he discovers that the team had won the Quidditch Cup in his absence, and Ginny runs up and hugs him. At this point, Harry finally reveals his feelings for Ginny and kisses her. Both of them are ecstatic and start dating.
   
===Chapter 25: The [[Sybill Trelawney|Seer]] Overheard ===
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===Chapter 25: The [[Sybill Trelawney|Seer]] Overheard===
{{Quote|You'd think people had better things to gossip about... Three Dementor attacks in a week, and all Romilda Vane does is ask me if it's true you've got a hippogriff [[tattoo]]ed across your chest.|Ginny, to Harry.}}
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{{Quote|You'd think people had better things to gossip about... Three Dementor attacks in a week, and all Romilda Vane does is ask me if it's true you've got a hippogriff [[tattoo]]ed across your chest.|Ginny, to Harry.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 25.jpg|thumb|left|Harry and Ginny together]]
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_25.jpg|thumb|left|Harry and Ginny in Chapter 25 Picture.]]
 
 
Some time later, Dumbledore asks Harry to come to his office. On the way, he runs into his old [[Divination]] teacher [[Sybill Trelawney|Professor Trelawney]], who was trying to hide sherry bottles in the Room of Requirement before being thrown out. She tells Harry that she heard a male voice (which Harry suspects to be Malfoy's) whooping before she was ejected, and also reveals that Snape had told Voldemort about the prophecy concerning him and Harry, which caused him to murder Harry's parents. Harry expresses outrage that Dumbledore later gave Snape a job at Hogwarts, but Dumbledore states that Snape felt great remorse for what he had done. He then asks Harry to join him in finding a Horcrux, Slytherin's locket, which Harry agrees to. Before leaving, Harry tells Ron and Hermione that Malfoy's almost certainly going to try something tonight, and gives them the remainder of the [[Felix Felicis]].
 
Some time later, Dumbledore asks Harry to come to his office. On the way, he runs into his old [[Divination]] teacher [[Sybill Trelawney|Professor Trelawney]], who was trying to hide sherry bottles in the Room of Requirement before being thrown out. She tells Harry that she heard a male voice (which Harry suspects to be Malfoy's) whooping before she was ejected, and also reveals that Snape had told Voldemort about the prophecy concerning him and Harry, which caused him to murder Harry's parents. Harry expresses outrage that Dumbledore later gave Snape a job at Hogwarts, but Dumbledore states that Snape felt great remorse for what he had done. He then asks Harry to join him in finding a Horcrux, Slytherin's locket, which Harry agrees to. Before leaving, Harry tells Ron and Hermione that Malfoy's almost certainly going to try something tonight, and gives them the remainder of the [[Felix Felicis]].
   
===Chapter 26: The [[Horcrux cave|Cave]]===
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===Chapter 26: The [[The Cave|Cave]]===
{{Quote|I am not worried, Harry, I am with you.|Dumbledore, to Harry.}}
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{{Quote|I am not worried, Harry, I am with you.|Dumbledore, to Harry.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 26.jpg|thumb|Harry and Dumbledore entering Voldemort's cave]]
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Dumbledore and Harry travel to a cave in which Voldemort had tormented two children in his youth. They proceed through the cave, coming to an island in the middle of a lake. On the island, they find a basin of [[Emerald Potion|emerald green potion]], with the locket at the bottom. On Dumbledore's orders, Harry reluctantly force-feeds him the potion, which badly weakens him and causes extreme thirst. In an attempt to save him, Harry gives him [[water]] from the lake, awakening dozens of [[Inferius|Inferi]] Voldemort had placed to guard his Horcrux. Harry attempts to fight, but there are too many of them. Just as he is about to be overwhelmed, Dumbledore creates a ring of fire around them, which fends off the Inferi, and allows them to escape with the locket to Hogsmeade, where they discover the [[Dark Mark]] above the astronomy tower at Hogwarts.
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_26.jpg|thumb|Harry and Dumbledore entering Voldemort's cave.]]
 
Dumbledore and Harry travel to a cave in which Voldemort had tortured two children in his youth. They proceed through the cave, coming to an island in the middle of a lake. On the island, they find a basin of [[Drink of Despair|emerald green potion]], with the locket at the bottom. On Dumbledore's orders, Harry reluctantly force-feeds him the potion, which badly weakens him and causes extreme thirst. In an attempt to save him, Harry gives him [[water]] from the lake, awakening dozens of [[Inferius|Inferi]] Voldemort had placed to guard his Horcrux. Harry attempts to fight, but there are too many of them. Just as he is about to be overwhelmed, Dumbledore creates a ring of fire around them, which fends off the Inferi, and allows them to escape with the locket to Hogsmeade, where they discover the [[Dark Mark]] above the astronomy tower at Hogwarts.
 
   
===Chapter 27: The [[Battle of the Astronomy Tower|Lightning-Struck Tower]]===
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===Chapter 27: The [[Battle of the Astronomy Tower|Lightning-Struck]] [[Astronomy Tower|Tower]]===
{{Quote|No, Draco. It is my mercy, and not yours, that matters now."|Dumbledore, at the Astronomy Tower.}}
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{{Quote|No, Draco. It is my mercy, and not yours, that matters now."|Dumbledore, at the Astronomy Tower.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 27.jpg|thumb|left|The Dark Mark over Hogwarts]]
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Borrowing broomsticks, the pair fly to the tower. Upon hearing someone approaching them, Dumbledore uses a charm to paralyse Harry and hides him under his Invisibility Cloak, before being disarmed by Malfoy. Malfoy reveals that he had let Death Eaters into the school through a pair of vanishing cabinets, which were the objects Harry had overheard him questioning Borgin about. Malfoy also explains that he was behind the cursed necklace and poisoned mead incidents, which were really assassination attempts on Dumbledore. Dumbledore reveals that he had known Malfoy was attempting to kill him, but allowed him to remain at Hogwarts because he knew that Voldemort would have murdered Malfoy once his cover had been blown. Dumbledore tries to persuade him to change sides, but the other Death Eaters join the scene and urge Malfoy to finish his mission. Then Snape appears, and with Malfoy still reluctant to finish off the unarmed Dumbledore, Snape kills Dumbledore.
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_27.jpg|thumb|left|The Dark Mark over Hogwarts.]]
 
Borrowing broomsticks, the pair fly to the tower. Upon hearing someone approaching them, Dumbledore uses a charm to paralyse Harry and hides him under his invisibility cloak, before being disarmed by Malfoy. He reveals that he had let Death Eaters into the school through a pair of vanishing cabinets, which were the objects Harry had overheard him questioning Borgin about. Malfoy also explains that he was behind the cursed necklace and poisoned mead incidents, which were really assassination attempts on Dumbledore. Dumbledore reveals that he had known Malfoy was attempting to kill him, but allowed him to remain at Hogwarts because he knew that Voldemort would have murdered Malfoy once his cover had been blown. Dumbledore tries to persuade him to change sides, but the other Death Eaters join the scene and urge Malfoy to finish his mission. Then Snape appears, and with Malfoy still reluctant to finish off the unarmed Dumbledore, Snape kills Dumbledore.
 
   
===Chapter 28: [[Apparition|Flight]] of the [[Prince family|Prince]]===
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===Chapter 28: [[Apparition|Flight]] of the [[Severus Snape|Prince]]===
{{Quote|DON'T...CALL ME COWARD!|Snape, yelling at Harry.}}
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{{Quote|DON'T...CALL ME COWARD!|Snape furiously yelling at Harry}}
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_28.jpg|thumb|Snape fights Harry. ]]
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[[File:Books chapterart hbp 28.jpg|thumb|Snape fights Harry]]
 
Released from the spell after Dumbledore's death, Harry pursues Snape through battle in the halls of the school and out onto the grounds. Near the entrance to Hogwarts, Harry attempts to curse Snape, who repels his attacks with ease and reminds the other Death Eaters they are not to harm the boy. When Harry tries one of the Half-Blood Prince's spells, an enraged Snape reveals that the spell is his own. He is the Half-Blood Prince, having taken the title when he was a student as a pun on his mother's maiden name. (Hermione's research later reveals that Snape's father was a Muggle named [[Tobias Snape]] and his mother a pureblood witch named [[Eileen Prince]].) [[Buckbeak]] the [[Hippogriff]] attacks Snape, who leaves Harry behind and escapes with Draco Malfoy. When he returns to Dumbledore's body, Harry finds that [[Regulus Black's locket|the locket was a fake]]: the real horcrux was already stolen by [[Regulus Black|someone with the initials R.A.B.]]
 
Released from the spell after Dumbledore's death, Harry pursues Snape through battle in the halls of the school and out onto the grounds. Near the entrance to Hogwarts, Harry attempts to curse Snape, who repels his attacks with ease and reminds the other Death Eaters they are not to harm the boy. When Harry tries one of the Half-Blood Prince's spells, an enraged Snape reveals that the spell is his own. He is the Half-Blood Prince, having taken the title when he was a student as a pun on his mother's maiden name. (Hermione's research later reveals that Snape's father was a Muggle named [[Tobias Snape]] and his mother a pureblood witch named [[Eileen Prince]].) [[Buckbeak]] the [[Hippogriff]] attacks Snape, who leaves Harry behind and escapes with Draco Malfoy. When he returns to Dumbledore's body, Harry finds that [[Regulus Black's locket|the locket was a fake]]: the real horcrux was already stolen by [[Regulus Black|someone with the initials R.A.B.]]
   
 
===Chapter 29: The [[Phoenix Lament]]===
 
===Chapter 29: The [[Phoenix Lament]]===
{{Quote|And he knew, without knowing how he knew it, that the phoenix had gone, had left Hogwarts for good, just as Dumbledore had left the school, had left the world ... had left Harry.|Harry thinking about Fawkes.}}
+
{{Quote|And he knew, without knowing how he knew it, that the phoenix had gone, had left Hogwarts for good, just as Dumbledore had left the school, had left the world ... had left Harry.|Harry thinking about Fawkes.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 29.jpg|thumb|left|The empty Dumbledore's office]]
  +
After the battle, Ginny accompanies Harry to the hospital wing, where he learns that the only other person who died was a Death Eater. None of Harry's friends are badly hurt, apart from [[William Weasley|Bill Weasley]], the Weasleys' oldest child who was attacked by an untransformed Greyback, although the only side effects are permanent scars across his face and a liking for rare steaks. [[Fleur Delacour|Fleur]] expresses her desire to marry Bill despite his potential transformations, and she and Mrs Weasley reconcile. [[Nymphadora Tonks|Tonks]] reveals her love for [[Remus Lupin|Lupin]], who had refused her because he was a werewolf and felt that she deserved someone young and whole, unlike himself. Professor McGonagall questions Harry about what he and Dumbledore were doing, but Harry, under orders from Dumbledore not to tell anyone except Ron and Hermione, refuses. The teachers then discuss the future of Hogwarts, and plans for Dumbledore's funeral. Harry turns his back on the Half-Blood Prince's book, and regrets ever possessing it, although Hermione and Ron comfort him, stating that while the Prince may have had a mean sense of humour, nothing in the book ever indicated that he was evil, or capable of murder.
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_29.jpg|thumb|left|The empty Dumbledore's office.]]
 
After the battle, Ginny accompanies Harry to the hospital wing, where he learns that the only person who died was a Death Eater. None of Harry's friends are badly hurt, apart from [[William Weasley|Bill Weasley]], the Weasleys' oldest child who was attacked by an untransformed Greyback, although the only side effects are permanent scars across his face and a liking for rare steaks. Professor McGonagall questions Harry about what he and Dumbledore were doing, but Harry, under orders from Dumbledore not to tell anyone except Ron and Hermione, refuses. The teachers then discuss the future of Hogwarts, and plans for Dumbledore's funeral. Harry turns his back on the Half-Blood Prince's book, and regrets ever possessing it, although Hermione and Ron comfort him, stating that while the Prince may have had a mean sense of humour, nothing in the book ever indicated that he was evil, or capable of murder.
 
   
 
===Chapter 30: The [[White Tomb]]===
 
===Chapter 30: The [[White Tomb]]===
{{dialogue a-b|Rufus Scrimgeour|I see you are—|Harry Potter|Dumbledore's man through and through. That's right.|Harry to Scrimgeour.}}
+
{{dialogue a-b|Rufus Scrimgeour|I see you are—|Harry Potter|Dumbledore's man through and through. That's right.|Harry to Scrimgeour.}}[[File:Books chapterart hbp 30.jpg|thumb|Dumbledore's White Tomb]]
  +
The funeral is attended by many witches and wizards, including a number of minor characters in the series. During the funeral, Harry ends his relationship with Ginny to protect her from Voldemort. She reveals that she had never given up on him; Hermione had advised her to go out with other people so she could relax around Harry, as previously she had trouble talking to him. As a result, he fell in love with her upon seeing who she really was, and regrets not asking her out sooner. Harry then meets Scrimgeour, who again makes the offer he'd made to Harry at Christmas, which Harry again turns down. He then tells Ron and Hermione of his intention to leave Hogwarts to destroy the Horcruxes and then Voldemort himself. His two best friends agree to travel with him on his quest, and Harry happily acknowledges that there is "still one last golden day of peace left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione".
[[File:Books_chapterart_hbp_30.jpg|thumb|Dumbledore's White Tomb.]]
 
The funeral is attended by many witches and wizards, including a number of minor characters in the series. During the funeral, Harry ends his relationship with Ginny to protect her from Voldemort. She reveals that she had never given up on him; Hermione had advised her to go out with other people so she could relax around Harry, as previously she had trouble talking to him. As a result, he fell in love with her upon seeing who she really was, and regrets not asking her out sooner. Harry then meets Scrimgeour, who again makes the offer he'd made to Harry at Christmas, which Harry again turns down. He then tells Ron and Hermione of his intention to leave Hogwarts to destroy the Horcruxes and then Voldemort himself. His two lifelong friends agree to travel with him on his quest, and Harry happily acknowledges that there is "still one last golden day of peace left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione".
 
   
==List of Deaths==
+
==List of deaths==
  +
{| class="wikitable" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="4" border="2"
 
  +
! width="20%" |Character
 
  +
! width="20%" |Killed by
 
  +
! width="15%" |Cause of death
 
  +
! width="25%" |Circumstances
{|cellspacing="1" cellpadding="4" border="2" class="wikitable"
 
!width="20%"|Character
 
!width="20%"|Killed By
 
!width="15%"|Cause Of Death
 
!width="25%"|Circumstances
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Amelia Bones]]
 
|[[Amelia Bones]]
|Possibly [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]]
+
|[[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]]
|rowspan="3"|
+
| rowspan="3" |Possibly the [[Killing Curse]]
  +
|Murdered in a room locked from the inside; baffled Muggle police
Possibly [[Killing Curse|Avada Kedavra]]
 
 
(the killing curse)
 
|Murdered in a room locked from the inside, baffled Muggle Police
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Emmeline Vance]]
 
|[[Emmeline Vance]]
|rowspan="2"|[[Death Eaters]]
+
| rowspan="2" |[[Death Eaters]]
 
|Murdered a short distance from the Muggle [[Prime Minister's office]]
 
|Murdered a short distance from the Muggle [[Prime Minister's office]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Igor Karkaroff]]
 
|[[Igor Karkaroff]]
|Body found in a shack "up north," [[Dark Mark]] cast overhead
+
|Body found in a shack "up north"; [[Dark Mark]] cast overhead
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Marvolo Gaunt]]
 
|[[Marvolo Gaunt]]
|rowspan="4"|None
+
| rowspan="4" |None
|Natural causes or starvation
+
|Natural causes, shock, or starvation
|Never learned to cook
+
|Distraught at identity of Merope's Muggle spouse; possibly never learned to cook
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Morfin Gaunt]]
 
|[[Morfin Gaunt]]
Line 252: Line 206:
 
|Imprisoned in [[Azkaban]]
 
|Imprisoned in [[Azkaban]]
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Merope Gaunt]]
+
|[[Merope Riddle|Merope Gaunt-Riddle]]
|Childbirth or Depression
+
|Childbirth or depression
 
|Voldemort's birth
 
|Voldemort's birth
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Aragog]]
 
|[[Aragog]]
 
|Illness
 
|Illness
|Old Age
+
|Old age
 
|-
 
|-
|[[Tom Riddle Sr.]]
+
|[[Tom Riddle Senior|Tom Riddle Snr]]
|rowspan="4"|[[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]]
+
| rowspan="4" |[[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]]
|rowspan="3"|
+
| rowspan="3" |[[Killing Curse]]
  +
|Revenge for abandonment; baffled Muggle Police
[[Killing Curse|Avada Kedavra]]
 
 
(killing curse)
 
|Revenge for abandonment of his son, baffled Muggle Police
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Thomas Riddle]]
 
|[[Thomas Riddle]]
|rowspan="2"|Murdered along with Tom Riddle Sr., baffled Muggle Police
+
| rowspan="2" |Murdered along with Tom Riddle, Snr; baffled Muggle Police
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Mary Riddle]]
 
|[[Mary Riddle]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Hepzibah Smith]]
 
|[[Hepzibah Smith]]
|Poisoned cocoa "sugar" or Avada Kedavra with memory changing.
+
|Poisoned cocoa "sugar" or Killing Curse with memory changing
|Voldemort's search for [[Helga Hufflepuff's Cup|Hufflepuff's cup]] and [[Salazar Slytherin's Locket|Slytherin's locket]]
+
|Voldemort's search for [[Hufflepuff's Cup]] and [[Slytherin's Locket]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Albus Dumbledore]]
 
|[[Albus Dumbledore]]
 
|[[Severus Snape]]
 
|[[Severus Snape]]
|rowspan="2"|
+
| rowspan="2" |[[Killing Curse]]
  +
|On his own orders, both to make his death painless and to spare [[Draco Malfoy|Draco]] from the influence of [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] and the [[Death Eaters]], and ''possibly'' to control the next owner of The Elder Wand (although this is unknown to everyone except Snape until [[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows|the next book]])
[[Killing Curse|Avada Kedavra]]
 
 
(killing curse)
 
|
 
On his own orders, both to make his death painless and to spare [[Draco Malfoy|Draco]] from the influence of [[Tom Riddle|Voldemort]] and the [[Death Eaters]]. (Although this is unknown to everyone except Snape until Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows).
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|[[Gibbon]]
 
|[[Gibbon]]
Line 294: Line 241:
 
In May, 2005, bookmakers in the UK suspended bets on which main character would die in the book amid fears of insider knowledge. A number of high value bets were made on the death of Albus Dumbledore, many coming from the town of Bungay where, it was believed, the books were being printed at the time. Betting was later reopened. {{ref|bbc}}
 
In May, 2005, bookmakers in the UK suspended bets on which main character would die in the book amid fears of insider knowledge. A number of high value bets were made on the death of Albus Dumbledore, many coming from the town of Bungay where, it was believed, the books were being printed at the time. Betting was later reopened. {{ref|bbc}}
   
In early July, The Real Canadian Superstore, a big-box grocery chain in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada, accidentally sold fifteen copies of ''The Half-Blood Prince'' before the authorised release date. The Canadian publisher, [[:Wikipedia:Raincoast Books|Raincoast Books]], obtained an injunction ([[Wikipedia:Media:Harry_Potter_Injunction.pdf|PDF copy]]) from the Supreme Court of British Columbia prohibiting the purchasers from reading the books before the official release date or of discussing the contents. Purchasers were offered a Harry Potter T-shirt and an autographed copy of the book if they returned their copies before 16 July.
+
In early July, The Real Canadian Superstore, a big-box grocery chain in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada, accidentally sold fifteen copies of ''The Half-Blood Prince'' before the authorised release date. The Canadian publisher, [[Wikipedia:Raincoast Books|Raincoast Books]], obtained an injunction from the Supreme Court of British Columbia prohibiting the purchasers from reading the books before the official release date or of discussing the contents. Purchasers were offered a Harry Potter T-shirt and an autographed copy of the book if they returned their copies before 16 July.
   
 
On 15 July, less than twelve hours before the book went on sale in the Eastern time zone, Raincoast warned ''[[wikipedia:The Globe and Mail|The Globe and Mail]]'' newspaper that publishing a review from a Canada-based writer at midnight, as the paper had promised, would be seen as a violation of the anti-reading injunction. The injunction sparked a number of news articles questioning the injunction's restriction on fundamental rights. {{ref|thestar}}{{ref|canada.com}} Canadian law professor [[wikipedia:Michael Geist|Michael Geist]] has posted commentary on his weblog. {{ref|michaelgeist}}[[wikipedia:Richard Stallman|Richard Stallman]] has posted on his weblog calling for a boycott until the publisher issues an apology. {{ref|stallman}} The Globe and Mail published a review from two UK-based writers in its 16 July edition and posted the Canadian writer's review on its website at 9 am that morning. {{ref|globeandmail}}
 
On 15 July, less than twelve hours before the book went on sale in the Eastern time zone, Raincoast warned ''[[wikipedia:The Globe and Mail|The Globe and Mail]]'' newspaper that publishing a review from a Canada-based writer at midnight, as the paper had promised, would be seen as a violation of the anti-reading injunction. The injunction sparked a number of news articles questioning the injunction's restriction on fundamental rights. {{ref|thestar}}{{ref|canada.com}} Canadian law professor [[wikipedia:Michael Geist|Michael Geist]] has posted commentary on his weblog. {{ref|michaelgeist}}[[wikipedia:Richard Stallman|Richard Stallman]] has posted on his weblog calling for a boycott until the publisher issues an apology. {{ref|stallman}} The Globe and Mail published a review from two UK-based writers in its 16 July edition and posted the Canadian writer's review on its website at 9 am that morning. {{ref|globeandmail}}
Line 301: Line 248:
   
 
==Editions==
 
==Editions==
  +
<!-- Sans prioritising the original English editions (UK & US), the rest (starting from "Arabic") is listed in alphabetical order of the language, NOT the similarity of cover art! DO NOT incorrectly reorganise it, thanks. -->
<gallery widths="120" captionalign="left">
 
  +
{{Scroll box
File:Harry_Potter_and_the_Half-Blood_Prince.jpg|Bloomsbury Children's Edition<br>Raincoast Children's Edition
 
  +
|width=1000px
harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-celebratory-edition.jpg|Bloomsbury Celebratory Edition
 
  +
|height=100%
Half-Blood Special Edition.jpg|Bloomsbury Special Edition
 
  +
|content=
normal_HBP_Signature.jpg|Bloomsbury Signature Edition
 
  +
===English-language===
File:Hbp adult bloomsberry.jpg|Bloomsbury Adult Edition<br>Raincoast Adult Edition
 
  +
<gallery widths="150" position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center" columns="5">
File:Harry potter HBP Scholastic edition.jpg|Scholastic Edition
 
  +
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.jpg|British (and Canadian) Children's Edition, published by Bloomsbury (and Raincoast)
File:Backcover.jpg|Back cover of Scholastic edition
 
  +
Harry-potter-and-the-half-blood-prince-celebratory-edition.jpg|British Celebratory Edition
File:HBPdeluxe.jpg|Scholastic Deluxe Edition
 
  +
Half-Blood Special Edition.jpg|British Special Edition
Danish cover vol6.jpg|Danish edition, ''Harry Potter og Halvblodsprinsen'', published by Gyldendal
 
  +
Normal HBP Signature.jpg|British Signature Edition
Dutch Book 6 cover.jpg|Dutch edition, ''Harry Potter en de Halfbloed Prins'', published by Standaard and De Harmonie
 
  +
Hbp adult bloomsberry.jpg|British (and Canadian) Adult Edition
libro6_high.jpg|Italian edition, ''Harry Potter e il Principe mezzosangue'', published by Adriano Salani Editore
 
  +
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince new adult edition.jpeg|British 2013 Adult Edition
FinHBPcover.jpg|Finnish edition, ''Harry Potter ja Puoliverinen prinssi'', published by Tammi
 
  +
Half-Blood Prince new cover.jpg|British 2014 Children's Edition
harry_potter_und_der_halbblutprinz.jpg|German edition, ''Harry Potter und der Halbblutprinz'', published by Carlsen Verlag
 
  +
Harry potter HBP Scholastic edition.jpg|American, published by Scholastic
French Book 6 Cover.jpg|French edition, ''Harry Potter et le Prince de sang-mêlé'', published by Éditions Gallimard
 
  +
Backcover.jpg|American back cover
harry-potter-y-el-misterio-del-principe.jpg|Spanish/Latin American edition, ''Harry Potter y el misterio del príncipe'', published by Salamandra
 
  +
HBPdeluxe.jpg|American Deluxe Edition
Harry Potter och Havblodsprinsen bok.jpg|Swedish edition, ''Harry Potter och Halvblodsprinsen''.
 
  +
Hbp 15 anniversary.jpg|American 15th anniversary edition
22716----.jpg|Ukainian edition, «Гаррі Поттер і Напівкровний Принц», published by А-БА-БА-ГА-ЛА-МА-ГА.
 
  +
US 2018 paperback 06 HBP.jpg|American 20th anniversary edition
Harry-Potter-Princ-dvojí-krve.jpg|Czech edition, ''Harry Potter a Princ dvojí krve'', published by Albatros
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
   
  +
===Translations (cover based on Scholastic's)===
;Bloomsbury (United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada etc)
 
  +
<gallery widths="150" position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center" columns="5">
  +
Harry Potter 6 Arabic cover.jpg|Arabic edition
  +
Czech original 06 HBP.jpg|Czech, ''Harry Potter a Princ dvojí krve'', published by Albatros
  +
-Files-Images-Bokadeildin-permur-bokarodir-halvblodsprinsmidi.JPG|Faroese, ''Harry Potter og Hálvblóðsprinsurin'', published by Bókadeild Føroya Lærarafelags
  +
250px-Harrypotter6hebrew.jpg|Hebrew edition
  +
Hbp hun.jpg|Hungarian, ''Harry Potter és a félvér herceg'', published by Animus
  +
Lithuanian original 06 HBP.jpg|Lithuanian, ''Haris Poteris ir Netikras Princas'', published by Alma Litte
  +
61u37vnh26l- aa1024 .jpg|Brazilian Portuguese, ''Harry Potter e o Enigma do Príncipe'', published by Rocco
  +
Harry Potter Cover 6 Serbian.jpg|Serbian, ''Hari Poter i Polukrvni Princ'', published by Evro Giunti
  +
Harry potter in polkrvni princ.jpg|Slovenian first translation, ''Harry Potter in polkrvni princ''
  +
Harry potter in princ mesane krvi 6.jpg|Slovenian second translation, ''Harry Potter in princ mešane krvi''
  +
</gallery>
  +
  +
===Translations (alternative covers)===
  +
<gallery widths="150" position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center" columns="5">
  +
Bosnian 06 HBP.png|Bosnian, ''Harry Potter i princ poluplave krvi'', published by Buybook
  +
Bulgarian 2019 hardback 06 HBP.png|Bulgarian 20th anniversary edition, ''Хари Потър и Нечистокръвния принц'', published by Egmont Bulgaria
  +
Danish cover vol6.jpg|Danish, ''Harry Potter og Halvblodsprinsen'', published by Gyldendal
  +
Danish 2012 paperback 06 HBP.jpg|Danish 2012 paperback
  +
Dutch Book 6 cover.jpg|Dutch, ''Harry Potter en de Halfbloed Prins'', published by Standaard and De Harmonie
  +
Dutch Half-Blood Prince book cover.jpeg|Dutch (the Netherlands) 2010 pocket edition, published by Uitgeverij De Harmonie
  +
FinHBPcover.jpg|Finnish, ''Harry Potter ja Puoliverinen prinssi'', published by Tammi
  +
French Book 6 Cover.jpg|French hardback, ''Harry Potter et le Prince de Sang-Mêlé'', published by Éditions Gallimard
  +
French T6 (2011 new edition).png|French 2011 paperback
  +
French T6 (2016 new edition).jpg|French 2016 edition
  +
Harry potter und der halbblutprinz.jpg|German, ''Harry Potter und der Halbblutprinz'', published by Carlsen Verlag
  +
German Adult Edition 06 HBP.png|German adult edition (hardback)
  +
German 2013 Pocket 06 HBP.png|German 2013 Anniversary Pocket Edition (paperback)
  +
German 2018 hardback 06 HBP.png|German 20th anniversary edition
  +
Indonesian 06 HBP 9786020377414.png|Indonesian, ''Harry Potter dan Pangeran Berdarah Campuran'', published by Gramedia Pustaka Utama
  +
Libro6 high.jpg|Italian, ''Harry Potter e il Principe mezzosangue'', published by Adriano Salani Editore
  +
Italian 2021 redesign 06 HBP.png|Italian 2021 redesignra
  +
Lithuanian 2020 hardback 06 HBP.png|Lithuanian 20th anniversary edition
  +
HP6BOX.png|Brazilian Portuguese collector's edition
  +
Russian 2008 Black Deluxe Edition 06 HBP.png|Russian 2008 Black Deluxe Edition, ''Гарри Поттер и Принц-Полукровка'', published by Росмэн
  +
Slovak 2020 exclusive box set 06 HBP.png|Slovak 20th anniversary edition, ''Harry Potter a Polovičný princ'', published by IKAR
  +
Harry-potter-y-el-misterio-del-principe.jpg|Spanish, ''Harry Potter y el misterio del príncipe'', published by Salamandra
  +
Spanish 15th anniversary 06 HBP.jpg|Spanish 15th anniversary edition
  +
Swedish 06 HBP.jpg|Swedish, ''Harry Potter och Halvblodsprinsen'', published by Tiden
  +
Thai 2020 hardback 06 HBP.jpg|Thai 20th anniversary edition, ''แฮร์รี่ พอตเตอร์กับเจ้าชายเลือดผสม'', published by Nanmeebooks
  +
Ukrainian 06 HBP.jpg|Ukainian, ''Гаррі Поттер і Напівкровний Принц'', published by А-БА-БА-ГА-ЛА-МА-ГА
  +
</gallery>
  +
}}
  +
===Hogwarts House Edition===
  +
<gallery widths="150" position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center" columns="4">
  +
UK House Edition hardback Gryffindor 06 HBP.png
  +
UK House Edition hardback Hufflepuff 06 HBP.png
  +
UK House Edition hardback Ravenclaw 06 HBP.png
  +
UK House Edition hardback Slytherin 06 HBP.png
  +
</gallery>
  +
;Bloomsbury (United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada etc.)
 
*ISBN 0747581088 Hardcover
 
*ISBN 0747581088 Hardcover
 
*ISBN 074758110X Hardcover (adult edition)
 
*ISBN 074758110X Hardcover (adult edition)
;Raincoast (Canada etc)
+
;Raincoast (Canada etc.)
 
*ISBN 155192756X Hardcover
 
*ISBN 155192756X Hardcover
 
*ISBN 1551927608 Hardcover (adult edition)
 
*ISBN 1551927608 Hardcover (adult edition)
 
*ISBN 0747581525 Hardcover (large print edition)
 
*ISBN 0747581525 Hardcover (large print edition)
;Scholastic (United States etc)
+
;Scholastic (United States etc.)
 
*ISBN 0439784549 US Hardcover
 
*ISBN 0439784549 US Hardcover
 
*ISBN 0439791324 Deluxe Edition
 
*ISBN 0439791324 Deluxe Edition
   
Before and after the release of the book, the environmental organisations [[wikipedia:Greenpeace|Greenpeace]] and the [[wikipedia:National Wildlife Federation|National Wildlife Federation]] urged consumers in the United States who planned to buy ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'' to do so from the book's Canadian publisher, [[wikipedia:Raincoast Books|Raincoast Books]] {{ref|cbc}}, which published on 100% recycled, chlorine-free, ancient forest-free paper. The American edition of the book, published by [[wikipedia:Scholastic Press|Scholastic Press]], was printed with a percentage of recycled paper that Scholastic declined to make public.
+
Before and after the release of the book, the environmental organisations {{w|Greenpeace}} and the {{w|National Wildlife Federation}} urged consumers in the United States who planned to buy ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'' to do so from the book's Canadian publisher, [[Raincoast Books]] {{ref|cbc}}, which published on 100% recycled, chlorine-free, ancient forest-free paper. The American edition of the book, published by [[Scholastic]] Press, was printed with a percentage of recycled paper that Scholastic declined to make public.
   
 
==Translations==
 
==Translations==
Line 339: Line 337:
   
 
{|
 
{|
|-style="vertical-align: top;"
+
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
 
|
 
|
*Albania: 10 November, 2005
+
*Albania: 10 November 2005
*Belgium: 19 November, 2005
+
*Belgium: 19 November 2005
*Braille (English): 19 July, 2005
+
*Braille (English): 19 July 2005
*Brazil: December, 2005
+
*Brazil: 26 December, 2005 (by Lia Wyler)
 
*Bulgaria: 13 December 2005
 
*Bulgaria: 13 December 2005
 
*China: November, 2005
 
*China: November, 2005
 
*Croatia: 15 October 2005
 
*Croatia: 15 October 2005
*Denmark: October, 2005
+
*Denmark: October, 2005
*Estonia: November, 2005
+
*Estonia: November, 2005
*Finland: 16 March, 2006
+
*Finland: 16 March 2006
*France: 1 October, 2005
+
*France: 1 October 2005
*Germany, Switzerland, Turkey and Austria: 1 October, 2005
+
*Germany, Switzerland, Turkey and Austria: 1 October 2005
 
*Greece: 2 December 2005
 
*Greece: 2 December 2005
 
*Hungary: February, 2006
 
*Hungary: February, 2006
*Iceland: November, 2005
+
*Iceland: November, 2005
*Israel: November, 2005
+
*Israel: November, 2005
 
*Italy: January, 2006
 
*Italy: January, 2006
*Japan: 17 May, 2006
+
*Japan: 17 May 2006
*Lithuania: 1 October, 2005
+
*Lithuania: 1 October 2005
*Montenegro: 24 December, 2005
+
*Montenegro: 24 December 2005
*Netherlands: 19 November, 2005
+
*Netherlands: 19 November 2005
 
*Norway: November, 2005
 
*Norway: November, 2005
*Poland: 28 January, 2006
+
*Poland: 28 January 2006
 
*Portugal: September/October, 2005
 
*Portugal: September/October, 2005
*Romania: 24 December, 2005
+
*Romania: 24 December 2005
  +
*Russia: 1 October 2005
 
*Serbia: September, 2005
 
*Serbia: September, 2005
*South Africa: 15 November, 2005 (Afrikaans translation)
+
*South Africa: 15 November 2005 (Afrikaans translation)
 
*Slovenia: December, 2005
 
*Slovenia: December, 2005
*Spain: 16 March, 2006
+
*Spain: 16 March 2006
*Sweden: 30 November, 2005
+
*Sweden: 30 November 2005
*Taiwan: 1 October, 2005
+
*Taiwan: 1 October 2005
  +
|}
*Russian: 1 October, 2005
 
   
 
==Behind the scenes==
 
==Behind the scenes==
*Along with [[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban|''Prisoner of Azkaban'']], this is one of the books in the series where the cover art for the UK and US editions depicts the same subjects and the same scene.
+
*Along with {{POA}}, this is one of the books in the series where the cover art for the UK and US editions depicts the same subjects.
   
 
*This, along with Chamber of Secrets, was the only book that did not end in King's Cross. (Chamber of Secrets ends in Platform nine and three quarters and the final sentence is going to King's Cross which does not count because no dialogue was shown in King's Cross).
 
*This, along with Chamber of Secrets, was the only book that did not end in King's Cross. (Chamber of Secrets ends in Platform nine and three quarters and the final sentence is going to King's Cross which does not count because no dialogue was shown in King's Cross).
Line 385: Line 384:
 
*When Harry is hiding the Half-Blood Prince's book in the Room of Requirement, he opens a cupboard and inside is ''something in a cage that had long-since died; its skeleton had five legs''; this could possibly be the skeleton of a [[Quintaped]].
 
*When Harry is hiding the Half-Blood Prince's book in the Room of Requirement, he opens a cupboard and inside is ''something in a cage that had long-since died; its skeleton had five legs''; this could possibly be the skeleton of a [[Quintaped]].
   
*Many readers believed that Dumbledore was not actually dead, and postulated many theories to explain how his death had been faked. A website was even created entitled "Dumbledoreisnotdead.com". J.K. Rowling later stated in an interview that "Dumbledore is definitely dead." This was definitively confirmed in ''[[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]]''.
+
*Many readers believed that Dumbledore was not actually dead, and postulated many theories to explain how his death had been faked. A website was even created entitled "Dumbledoreisnotdead.com". J.K. Rowling later stated in an interview that "Dumbledore is definitely dead." This was definitively confirmed in {{DH}}.
   
 
*In the ''Simpsons'' episode "The Bob Next Door", Sideshow Bob spoils the book's ending by revealing that Snape killed Dumbledore, to which Bart complains he hadn't gotten to that part yet and Sideshow Bob responds "It's a four year old book!".
 
*In the ''Simpsons'' episode "The Bob Next Door", Sideshow Bob spoils the book's ending by revealing that Snape killed Dumbledore, to which Bart complains he hadn't gotten to that part yet and Sideshow Bob responds "It's a four year old book!".
 
*Also, in the ''Big Bang Theory'' episode "The Spoiler Alert Segmentation", Sheldon reveals Dumbledore's death to Leonard while he reads it, much to his anger (though the book would have been seven years old at the time).
 
*Also, in the ''Big Bang Theory'' episode "The Spoiler Alert Segmentation", Sheldon reveals Dumbledore's death to Leonard while he reads it, much to his anger (though the book would have been seven years old at the time).
*This is the first book in the series where Harry was right about who the enemy was. In ''Philosopher's Stone'' they thought Snape was after the stone when it was Quirrell; in ''Chamber of Secrets'' they thought Malfoy opened the Chamber of Secrets, and that Hagrid opened it the first time, when it was really Riddle on both occasions; in ''Prisoner of Azkaban'', everyone thought Sirius was a mass murderer and follower of Voldemort, when it was really Pettigrew; and in ''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'', they thought Karkaroff put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire when it was really Barty Crouch Jr.
+
*This is the first book in the series where Harry was right about who the enemy was. In ''Philosopher's Stone'' they thought Snape was after the stone when it was Quirrell; in ''Chamber of Secrets'' they thought Malfoy opened the Chamber of Secrets, and that Hagrid opened it the first time, when it was really Riddle on both occasions; in ''Prisoner of Azkaban'', everyone thought Sirius was a mass murderer and follower of Voldemort, when it was really Pettigrew; and in ''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'', they thought Karkaroff put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire when it was really Barty Crouch Jnr.
  +
*The film version of ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'' is the fifth and last appearance of Quidditch, apart from the burning of the Quidditch Pitch in ''Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2''.
 
 
*Snape is revealed to be the Half-Blood Prince. This marks the second time someone at Hogwarts is revealed to be a wizard under a different name. The first was Tom Riddle when he was revealed to be Voldemort in Chamber of Secrets.
 
*Snape is revealed to be the Half-Blood Prince. This marks the second time someone at Hogwarts is revealed to be a wizard under a different name. The first was Tom Riddle when he was revealed to be Voldemort in Chamber of Secrets.
 
*This also marks the second time Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy duel.
 
*This also marks the second time Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy duel.
*The film version marks the sixth appearance of the Hogwarts Express; the other times were ''Philosopher's Stone ''(Harry's first year), second time was ''Chamber of Secrets ''(Harry and Ron miss the train), third time was ''Prisoner of Azkaban ''(the train was stopped due to Dementors searching for Sirius Black), fourth time was ''Goblet of Fire'', and fifth time was ''Order of the Phoenix''.
 
*The film version marks the only time Draco Malfoy rides the Hogwarts Express.
 
 
*This marks Draco Malfoy's first trip to Diagon Alley, and Knockturn Alley, since ''Chamber of Secrets'' (although it is very likely that he visited each year in between, but did not meet Harry there.)
 
*This marks Draco Malfoy's first trip to Diagon Alley, and Knockturn Alley, since ''Chamber of Secrets'' (although it is very likely that he visited each year in between, but did not meet Harry there.)
*The [[Salamandra|Spanish]] version, the name is ''Harry Potter y el Misterio del Príncipe'', which means Harry Potter and the Mystery of the Prince. Something similar happens in the [[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets|second]] book.
+
*The [[Ediciones Salamandra|Spanish]] version, the name is ''Harry Potter y el Misterio del Príncipe'', which means Harry Potter and the Mystery of the Prince. Something similar happens in the [[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets|second]] book.
*Slughorn called Ron Rupert during Aragog's funeral, ironically, the actor that plays Ron in the movies is called Rupert Grint. J.K Rowling may have intentionally done this, as she would obviously be aware that Rupert Grint played Ron Weasley in the movie adaptations of the books.
+
*Slughorn called Ron Rupert during Aragog's funeral, ironically, the actor that plays Ron in the films is called Rupert Grint. J.K Rowling may have intentionally done this, as she would obviously be aware that Rupert Grint played Ron Weasley in the film adaptations of the books.
 
*[[Cheryl Klein]] served as the title's continuity editor.
 
*[[Cheryl Klein]] served as the title's continuity editor.
  +
*The first chapter, "The Other Minister," is a re-purpose of an early draft for the first chapter of the first title, ''Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone''. In this draft, Rubeus Hagrid visited Cornelius Fudge, who was the Prime Minister of muggles, to inform him of Voldemort being responsible for a number of disappearances and to ask him to alert the public of certain facts. Fudge fears that Vernon Dursley, his political opponent, will try to take his position, only to learn that Dursley is already aware of the existence of wizards. The chapter ends with Hagrid informing Dursley of Voldemort's disappearance, due to Voldemort's attempt to kill Harry. This draft can be read in ''[[Harry Potter: A Journey Through a History of Magic]]''.
   
==Errors==
+
==Mistakes==
  +
{{Main|Mistakes in the Harry Potter books#Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince}}
*In the sixth year's first [[Potions (class)|Potions]] lesson with [[Horace Slughorn|Slughorn]], where he offers [[Felix Felicis]] as a prize, he states that the vial contains "enough for twelve hours' luck." However, when Harry is considering taking it to get the memory from Slughorn, he tells Ron and Hermione that he would only need to take a bit of the potion, "not twenty-four hours' worth." This error, found only in the American version of the book, is corrected in later editions.
 
*On page one-hundred and one of the British version of ''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'', Ron mentions that Hermione got ten Outstandings and one Exceeds Expectations for Defence Against the Dark Arts giving her a total of eleven O.W.L.s. However, as she dropped both Divination and [[Muggle Studies]] in her third year, she could not possibly have got eleven O.W.L.s as she was only doing ten subjects — [[Transfiguration (class)|Transfiguration]], [[Charms (class)|Charms]], [[Herbology]], [[Potions (class)|Potions]], [[Defence Against the Dark Arts]], [[History of Magic]], [[Astronomy]], [[Care of Magical Creatures]], [[Arithmancy]] and [[Study of Ancient Runes|Ancient Runes]]. This error was corrected in later editions.
 
*On page 415 of the American edition, it says "...McLaggen took a ferocious swipe at the Bludger and missed it." In the original edition "missed" was mistakenly printed as "mishit." This was corrected in later editions.
 
*In the ninth chapter, it says, "Draco had a look on his face similar to the time Hermione had punched him." This is a mistake, because in the novel ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]'', Hermione slaps him. This is true in the [[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)|film adaptation]], though, so J.K. Rowling may had mixed up the events of the films and the books.
 
*In the chapter "The Secret Riddle," ". . . Dumbledore entered the room . . . It was a small bare room with nothing in it except an old wardrobe and an iron bedstead." A couple paragraphs later, "Dumbledore drew up the hard wooden chair beside Riddle, so that the pair of them looked rather like a hospital patient and visitor." This error is corrected in later editions.
 
*On page three-hundred and forty-two of the American version, there is a punctuation error when [[Molly Weasley]] says "Have a little purkey, or some tooding...Oh dear, I mean-" to [[Rufus Scrimgeour]]. There are no quotation marks in front of the ''have'' in the statement. This is corrected in later editions.
 
*In Chapter 2, "Spinner's End," Snape tells Bellatrix he had sixteen years worth of information on Dumbledore to give to Voldemort when Voldemort returned in ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]].'' However, the time between Voldemort's original downfall and his return was less than ''fourteen'' years.
 
*On page 446 of the UK version of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, it states that "after checking carefully that Neville, Dean, and Seamus were all in the common room..."<br />However, on page 447, after Harry has taken the Felix Felicis, it states that "Getting through the portrait hole was simple; as he approached it, Ginny and Dean came through it and Harry was able to slip between them."
 
*In Chapter 3 (Will and Won't), page 48 of the American version, Dumbledore places his wand in his pocket shortly after moving the couch under the Dursleys. A few lines later, it states that with a "third twitch of the wand" Dumbledore summons a bottle and five glasses. There is no indication that Dumbledore had taken out his wand again, and the timing of this action would seem to indicate that this is something of a mistake in the writing, albeit a small one.
 
*In the British audio books, when the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione are in "Weasley's Wizard Wheezes", the narrator says "Patented daydream charms" in a voice that might indicate calling. This is a mistake, as it is a sign on the product box and there are no quotation marks indicated in the print version of the book.
 
   
==Film Adaptation==
+
==Film adaptation==
  +
{{Main|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)}}
The book was also adapted into a film, the sixth Harry Potter film of the series. The movie [[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]] was released on [[15 July]], 2009. It was directed by [[David Yates]] and the trio was starred by [[Daniel Radcliffe]] , [[Rupert Grint]] and[[ Emma Watson]].
 
  +
The book was also adapted into a film, the sixth ''Harry Potter'' film of the series. The film ''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)|Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]'' was released on [[15 July]] [[2009]]. It was directed by [[David Yates]] and the trio was portrayed by [[Daniel Radcliffe]], [[Rupert Grint]] and [[Emma Watson]].
   
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
  +
*{{HBP|F}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (film)]]''
 
  +
*{{HBP|G}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (video game)]]''
 
  +
*{{HBP|FS}}
*''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (soundtrack)]]''
 
*[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Full Plot Summary]]
 
 
*[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (character index)]]
 
*[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (character index)]]
*[[1996-1997 school year]]
+
*[[1996–1997 school year]]
 
*[[Sixth year]]
 
*[[Sixth year]]
   
 
==Notes and references==
 
==Notes and references==
 
{{Reflist}}
 
{{Reflist}}
  +
#{{Note|latimes}}[http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-071805potter_lat,0,4363703.story?coll=la-home-headlines http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-071805potter_lat,0,4363703.story?coll=la-home-headlines]
 
  +
#{{Note|latimes}}http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-071805potter_lat,0,4363703.story?coll=la-home-headlines
#{{Note|cbc}}[http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2005/07/12/Arts/potterrecycle050712.html http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2005/07/12/Arts/potterrecycle050712.html]
 
#{{Note|worldrelease}}[http://www.veritaserum.com/books/book6/releasedates.shtml http://www.veritaserum.com/books/book6/releasedates.shtml]
+
#{{Note|cbc}}http://web.archive.org/web/20050714043333/http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2005/07/12/Arts/potterrecycle050712.html
  +
#{{Note|worldrelease}}http://www.veritaserum.com/books/book6/releasedates.shtml
#{{Note|bbc}}[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/4578463.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/4578463.stm]
 
  +
#{{Note|bbc}}http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/4578463.stm
#{{Note|canada.com}}[http://www.canada.com/vancouver/story.html?id=9badf853-c1c3-4786-bf4f-75a5071e5c07 http://www.canada.com/vancouver/story.html?id=9badf853-c1c3-4786-bf4f-75a5071e5c07]
 
  +
#{{Note|canada.com}}http://www.canada.com/vancouver/story.html?id=9badf853-c1c3-4786-bf4f-75a5071e5c07
 
#{{Note|michaelgeist}}[http://michaelgeist.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=889 http://michaelgeist.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=889]
 
#{{Note|michaelgeist}}[http://michaelgeist.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=889 http://michaelgeist.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=889]
 
#{{Note|stallman}}[http://stallman.org/harry-potter.html http://stallman.org/harry-potter.html http://stallman.org/harry-potter.html http://stallman.org/harry-potter.html]
 
#{{Note|stallman}}[http://stallman.org/harry-potter.html http://stallman.org/harry-potter.html http://stallman.org/harry-potter.html http://stallman.org/harry-potter.html]
#{{Note|globeandmail}}[http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20050716.POTTERNOTE16/TPStory http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20050716.POTTERNOTE16/TPStory].
+
#{{Note|globeandmail}}http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20050716.POTTERNOTE16/TPStory.
# <sup>[HP2]</sup>'''[[Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets]]''' by [[J. K. Rowling|J.K. Rowling]] (1998), UK ISBN 0747538492/US ISBN 0439064864
+
# <sup>[HP2]</sup>'{{COS}}' by [[J. K. Rowling]] (1998), UK ISBN 0747538492/US ISBN 0439064864
# <sup>[HP6]</sup>'''[[Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince]]''' by [[J. K. Rowling|J.K. Rowling]] (2005), UK ISBN 0747581088/US ISBN 0439784549
+
# <sup>[HP6]</sup>'''Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince''' by [[J. K. Rowling]] (2005), UK ISBN 0747581088/US ISBN 0439784549
   
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
Line 449: Line 439:
 
*[http://www.dumbledoreisnotdead.com/ Spoiler about character death]
 
*[http://www.dumbledoreisnotdead.com/ Spoiler about character death]
   
  +
{{Harry Potter}}
 
  +
[[de:Harry Potter und der Halbblutprinz]]
{{Harrypotter}}
 
  +
[[de2:Harry Potter und der Halbblutprinz]]
 
[[de:Harry Potter und der Halbblutprinz (Buch)]]
 
 
[[es:Harry Potter y el misterio del príncipe]]
 
[[es:Harry Potter y el misterio del príncipe]]
  +
[[fi:Harry Potter ja puoliverinen prinssi]]
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[[it:Harry Potter e il Principe Mezzosangue]]
 
[[fr:Harry Potter et le Prince de Sang-Mêlé]]
 
[[fr:Harry Potter et le Prince de Sang-Mêlé]]
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[[ja:ハリー・ポッターと謎のプリンス]]
 
[[nl:Harry Potter en de Halfbloed Prins]]
 
[[nl:Harry Potter en de Halfbloed Prins]]
 
[[pl:Harry Potter i Książę Półkrwi]]
 
[[pl:Harry Potter i Książę Półkrwi]]
  +
[[pt:Harry Potter e o Enigma do Príncipe]]
 
[[ru:Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка]]
 
[[ru:Гарри Поттер и Принц-полукровка]]
[[fi:Harry Potter ja puoliverinen prinssi]]
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[[tr:Harry Potter ve Melez Prens]]
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[[vi:Harry Potter và Hoàng tử Lai]]
[[Category:Books (real-world)]]
 
  +
[[zh:哈利·波特与“混血王子”]]
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[[no:Harry Potter og Halvblodsprinsen]]
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[[Category:Books (real-world)|6]]
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[[Category:Canon]]
 
[[Category:Out of universe]]
 
[[Category:Out of universe]]

Latest revision as of 14:42, 13 January 2024

"I really like how the sixth book is going. A lot happens in the sixth book and a lot of questions are answered. I really have a sense that we are nearly there and it is time for answers, not more questions and clues, although obviously there are a few clues as I am not quite finished yet."
J. K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth novel in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series. Set during Harry Potter's sixth year at Hogwarts, Lord Voldemort is definitely back, and with a vengeance. Harry finds his world is yet again changing: wizards and witches and Muggles alike are dying, despite the efforts of the Ministry of Magic and the Order of the Phoenix. Despite the danger, Harry and his best friends, Ron and Hermione, return to the familiar life of Hogwarts for their sixth year. They find yet another Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher: Professor Snape. They begin their N.E.W.T. classes in preparation for life after Hogwarts, and Harry gets some much needed Potions help from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince. Quidditch is as popular as ever, Harry is nominated as Gryffindor Quidditch Captain.

As well, this book sees the re-introduction of the Slug Club, along with the appointment of a new Potions teacher, Horace Slughorn. Romance again comes to Hogwarts, and is a welcome balance to the grim happenings elsewhere. Harry deeply questions his own feelings for Ginny Weasley, who is Ron's younger sister, while trying to understand the effect it is having on his friends. Yet, while life at Hogwarts continues, the deaths also continue, with several near-fatal incidents occurring at Hogwarts. Danger seems to lurk around every corner, and Harry is as determined as ever to unmask it. Albus Dumbledore takes Harry under his guidance and together they explore Lord Voldemort's past, to find a way to stop him before it is too late. Ultimately, Harry realises he must accepts his role as The Chosen One, and his destiny to either kill or be killed by Voldemort, as neither can live while the other survives. They all must choose between what is right and what is easy.

When released on 16 July 2005, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was the first book in the United Kingdom to have a simultaneous standard print, large print, and Braille edition release. Within the first 24 hours, it sold 6.9 million copies in the U.S. alone, roughly moving 250,000 an hour, making it the fastest selling book in history. It generated more than $100 million in sales out of the gate, outpacing even the combined take of the top films at the box office. Bookseller Barnes and Noble reported sales averaging 105 copies per second in the first hour of sales. It is also the first book in the series to be shorter than the book preceding it.

Book description

Harry potter HBP Scholastic edition

US edition cover by Mary GrandPré

It is Harry Potter 's sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As Voldemort's sinister forces amass and a spirit of gloom and fear sweeps the land, it becomes more and more clear to Harry that he will soon have to confront his destiny. But is he up to the challenges ahead of him?

Raincoast Bloomsbury edition

It is the middle of the summer, but there is an unseasonal mist pressing against the window panes. Harry Potter is waiting nervously in his bedroom at the Dursleys' house in Privet Drive for a visit from Professor Dumbledore himself. One of the last times he saw the Headmaster was in a fierce one-to-one duel with Lord Voldemort, and Harry can't quite believe that Professor Dumbledore will actually appear at the Dursleys' of all places. Why is the Professor coming to visit him now? What is it that cannot wait until Harry returns to Hogwarts in a few weeks' time? Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts has already got off to an unusual start, as the worlds of Muggle and magic start to intertwine...

Dedication

Books chapterart hbp 00

Advanced Potion-Making

Rowling became pregnant with her third child during the writing of this book, and often joked about them racing each other into the world. For this reason, the book was dedicated to her:

To Mackenzie,
My beautiful daughter,
I dedicate
Her ink-and-paper twin.

Plot

Chapter 1: The Other Minister

"The trouble is, the other side can do magic too, Prime Minister."
— Rufus Scrimgeour, to the Muggle Prime Minister.
Books chapterart hbp 01

Portrait of Ulick Gamp in the Prime Minister's office

The Muggle Prime Minister receives a notice that Cornelius Fudge is to meet him. He then recollects Fudge's earlier meetings with him: his first meeting with Fudge soon after he became the Prime Minister, Sirius Black's escape from Azkaban, the Quidditch World Cup, the Triwizard Tournament and the 1996 Azkaban mass breakout. When Fudge finally arrives, he reveals a number of incidents which had occurred in the Muggle world and for which the Prime Minister is forced to owe responsibility: the collapse of the Brockdale Bridge, a supposed hurricane in the West Country, the deaths of Amelia Bones and Emmeline Vance and the insanity of Junior Minister Herbert Chorley which have all been caused by Lord Voldemort, his followers the Death Eaters and their Giant allies. In short, the Second Wizarding War has begun. Fudge also reveals that he has been sacked and replaced by Rufus Scrimgeour as Minister for Magic. Scrimgeour too meets the Prime Minister and discusses security arrangements with him. He also reveals that Fudge will be a laison between them.

Chapter 2: Spinner's End

"Do you really think that the Dark Lord has not asked me each and every one of those questions? And do you really think that, had I not been able to give satisfactory answers, I would be sitting here talking to you?"
— Snape, to Bellatrix Lestrange.
Books chapterart hbp 02

Bellatrix and Narcissa Malfoy at Snape's House

Narcissa Malfoy and her sister Bellatrix Lestrange visit Severus Snape at Spinner's End, a poverty-stricken neighbourhood in a northern mill town. Narcissa wants Snape to help her protect her son Draco, who has been made a Death Eater and has been assigned a mission by Lord Voldemort himself. Bellatrix advises against this, distrusting Snape for not taking part in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic, and for his many suspicious actions through the years which make her doubt whether Snape is actually on their side. Snape explains his behaviour: He was at Hogwarts when Voldemort fell to be a spy for him, he didn't seek him out for the same reason her brother in law and the other deserters didn't look for him, he stopped Voldemort from getting the Philosopher's Stone because he thought Quirrell wanted it for himself, he never tried to kill Harry Potter because Dumbledore would know about it, and he didn't take part in the Battle of the Department of Mysteries because Voldemort ordered him to stay at Hogwarts. Snape also tells Narcissa that he knows about Draco's mission. Bellatrix tells her sister she should be proud but Narcissa believes that Voldemort is sending him on a suicide mission as punishment for her husband's failure. Snape offers to help Draco. Narcissa asks him to make an Unbreakable Vow and he agrees. With Bellatrix as their Bonder, Narcissa asks Snape to agree to the following terms:

  1. That he watch over Draco while he attempts to carry out his mission as a Death Eater.
  2. That he protect him and make sure he comes to no harm.
  3. That he do the job for Draco if he proves unable to do it himself.

Snape agrees to all three terms and the vow is made.

Chapter 3: Will and Won't

""It is a long time since my last visit... I must say, your agapanthus are flourishing."
— Dumbledore, to the Dursleys.
Books chapterart hbp 03

The Dursleys being served by Dumbledore

Albus Dumbledore comes to visit Harry Potter at 4 Privet Drive to take him to The Burrow, where he would spend the rest of his summer holidays. Dumbledore reads Sirius Black's will: Harry inherits his deceased godfather's wealth, the Black family house at 12 Grimmauld Place, which Harry lets the Order of the Phoenix continue to use as headquarters, and the House-elf Kreacher, whom Harry sends to work at the Hogwarts kitchens. Dumbledore then chastises the Dursleys for their neglect and mistreatment of Harry but asks that he be allowed to return to Privet Drive one final time, and he and Harry depart.

Chapter 4: Horace Slughorn

"He seemed remarkably unabashed for a man who had just been discovered pretending to be an armchair."
— Description of Horace Slughorn.
Books chapterart hbp 04

The Slughorn Armchair

Harry notices Dumbledore has received a serious injury to his right hand, but the Headmaster dismisses it as unimportant. Dumbledore then asks Harry's help in convincing an old Hogwarts teacher, Horace Slughorn, to come out of retirement. They pay him a visit, but Slughorn is reluctant to return to the school, fearing it may put his life in danger from Death Eaters. Harry tells him that no teachers have died since Dumbledore became Headmaster, except Professor Quirrell, who was working for Voldemort, and reassures him that teachers at the school do not have to be members of the Order of the Phoenix. This dubious comfort, and the opportunity to get Harry to join his Slug Club, persuades Slughorn to return to Hogwarts. Dumbledore then drops Harry off at The Burrow, praising him for the way he has handled his godfather's untimely death and reveals that he would take private classes for him in the forthcoming academic year.

Chapter 5: An Excess of Phlegm

"Seven OWLs, that's more than Fred and George got together!"
— Molly Weasley, to Ron.
Books chapterart hbp 05

Phlegm (Fleur Delacour)

Harry is warmly received at The Burrow by the Weasley family, who offer him Fred and George's bedroom to sleep in. Harry meets his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger and Ron's younger sister Ginny Weasley the following morning. He also meets Triwizard Champion Fleur Delacour, who is now working at Gringotts and is engaged to Ron's oldest brother Bill Weasley, which is not liked by Hermione, Ginny, and the rest of the Weasleys (except Arthur and Ron). Later in the day, the trio receive their O.W.L. results; Harry and Ron receive 7 O.W.L.s while Hermione receives 10. However, Harry is slightly disappointed as he has only achieved 'Exceeds Expectations' in Potions, meaning he can no longer realise his ambition as an Auror as Snape only takes students who have achieved 'Outstanding' into his N.E.W.T. Potions class.

Chapter 6: Draco's Detour

"WHY ARE YOU WORRYING ABOUT YOU-KNOW-WHO? YOU SHOULD BE WORRYING ABOUT U-NO-POO — THE CONSTIPATION SENSATION THAT'S GRIPPING THE NATION!"
— Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes poster.
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Draco proving a robe at Madam Malkin's

After spending the next few weeks at The Burrow, Harry and Hermione go with the Weasleys to Diagon Alley to get school supplies. Rubeus Hagrid is entrusted with providing security to the group. After a fight with Draco Malfoy and his mother at Madam Malkin's, the entire group go to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, Fred and George's successful joke shop. Harry insists on paying for the merchandise, but Fred and George refuse his money as he was the one who gave them the money to start the joke shop, and Ginny buys a Pygmy Puff as a pet. While still in the store, Harry, Ron, and Hermione spot Malfoy walking through Diagon Alley without his mother and follow him under the Invisibility Cloak to Knockturn Alley and see him enter Borgin and Burkes, a shop that sells dark artefacts. The trio wait outside, listening to Draco by Extendable Ears and watching him through a window. They hear Malfoy talking with the owner Borgin, about repairing an object and keeping another object safe. Malfoy also shows Borgin something which Harry suspects is the Dark Mark (a mark branded on the left forearm of each Death Eater), and threatens Borgin by referring to the werewolf Fenrir Greyback. Harry comes to the conclusion that Malfoy has become a Death Eater and is up to no good, a theory which is dismissed by Ron and Hermione.

Chapter 7: The Slug Club

"I enjoyed the meetings too... It was like having friends."
— Luna Lovegood, about the D.A meetings.
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Harry, Neville and Luna on the Hogwart's Express

On the Hogwarts Express, Harry meets his other friends Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood and shares a compartment with them, as Ron and Hermione are in the Prefect Carriage. By now, Harry finds himself attracted to Ginny, although she appears to have long given up on her crush on him and is currently dating Harry's classmate Dean Thomas. Harry and Neville are invited for lunch to Slughorn's compartment on the train along with Ginny and some other students with connections to well known or influential people. Before reaching Hogsmeade station, Harry enters Malfoy's compartment using his Invisibility Cloak to prove his suspicions about Malfoy. His suspicions are proven correct: Malfoy tells his friends Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini that he has become a Death Eater and he may not return to Hogwarts for his final year if the mission he was assigned by Voldemort is successful. Unfortunately for Harry, Malfoy notices Harry spying on him and once his friends have alighted from the train, he paralyses Harry, breaks his nose, covers him with the Invisibility Cloak and leaves him on the train.

Chapter 8: Snape Victorious

"I think you were better off with the old one. The new one looks weak."
— Snape, about Tonks' Patronus.
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Tonks making the Patronus Charm

Nymphadora Tonks, who is assigned by the Ministry of Magic to guard Hogsmeade, comes to Harry's rescue. She takes him to the school, where he is received by Snape. At the Start-of-Term Feast, Dumbledore announces, to Harry's shock, that Snape is taking over the post of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, while Slughorn will be taking Snape's vacated job as Potions Master. This allows Harry and Ron to continue with Potions, as Slughorn takes students who have received 'Exceeds Expectations' in their Potions O.W.L.

Chapter 9: The Half-Blood Prince

"Slughorn could've handed me that book, but no, I get the one no one's ever written on. Puked on, by the look of page fifty-two..."
— Ron, about Harry taking the Half-Blood Prince book.
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"Felix Felicis"

Harry and Ron take up Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Potions and Transfiguration as their N.E.W.T. subjects. During the first Defence Against the Arts class of the year, Harry receives a detention from Snape as he had talked back to him following Snape trying to use him as a guinea pig to show how a nonverbal spell works. Later that day, they attend Potions, where Harry and Ron receive old copies of Advanced Potion-Making from Slughorn as they did not buy the book. Harry's book, previously owned by someone named The Half-Blood Prince, contains a large number of shortcuts on making various potions, which prove useful in brewing the Draught of Living Death. To everyone's surprise, Harry's potion is judged the best by Slughorn and is awarded a bottle of Felix Felicis as a prize. When Harry tells Ron and Hermione about the book, Ginny overhears them and angrily confronts Harry about following the directions of this mysterious book in fear that it may be cursed like Tom Riddle's diary. A jealous Hermione then tries various spells to reveal the true nature of the book, but the book proves to be a normal one, allaying Ginny and Hermione's fears.

Chapter 10: The House of Gaunt

"From here on in, Harry, I may be as woefully wrong as Humphrey Belcher, who believed the time was ripe for a cheese cauldron."
— Dumbledore, about his assumptions about Riddle's plans.
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The house of the Gaunt family

As promised at The Burrow, Albus Dumbledore begins the private series of lessons with Harry concerning Lord Voldemort. In the first lesson, Dumbledore shows Harry the first of a number of memories he has collected concerning Voldemort's past using The Pensieve. It shows a former Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Patrol, Bob Ogden visiting a man named Marvolo Gaunt in order to summon his son Morfin to a Ministry hearing in connection with an attack on a Muggle named Tom Riddle. A huge commotion occurs: Morfin attacks Ogden, with Marvolo stoutly defending his son's actions. Marvolo also tries to attack his daughter Merope after finding out that she has a crush on Riddle. After viewing this memory, Dumbledore tells Harry that both Marvolo and Morfin were sentenced to six months and three years imprisonment respectively in Azkaban due to their behaviour to Ogden and other Ministry officials. He also reveals that Merope Gaunt was Voldemort's mother and Riddle was his father, thus making Marvolo Voldemort's maternal grandfather and Morfin his maternal uncle. He then speculates that following Marvolo and Morfin's arrest, Merope may have offered a love potion to Riddle or used the Imperius Curse, as a result of which they fell in love and got married. Later, when Merope was pregnant, she may have stopped giving the potion to Riddle, which may have led to Riddle, who had no love for Merope, leaving her and returning to his village.

Chapter 11: Hermione's Helping Hand

"Oh, come on, Harry, It's not Quidditch that's popular, it's you! You've never been more interesting, and frankly, you've never been more fanciable."
— Hermione about Harry.
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Confunded McLaggen during the Quidditch tryout

Harry, the new Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, holds trials to select the team for the annual Quidditch Cup. Due to Harry's popularity, it proves to be extremely taxing and difficult, with even first-years, Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs turning up for the trials. In the end, Harry selects a team which includes among others, seventh-year Katie Bell, the only member remaining from the Quidditch team Harry joined in his first year, Ginny, who returned as a chaser, and Ron, who returned to his position as Keeper, staving off competition from another seventh-year and Slug Club member Cormac McLaggen. Later Harry, Ron and Hermione go visit Hagrid, who is upset at them as they had dropped his subject, Care of Magical Creatures. After lying to Hagrid that they had dropped Care of Magical Creatures as they could not fit it into their timetables, Hagrid reconciles with them. When the trio return to the Great Hall for dinner, Harry finds out that Hermione had used the Confundus Charm on McLaggen so that Ron would become Keeper, but he does not tell Ron this. Slughorn then invites Harry and Hermione for dinner with the other Slug Club members in his office, which Harry declines as he has to do his detention with Snape.

Chapter 12: Silver and Opals

"He did not usually lie in bed reading his textbooks; that sort of behaviour, as Ron rightly said, was indecent in anybody except Hermione, who was simply weird that way."
— Description of Harry's obsession about the Half-Blood Prince book.
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Imperiused Katie Bell touching a cursed necklace

Harry finds a couple of spells scribbled on the Half-Blood Prince's textbook. He tries one of them (Levicorpus) in his dormitory, but points his wand at Ron by mistake, which results in Ron hanging by his ankle from the ceiling. Later that day, Harry, Ron and Hermione go to Hogsmeade, where they witness Katie being cursed after touching a strange necklace. Remembering seeing the same necklace in Borgin's shop, Harry voices his suspicions of Malfoy to Professor McGonagall, but she, like Ron and Hermione, rubbishes his theory, stating that Malfoy did not go to Hogsmeade as he had a detention with her, and that there is no proof that he bought the necklace.

Chapter 13: The Secret Riddle

"I can make bad things happen to people who annoy me. I can make them hurt if I want to."
— Tom Riddle, to Dumbledore.
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Tom Riddle reading on his bed at Wool's Orphanage in Dumbledore's memory

In his second lesson with Dumbledore, Harry first sees Caractacus Burke talking about a locket of Salazar Slytherin's that a pregnant and desperate Merope Gaunt had sold him, Riddle having abandoned her when she stopped bewitching him, then goes into a memory of Dumbledore's to the orphanage that Riddle had grown up in. Harry learns that Merope had later died in childbirth, and that even at an early age, Riddle had developed his powers, which he used to punish people who annoyed him and had a sadistic, cruel and independent nature, just like the adult Voldemort. Dumbledore also reveals to Harry that Voldemort likes to collect trophies.

Chapter 14: Felix Felicis

"Ron... you're my best mate, but carry on treating the rest of them like this and I'm going to kick you off the team."
— Harry to Ron.
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Ron "drinking" the Felix Felicis Potion

During a Herbology lesson, Ron expresses his jealousy of not being invited to Slughorn's upcoming Christmas party, to the point of teasing Hermione about it. When she tells him that she was planning to invite him, however, his attitude changes, and they begin to show signs of attraction to each other. Harry is unsure how he feels about this, remembering his unsuccessful relationship with Cho Chang during his fifth year. With Katie unable to play, Harry recruits Dean Thomas onto the Quidditch team, which continues to improve. On their way back from practice however, Harry and Ron come across Dean and Ginny kissing behind a tapestry. Harry feels a huge surge of jealousy toward Dean, while Ron and Ginny have a heated argument. Ron states that he doesn't want to see his sister "snogging" (kissing) people in public, while Ginny tells him that her love life is none of his business, and that he's only upset because he's never kissed anyone, referencing Harry and Cho's relationship and revealing that Hermione had once kissed Viktor Krum. This piece of information wrecks Ron's relationship with Hermione, as well as his Quidditch skills, and badly alters his personality. Harry meanwhile tries to convince himself that his feelings for Ginny are entirely elder brotherly, but eventually realises that he has fallen in love with her. To improve Ron's Quidditch and mend his friendship with Hermione, Harry pretends to slip Ron some Felix Felicis on the day of the match between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Feeling lucky, Ron goes on to save everything the Slytherin chasers throw at him, and Gryffindor hammers Slytherin. However, the plan backfires. After the match, Ron accuses Hermione of not having faith in his Quidditch abilities, because she thought he really had taken Felix Felicis and starts going out with Lavender Brown to spite her, and Hermione in response, uses the Oppugno Jinx to have a flock of conjured birds viciously attack him.

Chapter 15: The Unbreakable Vow

""How would you like to come with me to Slughorn's party tonight?"
— Harry Potter asks Luna Lovegood to Slughorn's party.
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Malfoy caught by Filch prowling the corridors

As Slughorn's Christmas party approaches, Hermione warns Harry that a number of girls, particularly Romilda Vane, plan to slip him a love potion, to get him to invite them. Harry gets around this by going to the party with Luna, while Hermione goes with Cormac McLaggen to get back at Ron (which she regrets very much later). During the party, Malfoy is dragged in, in trouble for lurking in a certain deserted corridor and claiming to be gatecrashing; Slughorn lets him off the hook. Snape, however, takes Malfoy out of the party and into a deserted classroom. Harry follows them both and overhears Snape offering to help Malfoy with his mission, which Malfoy flatly refuses, accusing Snape of trying to interfere and steal his glory.

Chapter 16: A Very Frosty Christmas

"Dumbledore's man through and through, aren't you, Potter?"
— Rufus Scrimgeour, after Harry's negation to work for the Ministry.
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Burrow's Christmas Tree

During the Christmas holidays at the Burrow, Harry tells Ron, his father Arthur Weasley and Remus Lupin what he overheard, but they believe that Snape was trying to find out Malfoy's plan so he could tell Dumbledore. Later, Rufus Scrimgeour visits the Burrow, and requests that Harry appear to work alongside the Ministry, to boost the morale of the public. Harry turns it down, knowing that the Ministry is arresting and imprisoning innocent people and remembering how they persecuted him last year.

Chapter 17: A Sluggish Memory

Phineas Nigellus: "I can't see why the boy should be able to do it better than you, Dumbledore."
Albus Dumbledore: "I wouldn't expect you to, Phineas."
— Phineas Nigellus about Dumbledore's mission to Harry.
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Voldemort speaking with his uncle, Morfin Gaunt

On their return to Hogwarts, Harry notices Ginny is not enthusiastic about meeting Dean, and tells Hermione about what he heard between Malfoy and Snape, but she also believes Snape was working on Dumbledore's orders. When Harry mentions Fenrir Greyback, a werewolf Lupin had told him about during the holidays and the werewolf that bit him, she recalls Malfoy threatening Borgin with him, and Harry states that this proves Malfoy's a Death Eater. Hermione, however, got past this one, saying that it might have been "an empty threat." In his third lesson with Dumbledore, Harry learns that during his time at Hogwarts, Voldemort had gathered a mixture of friends who became the forerunners of the Death Eaters, and researched his family. He first investigated his father, and later assumed the name Lord Voldemort upon discovering his father was a Muggle and never attended Hogwarts. Dumbledore and Harry then go into Morfin Gaunt's memory, where he reveals to his nephew, Voldemort how he was conceived. After hearing this, Voldemort went on to murder his Muggle ancestors, taking revenge on them for abandoning him, eliminating the last of the "unworthy" Riddle line, stealing Morfin's father's ring and implanted false memories into Morfin, framing him for the murders. In the next memory, Voldemort asks Slughorn about Horcruxes, which results in Slughorn yelling that he knows nothing about them. Dumbledore is confident that the memory has been tampered with, however, noting patches of grey fog that came up when Slughorn was shouting, and asks Harry to retrieve the true memory. Realising Harry is on to him after a botched attempt from Harry to get the memory, Slughorn starts avoiding him, and Harry instead chooses to focus on investigating Malfoy, using the Marauder's Map, noticing that Malfoy disappears off it at certain times.

Chapter 18: Birthday Surprises

"Meanwhile, the Hogwarts library had failed Hermione for the first time in living memory. She was so shocked, she even forgot that she was annoyed at Harry for his trick with the bezoar."
— Hermione not finding about Horcruxes on the Library.
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Harry at the apparition lesson

Harry is still doing the apparation lessons and has no luck of apparating. Here Wilkie Twycross, Ministry of Magic official and Apparition Instructor, tries the sixth year batch to teach apparation and according to him, one has but to recall 'The Three D's: Destination, Determination and Deliberation'. One must be completely determined to reach one's destination, and move without haste, but with deliberation.

March has arrived and on Ron's seventeenth birthday (first of March) he consumes a number of Chocolate Cauldrons containing a love potion (courtesy of Romilda and intended for Harry). Harry takes him down to Slughorn for an antidote, and the three of them decide to have some of Rosmerta's Mulled Mead, originally meant for Dumbledore. However, Ron drinks it and discovers (too late, of course) that it is poisoned. Thankfully, Harry manages to save him with a Bezoar.

Chapter 19: Elf Tails

"Surely nobody in their right mind would have let Luna Lovegood commentate?"
— Harry, about Luna.
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Kreacher and Dobby

Ron reconciles with Hermione and Ginny. Some time afterwards, Hagrid tells Harry that he overheard Dumbledore and Snape arguing, and Cormac McLaggen confronts Harry to ensure he can play in Ron's place in the upcoming Quidditch match. Harry also finds out that Ron has been avoiding Lavender. Later, at the Quidditch match, with Luna commentating, McLaggen grabs a beater's bat to show the beater how to hit the bludgers, and accidentally cracks Harry's skull. Finally, in the hospital wing, Harry summons Kreacher and Dobby and orders them to tail Malfoy.

Chapter 20: Lord Voldemort's Request

"You see, we have never been able to keep a Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher for longer than a year since I refused the post to Voldemort."
— Dumbledore, about Tom Riddle's request.
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Hepzibah Smith with Slytherin's locket

In their fourth lesson, Dumbledore is disappointed that Harry failed to obtain Slughorn's true memory. Harry apologises and promises to try harder, which Dumbledore is happier about. Dumbledore shows him two memories: one of Tom Riddle being shown Salazar Slytherin's Locket and Helga Hufflepuff's Cup by a wealthy woman named Hepzibah Smith, the other of Riddle applying for the Defence Against the Dark Arts teaching post at Hogwarts, which Dumbledore rejects as he felt that it was an attempt by Riddle to further search the school for secrets and recruit followers. Dumbledore explains that Smith was murdered by Riddle and stole the locket and cup. The post for Defence Against the Dark Arts was jinxed by Riddle out of spite; teachers never held the post for more than a year, suffering some terrible fate or humiliation which caused them to leave the position.

Chapter 21: The Unknowable Room

"And I bet that's why he's been disappearing off the map - come to think of it, I've never seen the Room of Requirement on there!"
— Harry, about the Marauder's Map.
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Hermione fixing Ron's essay that's spilled with ink.

Ron wants to break up with Lavender but doesn't know how. Harry learns from Kreacher and Dobby that Malfoy is regularly visiting the Room of Requirement (which doesn't appear on the Marauder's Map), and spends the next few days trying to get inside. Not knowing what Malfoy is using it for, he has no success. Ron and Hermione come back from the Hogsmeade Apparition test, in which Hermione is successful but not Ron, who will take the exam with Harry again.

Chapter 22: After the Burial

"You didn't meet him, Hermione. Believe me, being dead will have improved him a lot."
— Ron, about Aragog.
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Aragog's Burial

Harry again fails to convince Slughorn to share his true memory, and Ron suggests he use the Felix Felicis. Harry takes the Felix Felicis and goes down to Hagrid's hut because Aragog died and Hagrid wanted Harry to go to the burial. On the way to Hagrid's hut, Harry luckily meets Professor Slughorn on the way and goes with Harry to Hagrid's because he wants to collect Aragog's venom (Acromantula venom is very rare and expensive). Aragog is buried and the adults get drunk, so Harry has a good opportunity to get the memory. As a result of the Felix Felicis, Harry is able to get the memory with ease.

Chapter 23: Horcruxes

"It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew - and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents - that there was all the difference in the world."
— Harry thinking about Riddle's search for immortality.
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Harry and Dumbledore watching Slughorn's memory

It turns out that in reality, Slughorn told Riddle everything he wanted to know about Horcruxes. He reluctantly explains that Horcruxes are extremely dark objects which a person conceals a piece of soul in, to achieve immortality. Riddle questions Slughorn if it was possible to have multiple Horcruxes, something that horrifies Slughorn. This explains how Voldemort was able to survive his rebounding killing curse. Dumbledore believed that Voldemort made six Horcruxes: his diary (which Harry destroyed four years earlier), the Gaunt's ring (which Dumbledore destroyed the previous year, greatly injuring his hand in the process), he theorises that the other four are important artefacts to Voldemort; the locket, the cup, an object pertaining to Rowena Ravenclaw's and the snake Nagini.

Chapter 24: Sectumsempra

"Who would have thought you knew such Dark Magic?"
— Snape, to Harry.
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The Vanishing Cabinet at the Room of Requirement

Harry learns the next day that Ginny and Dean have split up. He is unwilling to ask her out though, fearing Ron's reaction. Meanwhile, a recovered Katie Bell has returned to the school, and Harry asks who gave her the necklace. She states that someone Imperiused her in the girl's bathroom at Rosmerta's Pub in Hogsmeade. Shortly before the final Quidditch match of the year, Harry finds Malfoy crying over how his mission is failing. When he sees Harry, he attacks him. During the ensuing duel, Harry uses a spell written in The Half Blood Prince's book, which badly injures Malfoy. Snape witnesses the event, heals Malfoy, and gives Harry a large number of detentions that cause him to miss the match. Upon returning to the Gryffindor common room after his first detention, he discovers that the team had won the Quidditch Cup in his absence, and Ginny runs up and hugs him. At this point, Harry finally reveals his feelings for Ginny and kisses her. Both of them are ecstatic and start dating.

Chapter 25: The Seer Overheard

"You'd think people had better things to gossip about... Three Dementor attacks in a week, and all Romilda Vane does is ask me if it's true you've got a hippogriff tattooed across your chest."
— Ginny, to Harry.
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Harry and Ginny together

Some time later, Dumbledore asks Harry to come to his office. On the way, he runs into his old Divination teacher Professor Trelawney, who was trying to hide sherry bottles in the Room of Requirement before being thrown out. She tells Harry that she heard a male voice (which Harry suspects to be Malfoy's) whooping before she was ejected, and also reveals that Snape had told Voldemort about the prophecy concerning him and Harry, which caused him to murder Harry's parents. Harry expresses outrage that Dumbledore later gave Snape a job at Hogwarts, but Dumbledore states that Snape felt great remorse for what he had done. He then asks Harry to join him in finding a Horcrux, Slytherin's locket, which Harry agrees to. Before leaving, Harry tells Ron and Hermione that Malfoy's almost certainly going to try something tonight, and gives them the remainder of the Felix Felicis.

Chapter 26: The Cave

"I am not worried, Harry, I am with you."
— Dumbledore, to Harry.
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Harry and Dumbledore entering Voldemort's cave

Dumbledore and Harry travel to a cave in which Voldemort had tormented two children in his youth. They proceed through the cave, coming to an island in the middle of a lake. On the island, they find a basin of emerald green potion, with the locket at the bottom. On Dumbledore's orders, Harry reluctantly force-feeds him the potion, which badly weakens him and causes extreme thirst. In an attempt to save him, Harry gives him water from the lake, awakening dozens of Inferi Voldemort had placed to guard his Horcrux. Harry attempts to fight, but there are too many of them. Just as he is about to be overwhelmed, Dumbledore creates a ring of fire around them, which fends off the Inferi, and allows them to escape with the locket to Hogsmeade, where they discover the Dark Mark above the astronomy tower at Hogwarts.

Chapter 27: The Lightning-Struck Tower

"No, Draco. It is my mercy, and not yours, that matters now.""
— Dumbledore, at the Astronomy Tower.
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The Dark Mark over Hogwarts

Borrowing broomsticks, the pair fly to the tower. Upon hearing someone approaching them, Dumbledore uses a charm to paralyse Harry and hides him under his Invisibility Cloak, before being disarmed by Malfoy. Malfoy reveals that he had let Death Eaters into the school through a pair of vanishing cabinets, which were the objects Harry had overheard him questioning Borgin about. Malfoy also explains that he was behind the cursed necklace and poisoned mead incidents, which were really assassination attempts on Dumbledore. Dumbledore reveals that he had known Malfoy was attempting to kill him, but allowed him to remain at Hogwarts because he knew that Voldemort would have murdered Malfoy once his cover had been blown. Dumbledore tries to persuade him to change sides, but the other Death Eaters join the scene and urge Malfoy to finish his mission. Then Snape appears, and with Malfoy still reluctant to finish off the unarmed Dumbledore, Snape kills Dumbledore.

Chapter 28: Flight of the Prince

"DON'T...CALL ME COWARD!"
— Snape furiously yelling at Harry
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Snape fights Harry

Released from the spell after Dumbledore's death, Harry pursues Snape through battle in the halls of the school and out onto the grounds. Near the entrance to Hogwarts, Harry attempts to curse Snape, who repels his attacks with ease and reminds the other Death Eaters they are not to harm the boy. When Harry tries one of the Half-Blood Prince's spells, an enraged Snape reveals that the spell is his own. He is the Half-Blood Prince, having taken the title when he was a student as a pun on his mother's maiden name. (Hermione's research later reveals that Snape's father was a Muggle named Tobias Snape and his mother a pureblood witch named Eileen Prince.) Buckbeak the Hippogriff attacks Snape, who leaves Harry behind and escapes with Draco Malfoy. When he returns to Dumbledore's body, Harry finds that the locket was a fake: the real horcrux was already stolen by someone with the initials R.A.B.

Chapter 29: The Phoenix Lament

"And he knew, without knowing how he knew it, that the phoenix had gone, had left Hogwarts for good, just as Dumbledore had left the school, had left the world ... had left Harry."
— Harry thinking about Fawkes.
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The empty Dumbledore's office

After the battle, Ginny accompanies Harry to the hospital wing, where he learns that the only other person who died was a Death Eater. None of Harry's friends are badly hurt, apart from Bill Weasley, the Weasleys' oldest child who was attacked by an untransformed Greyback, although the only side effects are permanent scars across his face and a liking for rare steaks. Fleur expresses her desire to marry Bill despite his potential transformations, and she and Mrs Weasley reconcile. Tonks reveals her love for Lupin, who had refused her because he was a werewolf and felt that she deserved someone young and whole, unlike himself. Professor McGonagall questions Harry about what he and Dumbledore were doing, but Harry, under orders from Dumbledore not to tell anyone except Ron and Hermione, refuses. The teachers then discuss the future of Hogwarts, and plans for Dumbledore's funeral. Harry turns his back on the Half-Blood Prince's book, and regrets ever possessing it, although Hermione and Ron comfort him, stating that while the Prince may have had a mean sense of humour, nothing in the book ever indicated that he was evil, or capable of murder.

Chapter 30: The White Tomb

Rufus Scrimgeour: "I see you are—"
Harry Potter: "Dumbledore's man through and through. That's right."
— Harry to Scrimgeour.
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Dumbledore's White Tomb

The funeral is attended by many witches and wizards, including a number of minor characters in the series. During the funeral, Harry ends his relationship with Ginny to protect her from Voldemort. She reveals that she had never given up on him; Hermione had advised her to go out with other people so she could relax around Harry, as previously she had trouble talking to him. As a result, he fell in love with her upon seeing who she really was, and regrets not asking her out sooner. Harry then meets Scrimgeour, who again makes the offer he'd made to Harry at Christmas, which Harry again turns down. He then tells Ron and Hermione of his intention to leave Hogwarts to destroy the Horcruxes and then Voldemort himself. His two best friends agree to travel with him on his quest, and Harry happily acknowledges that there is "still one last golden day of peace left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione".

List of deaths

Character Killed by Cause of death Circumstances
Amelia Bones Voldemort Possibly the Killing Curse Murdered in a room locked from the inside; baffled Muggle police
Emmeline Vance Death Eaters Murdered a short distance from the Muggle Prime Minister's office
Igor Karkaroff Body found in a shack "up north"; Dark Mark cast overhead
Marvolo Gaunt None Natural causes, shock, or starvation Distraught at identity of Merope's Muggle spouse; possibly never learned to cook
Morfin Gaunt Went out of his mind Imprisoned in Azkaban
Merope Gaunt-Riddle Childbirth or depression Voldemort's birth
Aragog Illness Old age
Tom Riddle Snr Voldemort Killing Curse Revenge for abandonment; baffled Muggle Police
Thomas Riddle Murdered along with Tom Riddle, Snr; baffled Muggle Police
Mary Riddle
Hepzibah Smith Poisoned cocoa "sugar" or Killing Curse with memory changing Voldemort's search for Hufflepuff's Cup and Slytherin's Locket
Albus Dumbledore Severus Snape Killing Curse On his own orders, both to make his death painless and to spare Draco from the influence of Voldemort and the Death Eaters, and possibly to control the next owner of The Elder Wand (although this is unknown to everyone except Snape until the next book)
Gibbon Thorfinn Rowle Hit by a stray Killing Curse

Controversies

In May, 2005, bookmakers in the UK suspended bets on which main character would die in the book amid fears of insider knowledge. A number of high value bets were made on the death of Albus Dumbledore, many coming from the town of Bungay where, it was believed, the books were being printed at the time. Betting was later reopened. bbc

In early July, The Real Canadian Superstore, a big-box grocery chain in Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada, accidentally sold fifteen copies of The Half-Blood Prince before the authorised release date. The Canadian publisher, Raincoast Books, obtained an injunction from the Supreme Court of British Columbia prohibiting the purchasers from reading the books before the official release date or of discussing the contents. Purchasers were offered a Harry Potter T-shirt and an autographed copy of the book if they returned their copies before 16 July.

On 15 July, less than twelve hours before the book went on sale in the Eastern time zone, Raincoast warned The Globe and Mail newspaper that publishing a review from a Canada-based writer at midnight, as the paper had promised, would be seen as a violation of the anti-reading injunction. The injunction sparked a number of news articles questioning the injunction's restriction on fundamental rights. thestarcanada.com Canadian law professor Michael Geist has posted commentary on his weblog. michaelgeistRichard Stallman has posted on his weblog calling for a boycott until the publisher issues an apology. stallman The Globe and Mail published a review from two UK-based writers in its 16 July edition and posted the Canadian writer's review on its website at 9 am that morning. globeandmail

In the same week, a Chicago Walgreens mistakenly sold a copy of the book. When the purchaser read about the Canadian incident on the Internet she said she would not turn herself in, but that she would not read the novel until the U.S. release date.

Editions

English-language

Translations (cover based on Scholastic's)

Translations (alternative covers)

Hogwarts House Edition

Bloomsbury (United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada etc.)
Raincoast (Canada etc.)
Scholastic (United States etc.)

Before and after the release of the book, the environmental organisations Greenpeace and the National Wildlife Federation urged consumers in the United States who planned to buy Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to do so from the book's Canadian publisher, Raincoast Books cbc, which published on 100% recycled, chlorine-free, ancient forest-free paper. The American edition of the book, published by Scholastic Press, was printed with a percentage of recycled paper that Scholastic declined to make public.

Translations

Various publishers have announced release dates for local translations of the book worldrelease:

  • Albania: 10 November 2005
  • Belgium: 19 November 2005
  • Braille (English): 19 July 2005
  • Brazil: 26 December, 2005 (by Lia Wyler)
  • Bulgaria: 13 December 2005
  • China: November, 2005
  • Croatia: 15 October 2005
  • Denmark: October, 2005
  • Estonia: November, 2005
  • Finland: 16 March 2006
  • France: 1 October 2005
  • Germany, Switzerland, Turkey and Austria: 1 October 2005
  • Greece: 2 December 2005
  • Hungary: February, 2006
  • Iceland: November, 2005
  • Israel: November, 2005
  • Italy: January, 2006
  • Japan: 17 May 2006
  • Lithuania: 1 October 2005
  • Montenegro: 24 December 2005
  • Netherlands: 19 November 2005
  • Norway: November, 2005
  • Poland: 28 January 2006
  • Portugal: September/October, 2005
  • Romania: 24 December 2005
  • Russia: 1 October 2005
  • Serbia: September, 2005
  • South Africa: 15 November 2005 (Afrikaans translation)
  • Slovenia: December, 2005
  • Spain: 16 March 2006
  • Sweden: 30 November 2005
  • Taiwan: 1 October 2005

Behind the scenes

  • This, along with Chamber of Secrets, was the only book that did not end in King's Cross. (Chamber of Secrets ends in Platform nine and three quarters and the final sentence is going to King's Cross which does not count because no dialogue was shown in King's Cross).
  • Before its release, a rumour circulated a chapter was to be entitled, "Lupin's Papers." Rowling responded that this was not the case, "nor will there be chapters entitled 'Pettigrew's Pamphlets,' 'Sirius' Circulars' or 'The Pocket Crosswords of Severus Snape'."[1]
  • Between the release of Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows, fans wondered who "R.A.B." could be; many people believed it to be Regulus Black. J. K. Rowling would not explicitly say it was Regulus, but commented that he was a "good guess." Between the releases of the two books, she would drop hints about R.A.B.'s identity; one such hint was that the final book would introduce no new characters: this led many fans to believe it had to be a character introduced in a previous book.
  • When Harry is hiding the Half-Blood Prince's book in the Room of Requirement, he opens a cupboard and inside is something in a cage that had long-since died; its skeleton had five legs; this could possibly be the skeleton of a Quintaped.
  • Many readers believed that Dumbledore was not actually dead, and postulated many theories to explain how his death had been faked. A website was even created entitled "Dumbledoreisnotdead.com". J.K. Rowling later stated in an interview that "Dumbledore is definitely dead." This was definitively confirmed in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
  • In the Simpsons episode "The Bob Next Door", Sideshow Bob spoils the book's ending by revealing that Snape killed Dumbledore, to which Bart complains he hadn't gotten to that part yet and Sideshow Bob responds "It's a four year old book!".
  • Also, in the Big Bang Theory episode "The Spoiler Alert Segmentation", Sheldon reveals Dumbledore's death to Leonard while he reads it, much to his anger (though the book would have been seven years old at the time).
  • This is the first book in the series where Harry was right about who the enemy was. In Philosopher's Stone they thought Snape was after the stone when it was Quirrell; in Chamber of Secrets they thought Malfoy opened the Chamber of Secrets, and that Hagrid opened it the first time, when it was really Riddle on both occasions; in Prisoner of Azkaban, everyone thought Sirius was a mass murderer and follower of Voldemort, when it was really Pettigrew; and in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, they thought Karkaroff put Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire when it was really Barty Crouch Jnr.
  • Snape is revealed to be the Half-Blood Prince. This marks the second time someone at Hogwarts is revealed to be a wizard under a different name. The first was Tom Riddle when he was revealed to be Voldemort in Chamber of Secrets.
  • This also marks the second time Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy duel.
  • This marks Draco Malfoy's first trip to Diagon Alley, and Knockturn Alley, since Chamber of Secrets (although it is very likely that he visited each year in between, but did not meet Harry there.)
  • The Spanish version, the name is Harry Potter y el Misterio del Príncipe, which means Harry Potter and the Mystery of the Prince. Something similar happens in the second book.
  • Slughorn called Ron Rupert during Aragog's funeral, ironically, the actor that plays Ron in the films is called Rupert Grint. J.K Rowling may have intentionally done this, as she would obviously be aware that Rupert Grint played Ron Weasley in the film adaptations of the books.
  • Cheryl Klein served as the title's continuity editor.
  • The first chapter, "The Other Minister," is a re-purpose of an early draft for the first chapter of the first title, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. In this draft, Rubeus Hagrid visited Cornelius Fudge, who was the Prime Minister of muggles, to inform him of Voldemort being responsible for a number of disappearances and to ask him to alert the public of certain facts. Fudge fears that Vernon Dursley, his political opponent, will try to take his position, only to learn that Dursley is already aware of the existence of wizards. The chapter ends with Hagrid informing Dursley of Voldemort's disappearance, due to Voldemort's attempt to kill Harry. This draft can be read in Harry Potter: A Journey Through a History of Magic.

Mistakes

Film adaptation

The book was also adapted into a film, the sixth Harry Potter film of the series. The film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was released on 15 July 2009. It was directed by David Yates and the trio was portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-071805potter_lat,0,4363703.story?coll=la-home-headlines
  2. ^ http://web.archive.org/web/20050714043333/http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2005/07/12/Arts/potterrecycle050712.html
  3. ^ http://www.veritaserum.com/books/book6/releasedates.shtml
  4. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/4578463.stm
  5. ^ http://www.canada.com/vancouver/story.html?id=9badf853-c1c3-4786-bf4f-75a5071e5c07
  6. ^ http://michaelgeist.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=889
  7. ^ http://stallman.org/harry-potter.html http://stallman.org/harry-potter.html http://stallman.org/harry-potter.html
  8. ^ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20050716.POTTERNOTE16/TPStory.
  9. [HP2]Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J. K. Rowling (1998), UK ISBN 0747538492/US ISBN 0439064864
  10. [HP6]Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling (2005), UK ISBN 0747581088/US ISBN 0439784549

External links

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