Previous:

1. The Philosopher’s Stone
2. The Chamber of Secrets
3. The Prisoner of Azkaban
4. The Goblet of Fire
5. The Order of the Phoenix

 

The Half-Blood Prince

(started July 21st, finished July 29th)

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I really like the cover for this one.

Chapter 1: The Other Minister.

– Good bit of exposition here. Introducing the new Minister of Magic while also exploring the relationship between the Ministry of Magic and the Prime Minister.
– From what it sounds like, Voldemort has really started to go buckwild. I don’t like how things are looking. What will life at Hogwarts be like now?

Chapter 2: Spinner’s End.

– Voldemort’s mad, and he asked Draco to do something for him. Likely to get rid of Harry?
– This’ll be interesting. Draco’s capacity for wickedness has always been really high, but now it’s said that he’s eager to prove himself to the Dark Lord. There’s really no turning back from this is there, then?
– Where does Snape’s allegiance truly lie? Dumbledore trusts him and Voldemort trusts him. But now he made an unbreakable vow to help Draco with whatever he was tasked to do. Is it really as simple as just getting rid of Harry Potter or is there more to his task? So many questions.

Chapter 3: Will and Won’t.

– The Dursleys finally got the telling off that they deserved, reminding me of just how vile they really are. 16 years of cruelty to Harry for no other reason than them just existing.

Chapter 4: Horace Slughorn.

– Horace Slughorn is an interesting character. This might be the first time we’ve met a Defense Against The Dark Arts professor before they started teaching. And it seems we already know a lot about him. He is an old Hogwarts professor so it’ll be interesting to see what his teaching style will be!
– So much like Harry, the emptiness with Sirius being gone has been painful. When it was first mentioned in the third chapter, it hurt to read.
– Dumbledore being the caring Headmaster is just what Harry needs. He’s so wise! And he’s going to be teaching Harry some interesting magic lessons. I can’t wait, I’ve never been more excited.

Chapter 5: An Excess of Phlegm.

– Harry being comforted in confiding with Ron and Hermione is so so good. I didn’t really mention this but at the very end of the last book, the outcome ends up being that neither side really wins or loses. But Harry is comforted so much by the fact that the people close to him stay with him. Reassure him. I love it so much. And now after carrying with him the fact that he must destroy Voldemort one day for the past month with no one to talk to about it, sharing it with his dear friends had lifted the burden I’m sure.

Chapter 6: Draco’s Detour.

– Draco’s up to no good. No surprise that Narcissa is just as evil as the rest of her family.
– I’m kind of curious as to who guards the wizard prisons now if the Dementors are gone?
– A cool note is the fact that Harry’s invisibility cloak is still often used. He got that in the first book and has been used pretty much every book since!
– I’m so happy for Fred and George. They’re pretty much living out their dreams and business sure is booming!

Chapter 7: The Slug Club.

– Slughorn is kind of… unpleasant. I wasn’t sure about him at first but definitely leaning towards unpleasant right now.
– Oh this is bad for Harry. I can’t say I didn’t see it coming though, he was being very rash to use the invisibility cloak like this.

Chapter 8: Snape Victorious.

– SNAPE is the Defense Against The Dark Arts professor?! Oh no.
– There’s no doubt in my mind that something will happen to Snape this year, and what with his conversation with Narcissa in the second chapter, I’m worried for what that will be…

Chapter 9: The Half-Blood Prince.

– It was really hard to not read this chapter as soon as I read the title because I was immediately intrigued, but it was already really early in the morning at this point so I begrudgingly waited till the morning after (which is now)
– YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. “… and he caught a sudden waft of that flowery smell he had picked up in Slughorn’s dungeon. He looked round and saw that Ginny had joined them.” The smell in the dungeon was from the Amortentia cauldron, the love potion that smells differently to each person depending on what attracts them. ;))
– Oh what a tease! “This book is the property of the half-blood prince” well who is the half-blood prince and what does that even mean?!

Chapter 10: The House of Gaunt.

– So Dumbledore’s private lessons will consist of this, learning about Voldemort’s past? Not too surprised though I am kind of disappointed that Dumbledore won’t be teaching Harry powerful magic or anything.

Chapter 11: Hermione’s Helping Hand.

– I liked this chapter, it was very easy going. Glad my boys are on the team together again, this with Harry as Captain! And who cares if that seventh-year Gryffindor guy was way better? Ron stopped 4 out of 5 of them, and that’s not so bad at all! Really great actually.
– Lavender Brown has a thing for Ron ~ and I think Ron has a thing for her too.

Chapter 12: Silver and Opals.

– Harry is really insisting that Malfoy is up to something, much to the dismay of Ron and Hermione. The thing about that is we know Malfoy is up to something, so we know Harry’s right. What if the two aren’t connected at all though?

Chapter 13: The Secret Riddle.

– Dumbledore wants Harry to understand Voldemort, Tom Riddle, on a deep level. The more we understand him, the less we fear him I think. He’s made out to be this unstoppable monster but we’re learning that he was at one point just this strange antisocial kid who had a knack for magic. He has flaws. And no matter what magic he’s done to himself to reach this state he’s in, underneath it all he’s still just Tom Marvolo Riddle.

Chapter 14: Felix Felicis.

– Ahh, unrequited love. Though not so much unrequited is it? Ron likes Hermione and I’m pretty sure Hermione likes him back. Ron’s just being dumb if I’m being quite honest. Can’t blame him though, he’s hurt. And he doesn’t know how to express that.
– Let’s not glance over the fact that Malfoy was missing from the first Quidditch match in the season. When the number of people in the castle would be the lowest? And then when Harry shouted at Harper asking how much Malfoy paid him he hesitated. Did Harry hit the nail on the head?

Chapter 15: The Unbreakable Vow.

– Hermione and Ron really are being childish huh. Moreso Ron though.
– Harry now has hard evidence in Malfoy’s treachery. The question is, will people believe him after accusing him for so long?

Chapter 16: A Very Frosty Christmas.

– I think this might have been one of my favourite chapters. Harry taking a stand against the Ministry of Magic at last. They’re really no better than they were under Fudge.

Chapter 17: A Sluggish Memory.

– They get to learn how to apparate soon!
– Tom Riddle was part of the Slug Club and Slughorn modified his memories in the most obvious of ways hahaha.
– There was mention of something called a Horcux? I’ve heard the name before but I wonder what it is…

Chapter 18: Birthday Surprises

– The mead meant for Dumbledore was poisoned! But now poor Ron is poisoned.

Chapter 19: Elf Tails.

– Oh dear, Harry is becoming a bit obsessed isn’t he? Again, not completely unwarranted but still. Harry has his friends to consider! And his responsibilities! He’s the Quidditch Captain now for goodness sake, which is still something I’m super excited about.
– Dobby is definitely trustworthy, no doubt about that. But Kreacher is just horrible, and I now Harry gave him a bunch of restrictions to follow when tailing Draco but will that be enough? I’m worried.

Chapter 20: Lord Voldemort’s Request.

– I really like the Riddle memories. They are very interesting vignettes on very crucial moments in Voldemort’s life. Supplemented with Dumbledore’s understanding and guesswork for what happened in between each memory, we’re really starting to understand Voldemort’s entire life.
– So the Defense Against the Dark Arts job really is cursed! Voldemort really wanted to teach then? But why? He wanted something at Hogwarts, that is what Dumbledore believes. But another likely possibility is wanting to infect the minds of young wizards. Probably both of those above things. But maybe there’s something else..?
– Dumbledore has one more memory to show Harry, but it is useless without first finding out that is really behind Slughorn’s memory and the truth of what a Horcrux is.
– With so few people who have memories of Tom Riddle before he became Voldemort, I’m surprised that Slughorn is still alive despite possessing such a seemingly important memory.
– Wait a minute …
– WAIT A MINUTE.
– Could it be that Malfoy’s task was to get rid of Slughorn all along? That would make sense because Slughorn’s mead, despite being meant for Dumbledore, was obviously going to be taken by Slughorn. A poison that lethal would surely be made by none other than Snape, who vowed to assist Malfoy!
– I really hope I’m right! Because of this is true, then it would make sense why Dumbledore made Slughorn the potions Professor instead of Defense Against The Dark Arts! Dumbledore said it himself – there was a reason that not a single professor for that class has lasted for longer than a year. He didn’t want to jinx Slughorn when Voldemort was already clearly after him. But is there a reason why he placed Snape in that post instead…?
– ALSO, is Slughorn taking the luck potion? That might be why he nearly missed being poisoned. Oh man my head is buzzing…

Chapter 21: The Unknowable Room.

– The first paragraph of this chapter has reminded me that I still haven’t figured out everything. Who the heck is the Half-Blood Prince and how the heck does he fit into all of this?!
– I do wish Harry focused a bit more on trying to persuade Slughorn for his memory instead of trying to thwart whatever it is that Malfoy is trying to do. That is unless he’s doing the same thing…hmm….(see above theory).
– So Tonks is acting strangely and Harry believes that she was in love with Sirius. Not a far-fetched theory I think. Isn’t she like a distant cousin of the Blacks or something? I’m sure she’s known Sirius in the past.

Chapter 22: After the Burial.

– That was honestly a great move by Harry to take the Felix Felicis. But, despite how lucky he was tonight, and despite the fact that Slughorn won’t remember anything tomorrow, I’m still worried that Harry revealed the fact that he is the chosen one to him. What if Voldemort gets to him and accesses his memory? This can’t be good… I’m afraid..
– Still though, the use of the potion is really deliberate huh? Which I guess makes sense. I first thought that it sort of just manipulates fate in your favour but it would be strange for a potion that you really to affect the actions and behaviors of other people. The way that it kind of nudges you to do things that will end up in the best possible outcome for you is great though.
– Something I’m wondering about though, why don’t people use the potion to face Voldemort?

Chapter 23: Horcruxes.

– This was a really powerful chapter, because Dumbledore made it very clear to Harry what the prophecy truly means.
– Harry had become too caught up in what the prophecy had said, believing that he must be the one to defeat Voldemort. But Dumbledore is trying to explain that he’s not forced to do anything. That in fact if Voldemort hadn’t read the prophecy, none of this would be happening to Harry. But Voldemort did read the prophecy, causing him to fear for himself and attack Harry preemptively. Harry survived and the only thing that came out of it all was Voldemort gave Harry the weapons he would need to eventually destroy Voldemort once and for all. He took Harry’s loved ones away.
– In the end Dumbledore wants Harry to not face Voldemort because the prophecy told him to. He wants to face Voldemort to avenge the ones he loved and to protect the ones he loves.

Chapter 24: Sectumsepra.

– So apparently Felix Felicis takes six months to make. There goes the idea of making some to fight Voldemort..
– Woah what the hell is Sectumsepra. And honestly who the hell is the Half-Blood Prince?
– Nevermind that though…;))))) Finally :))))

Chapter 25: The Seer Overheard.

– Snape regretted giving Voldemort the information he overheard in the prophecy that night? Did he really?
– Harry’s still insisting that Malfoy and Snape are up to something, but Dumbledore is still fervently denying it! I’m worried now – which one of them is right?
– With two Horcruxes down, Dumbledore and Harry are off to finish off a third one.
– Something’s about to go down, here we go!

Chapter 26: The Cave.

– “I am not worried Harry, I am with you.”

Chapter 27: The Lightning-Struck Tower.

– NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Chapter 28: Flight of the Prince.

– …

Chapter 29: The Phoenix Lament.

– …

Chapter 30: The White Tomb.

– …

OVERALL SUMMARY.

– This needs to end. All of this suffering needs… to end.