Book Report
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood prince” was written by J.K.Rowling. It is the sixth book of Harry Potter’s adventures.
The main characters of the book are Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley and Albus Dumbledore.
Harry Potter is a young, 17 years old boy. He is very talented and brave boy, who is living with Muggles as his parents were killed by Voldemort and he was the only one whom Voldemort was unable to kill.
Hermione Granger is one of Harry’s best friends. She is very clever girl, who seems to know everything.
Ron Weasley is another Harry’s best friend. Although he sometimes lacks self-confidence, he can be as brave as Harry and as clever as Hermione.
And the last main character is Professor Dumbledore. He is the headmaster of wizard school called Hogwarts. He is an old, wise man, who seems to be Harry Potter’s ideal.
The book starts with informing us about Rufus Scrimgeour becoming the new Minister for Magic. This is a positive move for the Weasley family, as Arthur receives a promotion that improves the family’s financial situation.
One evening at his home, Severus Snape receives a visit from Draco Malfoy’s mother Narcissa and her sister, Bellatrix Lestrange. Narcissa swears Snape to an Unbreakable Vow ensuring he will protect Draco and complete the mission which he has been assigned by Voldemort.
Due to the increased Death Eater activity, security measures are increased at Hogwarts. Snape is given his coveted Defence Against the Dark Arts post while Albus Dumbledore, with help from Harry Potter, persuades Horace Slughorn to return from retirement to replace Snape as Potions teacher.
As Harry didn’t expect to have Potion lessons this year, he doesn’t have Potion textbook at the first lesson and Slughorn lends him an old textbook marked as the property of „The Half-Blood Prince.“ The talented former owner’s handwritten notes help Harry outperform even Hermione Granger. As a reward, Slughorn gives Harry a vial of Felix Felicis, a good luck potion.
When Harry hears a suspicious conversation between Snape and Draco, he suspects that Draco may be a Death Eater. Harry then confides his suspicions to Dumbledore, who appears unconcerned. It is unknown if Dumbledore told Snape to hold this conversation to investigate Draco, or if Snape is betraying Dumbledore.
Just when Ron and Hermione seem on the verge of a relationship, Ron begins dating Lavender Brown — unabashedly kissing her in public — although it is mostly to spite Hermione, who, Ron learned, kissed Viktor Krum. Hermione retaliates by inviting Cormac McLaggen, an egomaniacal Quidditch player, to be her date to Slughorn’s Christmas Party, but the plan backfires. Ron and Hermione continually bicker until Ron is accidentally poisoned. Hermione is so distraught that she and Ron end their feud. Ron later breaks up with Lavender. Meanwhile, Harry finds himself the unwelcome object of many girls’ attention, while he only cares for one—Ginny Weasley, Ron’s sister. He worries that a relationship with her might harm his friendship with Ron, but Ron ultimately gives his approval.
Dumbledore and Harry begin a series of private lessons using Dumbledore’s Pensieve. They view memories about Voldemort’s past. A memory belonging to Slughorn is partially missing. Aided by the Felix Felicis potion, Harry retrieves the missing portion from him. From the memories, Dumbledore speculates that Voldemort split his soul into seven parts, storing six pieces in Horcruxes to grant himself immortality (if the pieces are not destroyed) , while leaving the seventh piece in his body. Two of Voldemort’s Horcruxes have already been destroyed (Tom Riddle’s diary by Harry and Marvolo Gaunt’s ring by Dumbledore). He and Harry set off to find another, (Salazar Slytherin’s locket) hidden in a secret cave. They successfully retrieve the locket, but Dumbledore is heavily weakened from the effort.