LUCIDMEDIA

10 Things to Look for in The Half-Blood Prince

Written by Adam A. Donaldson Wednesday, 15 July 2009 16:48

Today, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince opens in theatres nationwide. Having read the books, as many have, I’ve compiled a list of important moments and themes in the book for people to keep their eyes open for while you’re watching the action unfold on the big screen. Beware though, spoilers abound. You’ve been warned.

10. A State of Open Warfare

The book begins with a visit by Cornelius Fudge and his successor as Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, to the Muggle Prime Minister of the UK. No longer content to be a pox to wizarding kind, the evil Voldemort has sent his followers, The Death Eaters, to attack targets and populations in the Muggle world. Meanwhile, amongst the hidden worlds of magic, wandmaker Mr. Ollivander has disappeared, and high-ranking and powerful Ministry officials have been killed. Even the kindly old patron of the ice cream shop in Diagon Alley seems unable to escape reprisals. Under the atmosphere of this gather storm do Harry, Ron and Hermione return to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and you know that it only gets worse from here.

9. Malfoy’s Test (And Turnaround)

Daco Malfoy’s always been a royal pain in butt for Harry Potter and his cohorts, but in year 6 dear, old Draco gets in way over his head after being appointed a task by Lord Voldemort to sneak Death Eaters into Hogwarts and kill Headmaster Albus Dumbledore. Voldemort’s real plot and intention was to set up Draco in the attempt as revenge against Malfoy’s father Lucius for the elder Malfoy’s failure at the Ministry, and that Dumbledore would kill Draco in self-defense (Again, proving how Voldemort consistently underestimates his nemeses). As for Draco, when the moment comes, and he’s able to disarm Dumbledore finding him tired and weak, it seems that Draco allows the Headmaster for a moment to talk him out of it. As followed up in The Deathly Hallows, it seems that there’s a residue of humanity in Malfoy after all.

8. Harry Toys with the Dark Side

The name of the book derives from a signature in an old Potions text Harry is given the first day of class. The text book features hand-written notes for effective short cuts in making certain potions and a number of original charms and spells whose inherent purpose is to do nothing but taunt and inflict pain. Naturally, Harry tries a few of the former, and through the notes in the margin is able to become a whiz at Potions. Despite warnings from friends that he should be so trusting of a book he doesn’t know the origin of (especially Ginny whose experience is at the centre of the plot for Chamber of Secrets), he continues to follow the Prince’s advice, including using a particularly horrid spell against Draco Malfoy. And the kicker is, the identity of Harry’s favourite Prince, is actually the teenaged self of his most hated teacher, Professor Snape.

7. Voldemort’s White Trash Origins

Much of Half Blood Prince deals with Harry and Dumbledore’s witnessed exploration of Lord Voldemort’s origins through use of select individuals’ memories and use of the Pensive. Sure, we see Lord V. as an evil little boy that already knows that with great power comes great exploitation, but the real story is that the Junior Riddle’s mom, uncle and grandpa lived in a rustic shack in the woods, randomly attacking Muggles like the British version of the family in The Hills Have Eyes. But of course the family are descendents of the noble Salazar Slytherin, and once Voldemort gets those remembrances, he frames his Uncle Morfin, either inadvertently or advertently, for the murder of his Muggle father and stepmother. Combined with the fact that Voldemort’s always trying to hide the fact that he’s got some Muggle in him and you’ve got enough self-loathing for a Maury Povich two-parter.

6. Hormonal School for Witchcraft and Wizardry

In Half-Blood Prince, Harry is caught off guard when he discovers that he may be developing romantic feelings for underclassman, fellow Quiddich team member and BEST FRIEND’S SISTER, Ginny Weasley. At the start of the book Ginny is dating Dean Thomas, which already thrills her brother Ron to no avail seeing his little sister cozy up with a friend and classmate. Ron meanwhile has women trouble of his own with Lavender Brown making giggly sounds when he’s in the vicinity, which doesn’t escape the notice of Ron’s long-time romantic antagonist Hermione Granger. Hermione, for her part is trying desperately to avoid the advances of senior year Gryffindor Cormac McLaggen. Remind me again, is this Hogwarts or West Beverly?

5. Anarchy in the UK

A strong streak of anti-authoritarianism has always been a part of the series. Harry and gang frequently break the rules, although it’s mostly in the best interest of the greater good: discovering the Chamber of Secrets, helping Siruis Black, starting the DA. Even amongst the adult characters this is true, with the heroic anti-Voldemort league The Order of the Phoenix being made up of many outsiders of the wizarding world, and Dumbledore himself having famously refused an appointment as Minister several times. But in Half-Blood Prince, Harry is approached by Scrimgeour, in his presumed status as The Chosen One, to give public approval to the actions taken by the Ministry. Although it would boost morale, Harry refuses on the ground that he’d be giving approval to actions he ethically disagrees with, including the arrest and detention of people on nothing but suspicion and circumstantial evidence. Given past experiences with the Ministry (paging Delores Umbridge from Order of the Phoenix), it’s no wonder that Harry doesn’t trust the government. Even in the wizarding world, kids know that you have to rage against the machine. Good thing given events in Deathly Hallows.

4. The Slug Club

Half-Blood Prince introduces us to former Head of Slytherin House and once and former Potions Professor Horace Slughorn. With Harry’s help, Dumbledore’s able to secure Slughorn’s return to the school and, more importantly, access to crucial information that Slughorn has that’s necessary in defeating Voldemort. In Slughorn we have a teacher that collects prized pupils like trophies. There are certain students he favours and they in turn favour him as adults with inside tips on what’s going on in the Ministry or excellent seats for a Quiddich match. Not to mention the fact that it was Slughorn that gave the young Voldemort the secret to making Horcruxes, or fragmenting pieces of his sole for safekeeping in inanimate objects. In Horace Slughorn we see that despite their image, the teachers of Hogwarts aren’t always selfless defenders and unwavering educators.

3. Snape Triumphant

After years of scheming, pining and sabotage, Severus Snape final gets to teach the class he’s always had his eye on since becoming a Hogwarts teacher: Defense Against the Dark Arts. As much as the former Potions’ Masters new post comes to the disappointment of Harry and gang, Ron finds reason to be optimistic: “He’ll be gone in a year,” he says, citing fairly reliable precedent. But just when you think you can check off Snape in the safe column, it seems that Snape has been in Voldemort’s pocket the whole time, killing Dumbledore when Malfoy failed to deliver… But wait, when Dumbledore says “Severus…” was it surprise? Was he pleading? Or was he asking? Hmm. And what of Snape’s fight against Harry, where they thinly veiled insults that Snape was casting, or pertinent pieces of advice? And just when you thought that you knew all you needed to about our man Snape, there’s a whole chapter of revelations to come in Deathly Hallows.

2. The Death of Dumbledore

From when Dumbledore appears at Harry’s door, with a black hand described by the book as having the appearance of death, you knew there was something wrong with the Headmaster of Hogwarts. It cast a pall over the novel: were the years and wars finally getting to Dumbledore? Is he preparing Harry to go on without him? The answer, in short, was yes to both. Albus Dumbledore, the greatest wizard of his age, seemingly killed execution style by the one man he vouched for when everyone told him he shouldn’t. It was so unlike Dumbledore to not have a plan which is why despite the warnings the death of the character was still something of a shock (as brilliantly sent-up on The Simpsons episode of "The Haw-Hawed Couple"). Despite the finality of death (unless your name’s Voldemort) in the Potter Universe, Dumbledore left many mysteries to be filled, and fans wondered how Dumbledore would play a part in the all important final chapter of the series.

1. The Shape of Things to Come

Dumbledore’s death pretty much secured a previous presumption that no one in the Potter-verse is safe as the battle against Voldemort heads into its final chapter. Truly, Deathly Hallows is a bloodbath sans any actual blood (or much of it) with two important characters going to their final rest before page 50. Author J.K. Rowling also breaks the mould by making the final book a road trip with Harry, Ron and Hermione dodging Death Eaters and the Voldemort-controlled Ministry as they seek the means to end Voldemort once for all by destroying his Horcruxes, and thus making him susceptible to actually dying. Filled with Mission: Impossible-style heists and the thrilling momentum of finality, it’s understandable why filmmakers would want to cut The Deathly Hallows in two and release each part within six months of each other – to give us a rest.