Harry Potter, #6
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
by J.K. Rowling
Contents
Chapter 28: Flight of the Prince
Overview
In the aftermath of Dumbledore’s death, Harry fights through chaos to pursue Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy out of the castle. Snape duels and overpowers Harry, revealing himself as the Half-Blood Prince before escaping. Hagrid’s hut is set ablaze and saved. Harry discovers the retrieved locket is a decoy bearing R.A.B.’s note.
Summary
Stunned by Dumbledore’s fall, Harry breaks free and sprints after Severus Snape, Draco Malfoy, and other Death Eaters as fighting erupts in the corridors. He stuns a Death Eater, frees himself from Fenrir Greyback with help from an ally’s jinx, and aids Ginny against Amycus amid chaos involving McGonagall, Lupin, Ron, and Tonks.
Harry follows bloody tracks through panicked students and shattered halls, out into the grounds, where Hagrid confronts the invaders. The pursuing Death Eaters curse Hagrid and ignite his hut. Harry closes on Snape and attempts multiple spells, which Snape easily blocks while taunting Harry to close his mind.
When another Death Eater tortures Harry, Snape halts it, citing orders to leave Harry for Voldemort, and commands retreat. Harry, enraged, tries Sectumsempra; Snape repels it and, revealing “I am the Half-Blood Prince,” batters Harry back and knocks away his wand. Buckbeak then drives Snape off long enough for him to Disapparate beyond the gates.
Hagrid rescues Fang from the burning hut, and together he and Harry extinguish the flames. Reeling, Harry tells Hagrid that Snape killed Dumbledore; Hagrid disbelieves but escorts Harry toward the gathering crowd beneath the Dark Mark.
At the tower’s base, Harry kneels by Dumbledore’s body, straightens his glasses, and finds the locket from the cave. It is a decoy containing a note to Voldemort from “R.A.B.” claiming to have stolen and to destroy the real Horcrux. Harry, devastated, realizes Dumbledore suffered for a fake.
Who Appears
- Harry PotterPursues Snape and Malfoy through battle, duels Snape, learns he is the Half-Blood Prince, and discovers the locket is a fake.
- Severus SnapeLeads the escape, effortlessly repels Harry’s spells, forbids killing Harry, reveals he is the Half-Blood Prince, and Disapparates.
- Rubeus HagridConfronts Death Eaters, hut set on fire; rescues Fang; helps extinguish flames; escorts Harry back; disbelieves Snape killed Dumbledore.
- Draco MalfoyFlees alongside Snape from the tower and escapes the grounds.
- BuckbeakAttacks Snape, forcing him to retreat long enough to escape the grounds.
- Fenrir GreybackAmbushes Harry during the corridor battle but is stunned off him.
- AmycusDuels Ginny; is blasted aside by Harry during the melee.
- AlectoFlees under McGonagall’s counterattack; escapes with other Death Eaters.
- Ginny WeasleyFights Amycus in the corridor battle as Harry intervenes.
- Thorfinn Rowle (unnamed in text)Enormous blond Death Eater who wreaks havoc, sets Hagrid’s hut ablaze, and escapes.
- FangHagrid’s dog; trapped in the burning hut and carried out safely.
- Minerva McGonagallBattles Death Eaters and drives Alecto away during the castle fight.
- Remus LupinFights a Death Eater alongside the defenders during the corridor battle.
- Nymphadora TonksDuels an enormous blond wizard amid ricocheting curses in the corridors.
- Neville LongbottomInjured on the floor during the fighting; confirms Snape and Malfoy ran past.