Harry Potter, #6
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
by J.K. Rowling
Contents
Chapter 15: The Unbreakable Vow
Overview
Christmas nears as Ron flaunts his new romance and Hermione seethes. To avoid love potions and gossip, Harry invites Luna to Slughorn’s party, where he meets Eldred Worple and Sanguini and rescues Hermione from McLaggen. Filch catches Draco gatecrashing; Snape takes Draco aside, and Harry overhears Snape admitting an Unbreakable Vow to protect Draco, who is pursuing a secret mission.
Summary
As Christmas approaches, Hogwarts is festooned with decorations. Ron openly dates Lavender, leaving Hermione hurt and avoiding the common room. Hermione warns Harry that girls, led by Romilda Vane, plan to use love potions to secure invites to Slughorn’s party. To head this off, Harry impulsively invites Luna as a friend.
In class and at meals, tensions flare: Hermione retaliates by announcing she will attend the party with Cormac McLaggen to provoke Ron, who stays silent but stung. That evening, Harry meets Luna amid resentful onlookers and escorts her to Slughorn’s crowded, glittering party.
Inside, Slughorn parades Harry to Eldred Worple and the vampire Sanguini, who tries to recruit Harry for a biography. Hermione, disheveled from evading McLaggen under mistletoe, joins Harry and Luna. Trelawney, tipsy, complains about Firenze; Slughorn praises Harry’s Potions before dragging Snape into the conversation, alarming Harry about his Half-Blood Prince advantage.
Filch hauls in Draco for gatecrashing; Slughorn forgives him, but Draco looks unwell, and Snape’s expression is tense. Snape orders Draco to follow him. Harry slips out under his Invisibility Cloak to eavesdrop.
In a nearby classroom, Harry hears Snape press Draco about dangerous mistakes and suspicion over Katie Bell. Draco denies involvement, claims he has a plan, and resists interference, revealing Bellatrix is teaching him Occlumency. Snape admits he swore to Narcissa via an Unbreakable Vow to protect Draco and offers help. Draco refuses, accusing Snape of seeking his glory. Draco storms off; Snape returns to the party, leaving Harry reeling from the revelation.
Who Appears
- Harry PotterBalances friends’ feud, fends off love potion plots, invites Luna to Slughorn’s party, and eavesdrops on Snape and Draco to learn of the Unbreakable Vow.
- Severus SnapeConfronts Draco, admits he made an Unbreakable Vow to protect him, offers assistance, and maintains his cover at Slughorn’s party.
- Draco MalfoyGatecrashes the party, looks ill and strained, denies cursing Katie, claims a secret plan from his master, resists Snape’s help.
- Hermione GrangerUpset over Ron, warns Harry about love potions, attends party with McLaggen to provoke Ron, later dodges McLaggen’s advances.
- Ron WeasleyPublicly dates Lavender, mocks Hermione in class, bristles at news of Hermione attending with McLaggen.
- Luna LovegoodAccepts Harry’s friendly invitation, provides eccentric commentary, chats with Trelawney during the party.
- Horace SlughornHosts the Christmas party, shows off Harry, introduces Worple and Sanguini, indulgently allows Draco to stay.
- Cormac McLaggenHermione’s calculated date; boorish and self-absorbed, forces unwanted mistletoe encounter.
- Sybill TrelawneyTipsy and bitter about Firenze; chats with Luna and crosses paths with Harry at the party.
- Argus FilchCatches Draco prowling and drags him to Slughorn, delighted by possible rule-breaking.
- Eldred WorpleFormer student and author who tries to persuade Harry to agree to a biography.
- SanguiniA vampire guest at the party, bored and distracted by nearby girls.
- Romilda VaneSchemes to dose Harry with a love potion; offers spiked chocolates and drinks.
- Lavender BrownIncessantly affectionate with Ron, heightening Hermione’s distress.
- Madam PinceExplodes at Harry over his annotated Potions book and throws them from the library.