Harry Potter, #6
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
by J.K. Rowling
Contents
Chapter 12: Silver and opals
Overview
Dumbledore remains absent as Harry leans further on the Half-Blood Prince’s spells and clashes with Hermione’s doubts. In Hogsmeade, Harry catches Mundungus fencing Black family items. Soon after, Katie Bell is gravely cursed by an opal necklace. Harry suspects Malfoy, but McGonagall counters with Malfoy’s alibi, leaving the attacker unknown.
Summary
With Dumbledore frequently absent, Harry feels abandoned and immerses himself in the Half-Blood Prince’s notes. Early on Hogsmeade day, Harry tests the nonverbal Levicorpus on Ron by accident, then uses Liberacorpus to free him. Hermione disapproves and questions the Prince’s morality, sparking debate about dark magic and Death Eaters.
In Hogsmeade’s foul weather, Slughorn unsuccessfully tries to recruit Harry for another supper. Outside the Three Broomsticks, Harry discovers Mundungus Fletcher selling items bearing the Black crest and throttles him in fury; Tonks intervenes as Mundungus Disapparates. Inside, Harry resolves to inform Dumbledore.
Leaving the pub, Harry, Ron, and Hermione follow Katie Bell and Leanne, who argue over a wrapped package. When the parcel tears, Katie levitates eerily, then screams and collapses, violently cursed. Hagrid rushes her to the castle. The friends find an opal necklace in the sodden wrapping; Harry recognizes it as a cursed item from Borgin and Burkes. Leanne reports Katie returned from the bathroom with orders to deliver it as a “surprise,” likely under the Imperius Curse.
Professor McGonagall escorts them to her office. Harry asserts Draco Malfoy arranged the attack, citing Malfoy’s visit to Borgin and Burkes. Hermione challenges details of his theory. McGonagall rejects the accusation, noting security measures and revealing Malfoy’s alibi: he served detention with her in Hogsmeade hours.
Afterwards, the trio debate the intended target—Dumbledore, Slughorn, or possibly Harry—and the attack’s clumsiness. Despite Malfoy’s alibi, Harry suspects an accomplice. They return to a damp, crowded common room as uncertainty and tension linger.
Who Appears
- Harry PotterProtagonist; experiments with Prince’s spells, confronts Mundungus, witnesses Katie’s cursing, and accuses Draco despite lacking proof.
- Hermione GrangerDisapproves of the Prince’s magic; challenges Harry’s Malfoy theory; comforts Leanne and reasons through the necklace’s delivery.
- Ron WeasleyVictim of accidental Levicorpus; supports Harry but wavers on Malfoy theory; discusses the attack’s clumsiness.
- Katie BellGryffindor Chaser; cursed by a dangerous opal necklace after carrying a mysterious package.
- LeanneKatie’s friend; argues against delivering the parcel and reports Katie’s odd behavior after the bathroom.
- Professor Minerva McGonagallQuestions the witnesses, takes custody of the necklace, and reveals Malfoy’s detention alibi.
- Rubeus HagridFinds the group during the crisis and carries Katie to the castle for urgent help.
- Professor Horace SlughornAttempts to recruit Harry for another supper; emblem of competing loyalties and targets.
- Mundungus FletcherCaught selling stolen Black heirlooms; flees after Tonks intervenes in Harry’s confrontation.
- Nymphadora TonksAppears at Hogsmeade, breaks up Harry’s assault on Mundungus, and urges calm.
- Argus FilchObsessively scans students with a Secrecy Sensor; is sent to deliver the necklace to Snape.
- Madam RosmertaThree Broomsticks landlady; incidental presence during the visit.
- Draco MalfoyOff-page suspect in Harry’s theory; ultimately has an alibi via McGonagall’s detention.