Harry Potter, #6

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

by J.K. Rowling

Genre

Fantasy, Young Adult, Children's

Year

2005

Pages

640

Contents

Chapter 24: Sectumsempra

Previous: Chapter 23: Horcruxes Next: Chapter 25: The Seer Overheard

Overview

Harry learns Katie Bell remembers nothing of her attack, obsesses over Ginny, and prepares for the decisive Quidditch match. Spying on Draco, Harry duels him and uses Sectumsempra, gravely wounding Draco. Snape heals Draco, uncovers Harry’s ruse, and assigns weekly detentions, barring Harry from the match. Harry hides the Prince’s book in the Room of Requirement; Gryffindor win, and Harry publicly kisses Ginny.

Summary

In Charms, Harry tells Ron and Hermione about retrieving Slughorn’s true memory and Dumbledore’s plan to hunt Horcruxes. Ron and Lavender break up; Hermione reveals Ginny and Dean have split. Katie Bell returns but remembers nothing beyond entering the Three Broomsticks’ ladies’ bathroom before being Imperiused.

Quidditch practices thrive with Katie back; Harry wrestles with feelings for Ginny amid looming Championship stakes. Still monitoring Draco on the Marauder’s Map, Harry discovers Draco with Moaning Myrtle in a boys’ bathroom, overhears Draco despairing about a deadly task, and confronts him.

A duel erupts; as Draco attempts the Cruciatus Curse, Harry desperately uses Sectumsempra, slashing Draco severely. Snape arrives, heals Draco with countercurses, and orders Harry to fetch his books. Fearing discovery of the Half-Blood Prince’s annotations, Harry swaps Potions books with Ron and hides the Prince’s copy in the Room of Requirement, marking the spot with a bust, wig, and tiara.

Snape sees through Harry’s lies, assigns detentions every Saturday until term’s end, and blocks Harry from playing in the final match. McGonagall supports the punishment. Gryffindors are furious; Hermione condemns the Prince’s book, while Ginny defends Harry’s quick response to Draco’s near–Unforgivable Curse.

During detention, Snape forces Harry to copy old discipline records, taunting him with his father’s past. Afterward, Harry discovers Gryffindor have crushed Ravenclaw to win the Cup. In the jubilant common room, Ginny runs to Harry and he kisses her publicly; Ron tacitly approves, and Harry and Ginny leave together.

Who Appears

Harry Potter

Protagonist; injures Draco with Sectumsempra, hides the Prince’s book, misses the final match, then kisses Ginny after Gryffindor win.
Ginny Weasley

Breaks up with Dean; stars in Quidditch and celebrates by kissing Harry, beginning their relationship.
Ron Weasley

Breaks up with Lavender, frets over Quidditch, supports Harry and tacitly approves Harry and Ginny.
Hermione Granger

Warns against using Felix and the Prince’s book; criticizes Sectumsempra; clashes with Ginny over Quidditch remarks.
Draco Malfoy

Found crying about a deadly task; duels Harry; is gravely wounded by Sectumsempra and taken to the hospital wing.
Severus Snape

Heals Draco, detects Harry’s deception, assigns Saturday detentions, and prevents Harry from playing in the match.
Moaning Myrtle

Comforts Draco in the bathroom, then loudly alerts the castle after Draco is injured.
Katie Bell

Returns from St. Mungo’s; recalls only entering the Three Broomsticks’ bathroom before being cursed.
Dean Thomas

Recently split from Ginny; loses Chaser spot when Katie returns; witnesses Harry kissing Ginny.
Professor Flitwick

Oversees Charms lesson where Harry, Ron, and Hermione discuss Slughorn’s memory.
Professor McGonagall

Reprimands Harry, supports Snape’s detentions, warns he’s lucky not to be expelled.
Pansy Parkinson

Spreads news vilifying Harry after visiting Draco in the hospital wing.