Harry Potter, #6
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
by J. K. Rowling
Contents
Chapter 22: After the Burial
Overview
Harry, frustrated with Slughorn and Malfoy, uses Felix Felicis and follows a hunch to Hagrid’s late-night burial of Aragog. There, Harry lures Slughorn along, who collects spider venom. Over drinks, Harry invokes Lily’s sacrifice and persuades Slughorn to surrender the crucial Horcrux memory.
Meanwhile, Hermione passes and Ron narrowly fails his Apparition test; Malfoy looks strained, hinting his mission falters, and news of Greyback underscores rising danger.
Summary
Harry, blocked on both Malfoy’s activities and Slughorn’s hidden memory, receives Hagrid’s tear-blotted request to attend Aragog’s burial. Hermione urges caution and refocus on Slughorn; Ron suggests using Felix Felicis. After Potions—where Harry brews an Euphoria Elixir, Malfoy looks wan, and Slughorn evades him—Hermione passes and Ron narrowly fails his Apparition test. News of Fenrir Greyback’s child victim sharpens the stakes.
At dusk, Harry swallows a measured dose of Felix. Feeling certain he must visit Hagrid, he slips out under the Cloak, brushes past Ginny and Dean mid-argument, and diverts through the vegetable patch, where he “accidentally” meets Slughorn collecting plants. Mention of Aragog’s death tempts Slughorn with valuable venom, and Harry invites him to the burial; Slughorn agrees, promising drink.
At Hagrid’s, the trio conduct a moonlit burial. Slughorn discreetly siphons venom, then delivers florid eulogies before they retire inside to drink. Harry, guided by Felix, keeps refilling the bottles and lets Slughorn and Hagrid grow expansive and sentimental. Hagrid drunkenly reminisces and falls asleep.
Seizing the moment, Harry speaks quietly of his parents’ deaths, invoking Lily’s courage and Slughorn’s fondness for her. When Slughorn balks, ashamed of what his memory shows and afraid of Voldemort, Harry presses: Dumbledore needs the truth; Harry, the Chosen One, must kill Voldemort; being brave like Lily means giving the memory now.
After a long silence, Slughorn yields. He extracts the silvery memory with his wand, bottles it, and hands it to Harry, begging him not to think too badly of him. Slughorn then falls asleep beside Hagrid, while Harry finally has the crucial Horcrux memory.
Who Appears
- Harry PotterFrustrated with Malfoy and Slughorn, uses Felix Felicis, engineers Slughorn’s presence at Aragog’s burial, and secures the Horcrux memory.
- Horace SlughornTempted by acromantula venom, drinks with Hagrid, moved by Lily’s memory, and finally gives Harry the crucial Horcrux memory.
- Rubeus HagridGrieves Aragog, hosts the burial, reminisces while drinking, unknowingly enables Slughorn to collect venom.
- Hermione GrangerWarns against breaking rules, urges use of Felix, passes her Apparition test, underscores need for Slughorn’s memory.
- Ron WeasleySuggests using Felix Felicis, narrowly fails Apparition test, hides from Lavender; supports Harry’s plan.
- Draco MalfoyAppears pale and strained in Potions, signaling his mission is going badly.
- Professor SproutProvides Slughorn with plants at twilight near the vegetable patch.
- AragogHagrid’s dead acromantula; his burial draws Slughorn, whose interest in venom aids Harry’s plan.
- Argus FilchForgets to lock the front door, allowing Harry to slip out.
- Ginny WeasleyArgues with Dean at the portrait hole as Harry slips past under the Cloak.
- Dean ThomasQuarrels with Ginny at the portrait hole; Harry passes between them.
- Lavender BrownConfronts Ron emerging with Hermione, sparking a dormitory-row Harry evades.
- FangHagrid’s boarhound, seeks comfort beside Harry during the wake.