| Revision as of 04:24, 16 July 2005 editPamri (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users4,904 edits +link to bbc review← Previous edit | Revision as of 04:26, 16 July 2005 edit undoPurplefeltangel (talk | contribs)2,098 edits →Chapter 21: The Unknowable RoomNext edit → | ||
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| === Chapter 20: Lord Voldemort's Request === | === Chapter 20: Lord Voldemort's Request === | ||
| === Chapter 21: The Unknowable Room === | === Chapter 21: The Unknowable Room === | ||
| EVERYONE DIES | |||
| === Chapter 22: After the Burial === | === Chapter 22: After the Burial === | ||
| === Chapter 23: Horcruxes === | === Chapter 23: Horcruxes === | ||
Revision as of 04:26, 16 July 2005
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Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth part of the Harry Potter book series written by J. K. Rowling. It was the first book in the United Kingdom to have a simultaneous standard print, large print, and Braille edition release (Braille editions are normally released weeks or months later than the standard edition, if at all).
Editions
- Bloomsbury (United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada)
- ISBN 0747581088 Hardcover
- ISBN 074758110X Hardcover (adult edition)
- ISBN 0747581428 Hardcover (special edition)
- Raincoast (Canada)
- ISBN 155192756X Hardcover
- ISBN 1551927608 Hardcover (adult edition)
- ISBN 0747581525 Hardcover (large print edition)
- Scholastic (United States)
- ISBN 0439784549 Hardcover
- Bloomsbury/Raincoast edition (Children) Bloomsbury/Raincoast edition (Children)
- Bloomsbury/Raincoast edition (Adult) Bloomsbury/Raincoast edition (Adult)
- Scholastic edition Scholastic edition
Release dates and times
- Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States at 00:01 (local time) on Saturday, 16 July 2005
- Philippines at 06:01 Saturday, 16 July 2005
- Singapore at 07:01 Saturday, 16 July 2005
- Australia (AEST) at 09:01 Saturday, 16 July 2005
- New Zealand at 11:01 Saturday, 16 July 2005
- Jordan at 02:01 Saturday, 16 July 2005
Various publishers have announced release dates for local translations of the book.
The CEO of Barnes and Noble in the United States announced that the sixth book will sell more than 50,000 copies in the first hour alone, which he said is more than most books sell in a lifetime.
The Canadian edition of the book, published by Raincoast Books, was published on 100% recycled paper. The American edition of the book, published by Scholastic Press, was printed with a percentage of recycled paper that Scholastic declined to make public. Before and after the release of the book, the environmental organizations Greenpeace and the National Wildlife Federation advised consumers in the United States who planned to buy Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince to do so from the book's Canadian publisher, Raincoast Books .
On July 8, 15 copies of the book were accidentally sold in British Columbia, Canada (There have been similar incidents in New York, Indiana, and Texas). A court order was obtained from the BC Supreme court requiring the customers to return the books and not to discuss the content or even read it. They were also promised an autographed copy of the book in return for their cooperation, but not all of them have returned the book. The court order led Richard Stallman, a notable anticopyright activist, to declare on his webpage that he is willing to reveal all the secrets and offered an anonymous way of doing so - because he feels that reading legally obtained books is a civil right. He also called on readers to refuse to buy Harry Potter books, although this does not seem to have had much impact in sales - over one million copies have been preordered.
Rumours
There was naturally much rumour and speculation about the contents of the sixth book. All verifiable information has since been archived in another article.
Plot synopsis
Spoiler warning: This book has just been released. Plot and ending details follow. Do not continue if you do not want details.
The Wizarding World has been building up to the Second War for two years now, but as Harry prepares for his sixth year at Hogwarts, it is about to begin...
Bloomsbury Edition blurb
On 14 July 2005, Bloomsbury released a picture of the back cover of their edition which contains the following teaser :
- It is the middle of summer, but there is an unseasonal mist pressing against the windowpanes. Harry Potter is waiting nervously in his bedroom at the Dursleys' house in Privet Drive for a visit from Professor Dumbledore himself. One of the last times he saw the Headmaster was in a fierce one-to-one duel with Lord Voldemort, and Harry can't quite believe that Professor Dumbledore will actually appear at the Dursleys' of all places. Why is the Professor coming to visit him now? What is it that cannot wait until Harry returns to Hogwarts in a few weeks' time? Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts has already got off to an unusual start, as the worlds of Muggle and magic start to intertwine ...
Note: Information will be added as it becomes known.
Chapter 1: The Other Minister
Voldemort and his posse have destroyed a bridge, killing many people, set a giant on a small town and murdered Amelia Bones, Head of Magical Law Enforcement, and Emmeline Vance (unknown character at this moment).
It is revealed that Cornelius Fudge has definitely been sacked, and has been replaced by Rufus Scrimgeour, the 'old lion' man.
Kingsley Shacklebolt is the Prime Minister's new bodyguard.
Dementors cause an unseasonal cold, July fog and a general feeling of misery over all England. They have broken free and are breeding, creating fog and misery everywhere.
Chapter 2: Spinner's End
Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange go to a house on Spinner's End to find Professor Snape. Narcissa wants Snape to help her son Draco Malfoy, because he has been assigned a task by Voldemort that is far above his ability to accomplish.
Snape has taken a 'unbreakable vow' that he will help Draco Malfoy in his task, whatever it may be, and do it for him if it looks like he will fail. Snape is also revealed as Voldemort's most trusted accomplice, but his allegiances remain unclear as of this chapter.
Chapter 3: Will and Won't
Dumbledore turns up at Harry Potter's house and tells him that 12 Grimmauld Place, Kreacher, Buckbeak and all of Sirius's possesions now belong to him. Harry sends Kreacher off to work at Hogwarts, gives Buckbeak (now renamed Witherwings) to Hagrid for caring and goes off with Dumbledore to The Burrow.
Dumbledore also now has an injured hand, a product of his 'slowing reactions'.
Chapter 4: Horace Slughorn
Harry side-along-apparates with Dumbledore, but instead of going to the Burrow, they end up in a village. Dumbledore tells Harry that they need a new staff member (presumbably for the position of Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher) and go off to convince one Horace Slughorn (an old colleague of Dumbledore) to join up.
They succeed, so the new DADA teacher is Professor Slughorn. Dumbledore then transports them to the Burrow and tells Harry he will take private lessons with him.
Chapter 5: An Excess of Phlegm
Arthur Weasley is head of the new Office of Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects. In short, it means he finds and takes fake defence items like potions that protect others from danger or Sneakoscopes that serve as tracking devices for the Death Eaters etc.
Fleur Delacour is also staying with the Weasleys, and she and Bill Weasley are getting married.
Harry, Ron and Hermione get their O.W.L.s results. It is revealed that Troll is an actual grade, not Terrible as one might imagine. Harry's grades are:
- Astronomy: Acceptable (A)
- Care of Magical Creatures: Exceeds Expectations (E)
- Charms: E
- Defence Against the Dark Arts: Outstanding (O)
- Divination: Poor (P)
- Herbology: E
- History of Magic: Dreadful (D)
- Potions: E
- Transfiguration: E
These results are good, but Harry's dreams of becoming an Auror are gone. He needs an 'O' in Potions to make it to Advanced Potions, and Potions is one of the N.E.W.T. subjects required for Aurors.
Ron recieves similar grades (fails in History of Magic and Divination) but no 'Outstanding's and Hermione, as expected recieves 10 'O's and one 'E' for DADA.
The three of them have passed into N.E.W.T. level.
Chapter 6: Draco's Detour
There are regular deaths and disappearances now. Igor Karkaroff is dead, killed by Death Eaters and Ollivander is missing (the wand maker).
Harry is also made Quidditch Captain, which according to Hermione, gives him equal status as a Prefect (he can use their bathroom, whether he can take points is unknown).
The entire family goes shopping in Diagon Alley, where they meet up with Hagrid and have a nasty encounter with Draco Malfoy and his mother Narcissa. They end up with wands pointed to each other's head, when Narcissa insults the trio and takes off.
The family then go to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, a joke shop with a booming trade, not only with the joke items but because they are selling enchanted Shield Hats, Cloaks and Gloves to the Ministry (presumbably for the war effort, the items deflect spells).
Draco takes a detour, to Knockturn Alley where he visits the shop Borgin and Burkes. He threatens Borgin, saying a 'family friend', Fenrir Greyback (unknown character) will pay him a visit if he 'doesn't repair this item'. Malfoy also tells him to reserve an item for later purchase, and not to tell anybody about it.
Chapter 7: The Slug Club
Harry reveals his suspicions to Ron and Hermione that Draco is now a Death Eater. Harry mentions, to Ron and Hermione, how when Madam Malkins tried to roll up Draco's sleeve, he yelled and yanked it away; he also showed Borgin something that made him take Malfoy seriously. It is just a suspicion so far, but the audience knows Narcissa mentioned something about "Draco being sent on a task".
Ginny Weasley also has a new pet, a Pygmy Puff called Arnold.
Later, on the Hogwarts Express, Harry is invited, along with Neville to have lunch with Professor Slughorn. They arrive and find a bunch of people there, including Ginny and Blaise Zabini, a Slytherin in Harry's year. The students here are all connected to famous wizards and witches except for Ginny, who was invited because Slughorn liked the curse she casted earlier. Slughorn interrogates them all (Harry, Neville, Ginny, Zabini, Cormac McGlaggen and Marcus Belby) and sends them off, confident they will live up to their relatives. Leaving the carriage, Harry takes the opportunity to tail Zabini back to the Slytherin carriage to eavesdrop on Malfoy.
Malfoy lets slip that he might not be at Hogwarts next year, because he's moved on to "bigger and better things." The other Slytherins are suprised, and Zabini asks what he could do for Voldemort if he isn't even qualified. Malfoy retorts by saying the job the Dark Lord wants him to do doesn't require qualifications.
They arrive at Hogsmeade Station, but Harry is discovered by Malfoy alone. Malfoy petrifies him and breaks Harry's nose by stamping on his face. Malfoy then throws the invisbility cloak over Harry, which coupled with the petrification means that he might not get to school this year.
Chapter 8: Snape Victorious
Harry is rescued by Tonks, who mends his broken nose and leads him up to the castle. Snape comes and escorts Harry back to the Great Hall, deducting 70 points from Gryffindor along the way.
After the feast which Harry misses by a few seconds, Dumbledore announces a huge appointment. Professor Horace Slughorn is to the be the new Potions Master...which also means Snape gets the Defence Against the Dark Arts post.
Chapter 9: Half-Blood Prince
Chapter 10: The House of Gaunt
Chapter 11: Hermione's Helping Hand
Chapter 12: Silver and Opals
Chapter 13: The Secret Riddle
Chapter 14: Felix Felicis
Chapter 15: The Unbreakable Vow
Chapter 16: A Very Frosty Christmas
Chapter 17: A Sluggism Memory
Chapter 18: Birthday Surprizes
Chapter 19: Elf Tails
Chapter 20: Lord Voldemort's Request
Chapter 21: The Unknowable Room
EVERYONE DIES
Chapter 22: After the Burial
Chapter 23: Horcruxes
Chapter 24: Sectumsempra
Chapter 25: The Seer Overheard
Chapter 26: The Cave
Chapter 27: The Lightning-Struck Tower
Chapter 28: Flight of the Prince
Chapter 29: The Phoenix Lament
Chapter 30: The White Tomb
External links
- Rowling's responses to various rumours
- Veritaserum's "HBP" section: information and theories
- HPANA's complete archive of book 6 news and rumors
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince News & Info
- Everything there is to know about Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Archive of mysterious door openings
- Greenpeace's Save Muggle Forests Campaign
- National Wildlife Federation's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince campaign website
- Press release announcing the publication date by British publishers Bloomsbury
- Press release on PRNewsWire
- Humorous look at the latest in the Potter series
- Rowling's HP reading
- Harry Potter review blog
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