Chapter Summaries

Jon returned to Hufflepuff’s common study room and discussed the coming war, his departure, and Stephen’s future with him. He planned to search for the Hanging Garden in Siberia in ten months, then leave the world within twenty years.

• Jon skipped his planned visit to Professor Slahogern and left Dumbledore to handle tasks that had originally been his.
• Jon found Stephen and the others struggling to train new members for the secretary seats and warned Stephen to be careful during the coming year.
• Jon offered to arrange for Stephen to stay at Hogwarts as an assistant professor, but Stephen refused to remain and risk fighting Voldemort.
• Jon told Stephen to contact him directly with a magic array if anything urgent happened and invited him to Siberia in ten months.
• Jon explained that he planned to search for the Ancient Babylonian Kingdom’s Hanging Garden as a path to becoming a Legendary Wizard.
• Jon told Stephen he had less than twenty years to leave the world, or he would lose his chance to go.

Harry began sixth year uneasy about studying and Snape teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, though he accepted his duties as a student and Quidditch captain. In Snape’s first lesson, he described Dark Magic and showed the class images of its victims.

• Harry received his timetable and the Gryffindor Quidditch team sign-up list after choosing Potions, and Ron was pleased that they had few classes.
• Harry told Katie Bell she would not need to try out for the Quidditch team, but she warned him against favoring familiar players.
• Hermione worried about her Ancient Runes workload as she, Harry, and Ron joined the queue for Defense Against the Dark Arts.
• Snape welcomed the class into a dim classroom decorated with disturbing pictures and criticized the students’ earlier instruction.
• Snape explained that Dark Magic was unpredictable and said their defenses needed to be flexible, pointing out victims of the Cruciatus Curse, a Dementor’s Kiss, and Inferi.

During Defence Against the Dark Arts, Harry’s powerful Shield Charm knocks Snape into a desk, and Harry earns Saturday detention after snapping at him. Dumbledore schedules Harry’s private lessons for the same evening, while Hermione secretly discovers a matching time and address in her notebook.

• Snape teaches the class about nonverbal spells and has students practise casting and blocking curses in pairs.
• Hermione silently repels Neville’s curse, while Snape ignores her success and criticizes Ron as he practises against Harry.
• Snape attacks Harry, who instinctively casts a powerful Protego that knocks Snape into a desk; Harry then earns detention for telling Snape he need not call him “sir.”
• Hermione reminds Harry that Snape’s remarks about courage and quick thinking echoed what Harry had said about facing Voldemort.
• Jack Sloper asks Harry about Quidditch tryouts, but Harry leaves after recognizing a note from Dumbledore announcing private lessons on Saturday evening.
• Hermione secretly sees an address and the same appointment time appear in her notebook.

Harry and Ron attended Slughorn’s advanced Potions class without the proper supplies, while Jon watched unseen and examined Harry’s borrowed textbook. The lesson began with Slughorn displaying prepared potions, and Jon recognized a strong Confundus Charm on Harry’s book.

• Hermione helped Harry and Ron finish Snape’s difficult homework before their afternoon Potions classes.
• Jon secretly entered the underground classroom under a Disillusionment Charm and watched the students gather.
• Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat with Ernie, while Slughorn warmly greeted Harry and Shabini.
• Harry and Ron told Slughorn they lacked textbooks and scales, so he lent them old copies of Advanced Potion-Making and spare scales.
• Slughorn presented several prepared potions, while Jon noticed a strong Confundus Charm on Harry’s textbook.

Jon duplicated Snape’s old Potions textbook and listened as Slughorn taught the class about several famous potions. The lesson ended with Slughorn revealing Felix Felicis, which Hermione identified as liquid luck.

• Jon used Geminio to copy Snape’s old textbook and stored the copy in his ring.
• Hermione correctly identified Veritaserum, Polyjuice Potion, and Love Potion during Slughorn’s lesson.
• Slughorn praised Hermione, awarded her twenty points, and told the class that Love Potion caused infatuation rather than true love.
• Ernie asked Slughorn about the golden potion in the small cauldron, and Slughorn revealed it was Felix Felicis.
• Hermione identified Felix Felicis as liquid luck, drawing the class’s eager attention.

Jon observed Harry brewing a Hellebore Potion and saw Snape's notes help him make the potion correctly, while Hermione stuck to the textbook method. The class ended with Hermione unable to brew a perfect potion.

• Jon explained that Felix Felicis guided users toward the right choices rather than changing their luck.
• Jon quietly told Ernie to focus on brewing instead of worrying about Harry, and Ernie returned his attention to the lesson.
• Harry followed Snape's note to press the Sleepy Beans with the flat of a silver knife, extracting their juice.
• Harry stirred the potion counterclockwise seven times and clockwise once, turning it pale pink.
• Hermione asked Harry how he had changed the potion, but she did not follow his method and failed to brew a perfect potion before time ran out.

Harry told Hermione and Ron that he had used instructions in an old Potions textbook, and Ginny and Hermione checked it for suspicious magic. During their tutoring session, Hermione asked Jon how they could escape the forces pushing them along their path.

• Harry explained that he had followed handwritten tips in Advanced Potion-Making, prompting Hermione to question the safety of his success.
• Ginny worried that the book might be dangerous, and Hermione cast Specialis Revelio on it, but the spell revealed nothing unusual.
• Harry found the words “This book belongs to the Half-Blood Prince” inside the textbook.
• Jon taught Hermione that people sometimes had to do things they did not want to do, and Hermione asked how they could step away from the path guiding them.

Jon explained that Hermione needed to act more extreme to support Harry’s training, while Hermione kept pretending to resent Harry’s success with the Half-Blood Prince’s potion advice. Harry went to meet Dumbledore for a lesson and encountered Professor Trelawney on the way.

• Jon told Hermione that Dumbledore and he had chosen her to help Harry face Voldemort, and that she should follow the role they had planned for her.
• Harry used the Half-Blood Prince’s instructions in Potions and earned Slughorn’s praise, while Ron and Hermione appeared frustrated by his success.
• Hermione told Harry and Ron that the Half-Blood Prince might have been a girl, then Harry hurried off to meet Dumbledore.
• Professor Trelawney read ominous cards about a troubled dark-haired young man as Harry hid behind a statue.
• Harry waited for Trelawney to leave and continued toward the corridor on the Eighth Floor.

Jon took Hermione out of Hogwarts using a Time-Turner, and she deduced that Sirius was still alive; Jon confirmed it and asked her to keep the secret from Harry. Meanwhile, Dumbledore summoned Harry to his office and began preparing to teach him about Voldemort through memories and speculation.

• Jon used a Time-Turner to create a duplicate Hermione and leave Hogwarts with the real Hermione.
• Hermione questioned Jon about Sirius's death, and Jon admitted that Sirius was alive and told her not to reveal it to Harry.
• Harry went to Dumbledore's office, where Dumbledore discussed Harry's upcoming detention and his plans to teach him.
• Dumbledore told Harry that their lessons would explore memories and speculation about Voldemort.

Harry and Dumbledore entered Bob Ogden’s memory and followed him toward a wooded area near Little Hangleton. The chapter then cut to Jon watching Hermione recover from her first Side-Along Apparition.

• Dumbledore showed Harry the Pensieve and explained that they would visit Bob Ogden’s memory.
• Harry and Dumbledore entered the memory and followed Ogden from Great Hangleton toward Little Hangleton.
• Ogden left the lane for a narrow track leading into a small wood and drew his wand.
• Jon told Hermione that her severe nausea after Side-Along Apparition was normal, but did not help her as she vomited.

Jon brought Hermione to the abandoned Gaunt family manor to meet Nagini, who transformed from a giant snake into a young woman. He introduced Hermione as his student, while Nagini identified herself as a follower of Voldemort.

• Jon told Hermione that her birth did not define her and urged her to help Harry and stand up for wizards from her background.
• Jon led Hermione through the ruined manor, expecting her to use the Levitation Charm to avoid its unsafe floorboards.
• Jon explained that the manor had belonged to Voldemort’s mother, Merope Gaunt, and her family.
• A giant snake appeared inside the manor, and Jon’s blue light transformed it into a young girl.
• Jon introduced Hermione Granger to the girl, who named herself Nagini and said she was currently Voldemort’s follower.

Jon brought Hermione to meet Nagini and tried to persuade her to leave Voldemort and accept Grindelwald’s help, but Nagini remained determined to kill Dumbledore and die afterward. Jon revealed that Credence also wanted Nagini to live, leaving her to consider the plea.

• Nagini told Jon she would not return to the Dark Forest because she feared Voldemort would punish her as a traitor.
• Jon warned Nagini that her soul would merge with the sleeping snake soul and offered her a chance to return, but she said she intended to kill Dumbledore and then die.
• Hermione listened to Nagini’s threats and wondered about Jon’s motives, while Jon brought her along to become familiar with Nagini.
• Jon argued that Nagini could not kill Dumbledore and silenced the sleeping snake soul by speaking Parseltongue.
• Nagini said she wanted to kill Dumbledore by her own strength, and Jon told her that Grindelwald felt no need for her to atone and wanted her to live.
• Jon revealed that Credence also hoped Nagini would keep living.

Jon told Nagini that Credence had been resurrected, giving her a reason to consider living, then used the meeting to teach Hermione about Voldemort, magical society, and the choices she would need to make. Hermione left questioning the role of dark wizards and her future responsibility for bringing the magical and Muggle worlds together.

• Jon told Nagini that Credence's soul had been preserved and that he had been resurrected, and Nagini asked whether she could see him.
• Nagini explained that Voldemort wanted to make the snake into a Horcrux and agreed to wait for a chance to regain her freedom.
• After Nagini left, Jon took Hermione somewhere private and invited her to ask questions.
• Hermione concluded that Dumbledore and Jon did not consider Voldemort their ultimate enemy, and Jon said the real task was changing magical society and bridging it with Muggle society.
• Jon asked Hermione to consider how she could bring the two worlds together, then explained Grindelwald's connection to him and argued that a wizard's use of power determined whether it was good or evil.

Jon explained to Hermione why Sirius’s death had been staged while Dumbledore’s death was inevitable, and revealed Credence and Nagini’s histories. He asked Hermione to keep the secrets, including that Neville’s parents would be saved, until everything was over.

• Hermione asked Jon why Sirius had survived when he was certain Dumbledore would die, and Jon said Sirius’s staged death served a plan while Dumbledore’s death was the ending he had chosen.
• Jon explained that Credence was a member of the Dumbledore family whose phoenix flames Grindelwald had preserved after Credence died.
• Jon told Hermione that Nagini had inherited a Blood Curse and followed Voldemort to seek revenge on Dumbledore after she believed Credence would never return.
• Jon revealed that Credence had recently revived and was recovering in a safe place, and said he might send Nagini there too.
• Jon said he had promised Grindelwald to help Credence and Dumbledore to save Neville’s parents, then told Hermione to keep these secrets from everyone, especially Harry.

Jon explained to Hermione why Neville and the others had to remain unaware of their recovery, then revealed his plans for her and the reasons behind the coming conflict. He took Hermione back after telling her that his efforts to unite the wizarding and non-magical worlds served his own interests.

• Jon told Hermione that Voldemort would target Neville and the others if he learned they had recovered, and advised her to conceal her intelligence at school.
• Jon explained that he had chosen Hermione as his successor, while Harry had been chosen by Dumbledore to become a hero against Voldemort.
• Jon said Dumbledore might survive but would disappear from public life, and mentioned that Grindelwald had made travel plans with him.
• Jon told Hermione that good and evil were shaped by circumstance and the victors, and that their plans reflected confidence in defeating Voldemort.
• Hermione asked why Jon wanted to unite the wizarding and non-magical worlds, and Jon said it benefited him; he then took her back.

Hermione secretly studied acting and improved her disguise while Harry, Ron, and Hermione struggled with sixth-year coursework and nonverbal spells. As they worried about their distance from Hagrid and prepared for Quidditch tryouts, Harry and Ron received new copies of Advanced Potion-Making.

• Hermione secretly read books on acting and became more convincing at disguising herself.
• Harry, Ron, and Hermione struggled with harder lessons and nonverbal spells, while Harry excelled at Potions with help from the Half-Blood Prince's annotated book.
• Hermione urged Harry and Ron to explain their absence to Hagrid, and Harry promised they would visit after Quidditch tryouts.
• Hermione explained that Harry's fame had grown because the Wizarding World accepted that Voldemort had returned and learned of Harry's persecution by the Ministry of Magic.
• Hedwig delivered a new copy of Advanced Potion-Making to Harry, and Pigwidgeon delivered an identical package to Ron.

Harry disguised the Half-Blood Prince’s Potions book, while news of a Death Eater arrest and Hannah’s mother’s murder deepened the students’ fear. At Quidditch tryouts, Ron gained Lavender’s attention and Hermione secretly helped him, though Harry noticed her unusual behavior.

• Harry swapped the covers of the Prince’s Potions book and the new copy so he could keep the Prince’s book and return the new one to Slughorn.
• Hermione read that Stan Shunpike had been arrested on suspicion of Death Eater activity and said several students were leaving Hogwarts out of fear.
• Harry remembered that Hannah had been told her mother was murdered, and that Hannah had not returned since.
• Parvati nudged Lavender to smile at Ron, who responded with a swagger as Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed to Quidditch tryouts.
• Harry endured the long, strange tryouts and sought two normal players for the team.
• Hermione secretly jinxed the tryouts to help Ron, then realized Harry seemed to have noticed something unusual about her.

Hermione told Jon that she liked Ron and received reassurance to take things slowly. Jon then focused on Aragog, whose approaching death left him unable to fulfill his promise of rebirth until the Magic Net’s merger with Hog was complete.

• Hermione confided in Jon that she liked Ron, and Jon helped her recognize her feelings while advising her not to rush into a relationship.
• Jon realized Hermione could now enter the Floating Cabin directly, changed its method of entry, and told her through the notebook not to visit unless necessary.
• Jon reflected that Aragog was close to death and that the Magic Net’s merger with Hog prevented him from opening the passage needed to bring Aragog’s soul to another world.
• Jon accepted that Aragog’s spider colony would choose a new leader after his death and decided not to control the spiders.

Jon prepared a concealed, controllable opening in Hogwarts' defenses so Snape and Malfoy could use it later, with Filch responsible for helping manage and repair it. He left Filch and Peeves to remember the location and procedure while keeping Hog's role secret.

• Jon met Peeves and Hog at the castle gates, then waited for Filch to arrive after his patrol.
• Jon told Filch that he would need to work with Malfoy to open and close a gap in Hogwarts' defenses when Snape notified him.
• Filch told Jon that Snape had called their boy in for detention instead of letting him attend Slughorn's dinner party.
• Jon, Peeves, Hog, and Filch went to the edge of Hogwarts, where Jon tore open the defensive barrier as Hog stabilized it through the Magic Net.
• Jon told Filch to give Snape the location, keep Hog's existence secret, and pierce the membrane when it was time to open the gap.

Harry learned spells from the Half-Blood Prince’s Advanced Potion-Making book, then used Levicorpus on Ron and wondered whether the Prince was connected to his father. At Hogsmeade, Harry confronted Mundungus over Sirius’s stolen possessions, while Hermione secretly contacted Jon for a meeting.

• Jon and Snape discussed Snape’s past as a Death Eater, Harry’s fate, and whether Jon would continue saving people.
• Harry accidentally cast Levicorpus on Ron, suspended him upside down, and freed him with Liberacorpus.
• Hermione criticized Harry for using an unknown spell, and Harry remembered that his father had used Levicorpus.
• Harry received a note from Dumbledore arranging another lesson for Monday night, and the trio set off for Hogsmeade.
• Harry recognized Mundungus selling objects from Sirius’s house and grabbed him, but Mundungus escaped by Apparition.
• Hermione calmed Harry at the Three Broomsticks and secretly messaged Jon to ask if she could visit him.