Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth of the well renowned series by the very gifted J.K. Rowling, leaves you experiencing an unusual blend of emotions!
To say the least it lives up to all expectations though you may not feel so when in the initial stages of the book.
Two marked differences between this book and its predecessors are as keyed below.
For one it does not whatsoever have a happy ending! In fact its end made me ponder whether the ongoing events mark the absolute Downfall of ‘he who must not me named’ ‘s opponents, or the beginning of a new Era; in addition to leaving me disturbed and shattered. (If u read my profile u’d know that I’m a hard core fan of the series!)
Secondly , there is no intro to any characters, or events and in some places even voracious readers of the series such as I, needed a little memory refreshing!
The book begins with a sweet-sour rendezvous between the Minister for magic (Cornelius Fudge) and the Muggle Prime Minister, wherein the former performs his customary duties of informing the latter of the ongoings in the wizarding world.
He says that certain Muggle acclaimed murders and mishaps were the consequence of the wizarding world being in a state of open Warfare! He also says that there’d been a mass escape from Azkaban, but that there was little to worry; after which he exits through the portrait of a little green man!
His next and final visit to the Muggle PM is to inform him that the new Minister for magic was now Rufus Scrimgeour.
Meanwhile two Death Eater Sisters are visiting our very favourite Severus Snape and one of them (Narcissa Malfoy) makes him take the ‘Unbreakable vow’ that if Draco was unsuccessful , he would carry out ‘he who must not me named’ ‘s orders.
I know that many would’ve already read the book, but for those who haven’t , I will leave you with this much.
The book now takes us through the usual roller-coaster ride which begins at Privet Drive and ends with the protagonists starting a New Year at Hogwarts, with a few differences here and there like Dumbledore coming to fetch Harry (safety reasons) , a visit to professor Slughorn , a new member at the burrow (Fleur Delacour), the O.W.L results and Harry’s little adventure in the train which involves him getting his nose broken by Malfoy and then being rescued by Tonks!
Following this is a lot of stuff that you might think pointless, amidst which we have the interesting shadowlike presence of the Half Blood Prince!
There are also the very enthralling ‘special lessons’ of Albus Dumbledore which through the Pensieve take us through Voldemorts childhood.
Everything is the same till the last few chapters, that is the lessons, fun and games, quidditch, the friendship, the animosity, a new ray of Romance though, the teachers etc. Although u dont see much of Hagrid or Malfoy who apparently is carrying out some secret mission in the Room of Requirement! There is also a very key role that Slughorn has to play apart from throwing his much notorious parties! ;-)
But once the end is reached, the author begins puppeting away with your emotions! She exploits your fear, love, Integrity, pain and imagination , as Harry and Dumbledore go on a perilous adventure together, to a place extracted from Voldemort’s childhood, to retrieve a precious object that would be but ONE step towards his destruction.
What happens there is not half as appalling as when the pair returns to Hogwarts to find the Dark Mark looming over it.
Then begins mass massacre.
This book has succeeded in capturing every aspect of its readers mental and emotional strength.
It CERTAINLY not a disappointment.
I don’t even want to delve into what happens in the end because I would be depriving you of a beautiful experience.