The Prince's Potions Wisdom

Harry discovers an old potions textbook filled with helpful notes and spells, which boosts his performance but also leads to dangerous consequences.

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Acquiring the Book

The Discovery The Borrowed Textbook In his first N.E.W.T. Potions lesson with Horace Slughorn, Harry Potter discovers he does not have a proper textbook. Slughorn lends him an old, battered copy of 'Advanced Potion-Making'. The book is filled with handwritten notes, corrections, and spells by a previous owner who calls himself the 'Half-Blood Prince'. First Success Harry follows the Prince's instructions for making the Draught of Living Death, achieving a perfect potion and winning a small bottle of Felix Felicis. Slughorn praises Harry's talent, attributing it to his mother's ability. The Secret Helper Harry is thrilled with his new resource. The Prince's notes make him excel in Potions, a subject he previously struggled with. He begins to trust the Prince's wisdom implicitly, ignoring warnings from Hermione Granger about the morality of following unknown spells.

Using the Prince's Spells

The Prince's Inventions Practical Magic Harry begins to experiment with the Prince's spells. He uses Muffliato to create a buzzing sound to hide conversations, and Levicorpus to hoist Ron Weasley upside down as a joke. These spells prove useful in everyday situations. The Bezoar Tip When Ron is poisoned by the mead, Harry remembers the Prince's note: 'Just shove a bezoar down their throats'. He uses a bezoar to save Ron's life, which reinforces his belief in the Prince's wisdom. Growing Dependence Harry becomes heavily reliant on the Prince's book. His Potions performance is outstanding, but he neglects to learn the principles behind the potions. Hermione criticizes him, but Harry dismisses her concerns. The book becomes a treasured possession.

The Sectumsempra Incident

The Dangerous Spell The Confrontation Harry catches Draco Malfoy crying in a bathroom. They duel, and Malfoy attempts to use the Cruciatus Curse. In desperation, Harry uses an unknown spell from the Prince's book: Sectumsempra. The spell slashes Malfoy's face and chest, causing severe bleeding. The Aftermath Severus Snape arrives and heals Malfoy, then demands to see Harry's books. Harry hides the Prince's book in the Room of Requirement, but Snape discovers that the book belonged to him. Snape realizes Harry has been using his old spells. The Revelation Snape confronts Harry, revealing that he is the Half-Blood Prince. The trust Harry placed in the Prince is shattered, as the spells were invented by a Death Eater. Harry is horrified that he used such dark magic and faces detention for the rest of the term.

early September, first Potions lesson

throughout October and November

late May, during the final Quidditch match period