Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Chapter Twenty-Three:
Horcruxes

Notes by Steve Vander Ark and Michele L. Worley
Synopsis and links by John Kearns

U.S. hardcover edition: pages 492 - 512
U.K. hardcover edition: pages 460 - 479
Timeframe: Monday, 21 April 1997 [Y17]

In which Harry learns that Dumbledore has returned, races off to his office, and with him watches Slughorn's memory, where Riddle learns what Horcruxes are and contemplates making more than one.  Dumbledore explains his suspicions that Riddle made six, including the now-destroyed ring and diary, the locket, the cup, and Nagini.  Dumbledore promises Harry can join him in destroying the next one, and explains to Harry what love - and the prophecy - really mean.

No comments on chapter title as yet.

Interesting facts and notes about the text of this chapter:

Still to come....

Characters introduced in this chapter:

• Avery (in Pensieve - possibly the same Avery we've met before, but not necessarily)

• Lestrange (in Pensieve - almost certainly not one of the Lestranges we've already met)

• (unnamed) boys sitting at Slughorn's table with Riddle in Pensieve

Characters returning in this chapter:

• Black, Phineas Nigellus

• de Mimsy-Porpington, Sir Nicholas (Nearly Headless Nick)

• Dumbledore, Albus

• Fat Lady, the

• Potter, Harry

• Riddle, Tom Marvolo (in Pensieve)

• Slughorn, Horace (in Pensieve)

• (unnamed) headmasters in the portraits on Dumbledore's walls

Characters mentioned in this chapter:

• Bloody Baron, the

• Gaunt, Marvolo

• Merlin

• Merrythought, Galatea

• Nagini

• Peeves

• Potter, James

• Potter, Lily Evans

• Snape, Severus

• Trelawney, Sybill

• Weasley, Arthur

• Weasley, Ginny

Settings and locations introduced or returning in this chapter:

• Gaunt house, Little Hangleton

• Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

  • Dumbledore's office

  • Gryffindor Tower

  • Slughorn's office (in Pensieve)

Settings and locations mentioned in this chapter:

• Azkaban

• Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

  • Astronomy Tower

  • Chamber of Secrets

Exceptional character moments:

• Still to come....

Spells and Potions:

• Elixir of Life

• Felix Felicis

• (unnamed) spell required to create a Horcrux

Links and Resources:

• Death Eaters

• items and devices, magical

  • Horcrux

  • Invisibility Cloak

  • Pensieve

  • Philosopher's Stone

  • Portkeys

  • Riddle's diary

  • ring, Marvolo's

• Parseltongue

• passwords

Memorable lines:

• It was, he thought, the difference between being dragged into the arena to face a battle to the death and walking into the arena with your head held high. Some people, perhaps, would say that there was little to choose between the two ways, but Dumbledore knew - and so do I, thought Harry, with a rush of fierce pride, and so did my parents - that there was all the difference in the world.

Strictly British:

• none

Timelines/Calendar:

The chapter continues the same night the previous one left off, Monday, 21 April.