title + stats

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ? chapters * 672 pages

on the cover

Electric lime with purple letters: Dumbledore and Harry stand gazing into a basin (perhaps a Pensieve?). There is also a Scholastic 100 days countdount standup that reveals Ron and Hermione opposite Ginny looking up towards Harry and Dumbledore.

what we know

The title of book six is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (which was originally the working title for Chamber of Secrets) (jkrowling.com).  the Half-Blood Prince is not Harry or Voldemort.  The book will be released on July 16th, 2004.  It's shorter than (a little more than three-fourths the size of) OotP, and Mary GrandPré is illustrating per usual. For more facts that have been garnered from multiple interviews with Rowling, visit TLC's HBP FAQ or go straight to the source: JKRowling.com (though, alas, there has been little--okay, no--news of late).

theories + plot predictions
who's the half-blood prince?	The easier question is who isn't the Half-Blood Prince. Like most of Rowling's plot developments i believe the answer is staring us right in the face (Jo loves foreshadowing way ahead of time) but does anyone actually see it?  I'm not at all certain who he is, but i have ruled some individuals out.  There is two ways Jo could take this:  he could be a half Wizard / half Muggle (though none of the Hogwarts students really seem very plausible candidates to me) or she could be talking about a half Wizard / half other-species. The first person who occurred to me as such was Hagrid, but even if Hagrid is some sort of Giant royalty then Grawp would be a full blood prince and it couldn't really influence the storyline enough to warrant an entire title when Giants kill their leaders every other week. The two characters that i favored but don't consider to be plausible choices are Snape (i think he could be half Vampire but don't know for sure that this is the case, and what Rowling has said has been contradictory or unhelpful) or Gryffindor, whom i very much believe Harry is the last heir of.  How long ago did Gryffindor die?  Was Fawkes his phoenix?  Could he be an important addition to the storyline even though he isn't alive in the era these books are set in? Only time will tell.
HBP hints from PoA	Rowling said in an interview that there are several things TPTB inadvertantly put into the movie Prisoner of Azkaban that foreshadow things that are still coming in the final books.  What does this mean?  I predict that Harry will be secretly studying spells in his bedroom on Privet Drive. Though i know that Harry will be mourning Sirius' death and coming to terms with the Prophecy i think it's clear that Harry will eventually decide that the next time Voldemort comes looking for him, he'll be ready (as when he hears of Sirius' "betrayal" of his parents). I believe that Harry has powers that he has no idea that he possesses yet that he will begin to finally discover now and that at some point he will become just as powerful as Dumbledore.
Harry will discover that he's a Metamorphmagus and begin to whole-heartedly endeavor not only to dispose of You-Know-Who but to reach his goal of becoming an Auror (sorry, but i predict no professional Quidditch for Harry)	This ties in with my last prediction.  Harry could grow his hair back at will in the Sorcerer's Stone and as far as we know he hasn't had a haircut since he started attending Hogwarts.  Tonks is the only other character Rowling's shown to be able to change her hair at will (she hasn't shown anyone using a charm to grow back singed eyebrows for example).  More importantly, Rowling has said in an interview that Harry won't become an Animagus.  Transfiguration is important to Auror training:  though i don't believe that being an Animagus is necessary for becoming an Auror i do believe that Harry's powers as a Metamorphmagus will aid him in the future. As fun as it might be for Harry to be able to just enjoy Quidditch i think such a job would ultimately only cheapen him and his heroism. Harry is not about to stand by and watch Voldemort take over: he is far too noble. Harry decided to become an Auror before he heard the Prophecy, he will not back down now nor take the easy road. Harry doesn't have time for Quidditch as a career, nor does he desire the fame such a career path would give him.
the Scar	Well of course Harry's Scar will figure prominently in the next two books.  Its importance was foreshadowed as early as the Sorcerer's Stone and was developed quite a bit in Goblet of Fire and Order of the Phoenix.  Harry will need to develop his Occlumency of course, but i am rather intrigued by Arya's theories (in her fanfic Harry Potter and the Acceptance of Fate that Voldemort will feel pain when Harry is feeling intense love and that hope is the strength of the Patronus Charm.
O.W.L.s	I don't know where everyone got the idea that all the fifth years (now becoming sixth years) are all going to have pet owls now that they're getting their O.W.L. results:  if such were the case Fred and George would have their own owls and they don't.  What Rowling wrote in chapter 31 of OotP is that they'd all be receiving their results via owl in July (709).  I have full confidence that Harry will get into all the classes he needs to become an Auror on the merit of his test scores; this is now supported by the adult UK cover of Half-Blood Prince.
the Prophecy	This was so built up that by the time we got to it i felt a bit let down.  It was like, 'Duh, of course it's Harry who has to defeat Voldemort!'  I was expecting more (for instance, why is it significant that Harry's eyes are green like his mother's... or is it?). But the Prophecy is very important to the next two books.  I'd guess that we can definitely expect more from Trelawney.  Will Harry tell his friends?  Yes, at least the extended Trio, though i wouldn't be the least bit surprised if he restricts the knowledge to a choice few or if he tells Ginny first.  I think her experience in the Chamber of Secrets / with Riddle's Diary is very important in some way and that we'll find that out in this book. Rowling hasn't come out and said it (and won't) but i also believe that it will be Voldemort who dies in book seven.  She won't care about book sales anymore (did she ever really?) but she might fear for her life! (;

character development
Harry Potter	Once he starts getting over Sirius' death (that is, stops pouting about it and starts doing something as a result) Harry will probably decide to start studying DADA more actively.  He's already decided to become an Auror:  deciding to defeat Voldemort is the next logical step even without the Prophecy.  I don't think Harry will start training in secret with some kung fu/fencing master (though i have enjoyed reading some fanfics to that effect) because i don't think Harry's powers are the slightest bit influenced by his physical strength (he first defeated Voldemort at the age of one for instance).  I believe that Harry's powers will be increasing in strength and the D.A. will continue and become even more important in the final two books.
the Trio expanded
Hermione Granger	I think Hermione will decide to become a teacher, perhaps even a Animagus (i can definitely see her taking over McGonagall's position, just as McGonagall will one day take over Dumbledore's).  She and Ron will definitely be getting together soon... perhaps consoling each other over the summer?
Ron Weasley	Unlike some, i don't believe that the brain will have very lasting effects on Ron.  I still predict that he will become Captain of the Quidditch team (there has to be a reason for him being so good at chess).  I also don't hate him like a lot of Harry/Hermione shippers seem to (honestly!).  His and Hermione's friendship with Harry will be very important in the last two books of the series just as they have been since the Sorcerer's Stone.  The Trio will always be together.
Ginny Weasley	Harry's new love interest (finally!).  Ginny will continue to develop into an intelligent young woman who can pull Harry out of his darker moods, defend herself, and help Harry continue to pursue a normal life.  I believe that Ginny (as well as Neville and Luna) have become very important to the storyline of defeating Voldemort.  Rowling herself has said that it would have been dreadful on many different levels had Ginny died in the Chamber of Secrets.
Neville Longbottom	Neville is going to continue to become more important to the storyline:  there's a reason Jo made him the most well-developed character that's a roommate of Harry's after Ron.  Now that he has his own wand he'll be able to continue to grow in the D.A. and i don't think we've seen the last of his parents yet, either.  I agree with the suggestion that something about the gum wrappers may be a clue (they are all over the desk at JKRowling.com).
Luna Lovegood	Has a crush on Ron, not Harry, though nothing will come of it.  I agree that she might make a good match for Neville but Rowling has nixed the idea.  I'm sure we'll be seeing more of her but i'm not sure how important to the storyline she is (after all, she herself was never even mentioned until OotP, and her family was only mentioned in passing in Goblet of Fire).
main characters
Sirius Black	Much as i liked Sirius and will miss him... dead is dead.  His ghost won't be hanging about and Harry won't be able to talk to him.  Deal with it!
Albus Dumbledore	Unlike some i don't think he'll be dying in HBP:  i'm not at all certain that he'll be dying in the series at all.  Some people think he needs to die so it can be clear that it's Harry that needs to defeat Voldemort, not him, but what if Harry becomes even more powerful than Dumbledore?  I do think it's clear that Dumbledore will finally become less of an enigma and actually start teaching Harry a few things himself (which is great because Albus is one of my favorite characters).
Remus Lupin	Of course he'll be bereft as the last surviving member of the (true) Marauders (wouldn't you be) but i don't think he'll be hiding out in his depression and shutting out life... he'll be far too busy for that.  With a new Minister for Magic one might think perhaps he'll be able to teach again... that's not my prediction.  I think he'll be doing business for the Order and won't be a bigger figure than in the last book (at least in the present; flashbacks or pensieve jaunts are an entirely different issue).
Rubeus Hagrid	It now seems pretty clear that Hagrid is going to survive for the rest of the series.  I have no guesses as to what he'll be doing outside of what Rowling has said in interviews/chats.
Draco Malfoy	Draco is the best known Slytherin at Hogwarts of any year.  I've always believed in the back of my mind that he'll turn around rather like Snape (i kind of hope that he and Harry don't remain enemies as Severus and James did, though).  There is forshadowing to that effect in (and Harry's scar connection with Voldemort) in the Sorcerer's Stone (130), but on the other hand Rowling has basically said it's not going to happen and the rumors that Harry and Draco would have to work together for a while were just that:  rumors.
Minerva McGonagall	I was really affected by the stunning of McGonagall because i didn't see it coming.  I had fervently believed for months that Hagrid was going to die, so when i read about the attack i was certain that this was when it was to happen.  I was thus astonished and shaken by McGonagall's brush with death.  I hadn't realized just how much i like her character before this event and it left me wondering who was going to die if it wasn't her.  But i did think she might be dead for the rest of the chapter.
Peter Pettigrew	For good or bad i believe he will meet his end (probably when Harry faces Voldemort at the end of HBP).  Will he spare Harry's life just as Harry spared his?  I think so (though Harry will definitely be able to hold his own against Voldemort this time around).  Will he kill or injure Remus with his silver hand?  I hope not, but only Rowling knows.
Severus Snape	Important to the storyline as always, Snape will continue to be a slimy git. Harry will learn Occlumency from Dumbledore (if he still needs to study it?). I've thought that Snape is a vampire (whole or half) for a while now (since OotP especially) but i don't know if Rowling is writing him that way or not. One also asks to ask themself if he will ever receive the highly-desired Defense Against the Dark Arts position at Hogwarts (i say yes, but in book seven).
Nymphadora Tonks	My vote for new DADA teacher and a possible Lupin love interest. I think Tonks will probably be helping Harry figure out newly discovered metamorphmagus abilities.
Percy Weasley	Will he be reunited with his family?  It's a hard question and i don't think there are any indicators at the end of OotP.  I'd like to believe that he was just spying for the Order (like in Hiding) but unfortunately i don't.  Percy was always rather stuck up and overconcerned about impressing every Ministry official other than his father.  Will he apologize to Harry or his family?  Maybe, but not if he's too enraged by something like the sacking of Cornelius Fudge.
lesser characters
Cho Chang	A total non-entity to the storyline now.  She'll be in the D.A., playing Quidditch, etc., but Harry won't be pining after her.
Lee Jordan	Is he the same year as the Weasley twins?  We may be in the market for a new Quidditch announcer:  i just hope it's not Colin Creevey.

 
 
 
daniel radcliffe * rupert grint * emma watson
 
 
 
Lumos Nox * Swish + Flick * source
luinel_anduril@yahoo.com
 
 
 
Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger,
and all related characters and elements are the property of
J.K. Rowling, Scholastic, and Warner Bros.

Images of Harry are from Mary GrandPré's artwork
for the cover of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

key
SS * CoS * PoA * GoF * OotP * HBP