Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Half-Blood Prince/Chapter 21
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Chapter 21 of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: The Unknowable Room
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[edit] Synopsis
Harry spends much spare time devising a way to retrieve Professor Slughorn's memory. As his potions book has been so useful recently, particularly in saving Ron's life, Harry reads it carefully. But Hermione points out that Dumbledore said only Harry could successfully retrieve the memory, and that Slughorn would likely be protected against anything in the textbook. Just then, Harry finds a new curse, Sectumsempra. It is labeled, "For Enemies." He wants to test it, but knowing Hermione's objections to using the Prince's spells, he refrains. Ron, writing an essay, asks for assistance; it seems his Spell-Checking quill has stopped working, and, among other things, is rendering his name as "Roonil Wazlib". Hermione offers to correct his spelling. Ron says he loves her, and Hermione, blushing, says he should not let Lavender hear him say that. Ron says maybe he should; he has been trying to dump her.
Kreacher and Dobby arrive to report to Harry regarding Malfoy's activities. Over the week they have been tailing him, Draco spent considerable time inside the Room of Requirement. The elves state that a "variety" of students stand watch while Draco is inside. Harry surmises that these "students" are probably Crabbe and Goyle disguised by Polyjuice Potion stolen from Slughorn. He also guesses that the Room was not on the Marauder's Map because the map's authors did not know about about it, though Hermione suggests that the room may be "unplottable" if the user needs it to be. Harry says that he should be able to enter the Room of Requirement, just as Malfoy had when Dumbledore's Army was there. But Hermione counters that Draco knew what the Room was being used for because "that stupid Marietta" told him.
During a free period the next day, Harry again attempts to enter the Room of Requirement, but he is unable to make the door appear. His efforts make him late for Defence Against the Dark Arts class, causing Snape to penalize Gryffindor ten points. Seamus Finnigan asks about the difference between ghosts and Inferi, as a story in the Daily Prophet mentioned Inferi; Professor Snape says the story actually was about one Mundungus Fletcher, who was arrested for impersonating an Inferius. Ron also gets taunted and given detention by Snape. When Lavender starts abusing Snape after class, Ron is irritated rather than amused, and he and Harry duck into a bathroom so Ron can avoid her. There they find Moaning Myrtle, who says she was expecting someone else — a boy who has been crying.
Ron decides to take the extra Apparation classes being offered in Hogsmeade village. Hermione, meanwhile, repeatedly urges Harry to try and get Slughorn's memory. Harry truthfully answers that he is trying, but Slughorn, knowing what Harry is after, takes precautions to never be alone with him. Harry decides to spend another day looking for Malfoy in the Room of Requirement, first chasing off Goyle. Unsuccessful at opening the door, he kicks the wall, and his Invisibility Cloak slips off. Tonks calls out to him, and says she is there to see Dumbledore about "nothing in particular". She asks if he has heard from anyone in the Order, then gets teary eyed. When Harry relates this to Hermione, she remarks, "It's a bit odd." Harry suggests that she was in love with Sirius. Her Patronus is big and hairy now. Hermione thinks it is possible, but is doubtful.
[edit] Analysis
Harry learns that Malfoy has been spending time in the Room of Requirement, which is why Draco periodically disappears from the Marauder's Map. However, Harry still does not know what Malfoy is working on, and anyone he tells seems unconcerned. Harry only becomes more obsessed with following Draco, causing Harry to neglect his task to retrieve Slughorn's memory and receive a mild rebuke from Dumbledore.
Although Ron jokingly tells Hermione he loves her, he may actually be internalizing his strong feelings for her. And while he remains confused about how he actually feels about Hermione, there is no doubt about his feelings for Lavender—he wants to be rid of her.
Tonks' ongoing depression remains a mystery, but it has deeply affected her to where her Patronus had changed its shape. Although Harry believes she was in love with Sirius, Hermione doubts this, and Hermione is seldom wrong in her assumptions. One thing seems obvious, Tonks is secretly guarding Harry, always appearing just as he lands himself in trouble.
[edit] Questions
[edit] Review
- Why does Harry decide not to test the Prince's Sectumsempra spell?
- Why does Harry believe his Potions book can help him retrieve Slughorn's memory? What does Hermione say?
- Why does Tonks say she is looking for Dumbledore? What does she mean by "nothing in particular"?
- Why is Tonks always so sad? Why does Hermione doubt that Tonks was in love with Sirius?
[edit] Extra Study
- What might Draco be doing in the Room of Requirement?
- Ron jokingly tells Hermione he "loves" her. Is he really joking or do his words reveal deeper feelings? What is Hermione's reaction?
- Who might the sobbing boy in Moaning Myrtle's bathroom be and why does he go to that particular place? Why would he be crying?
[edit] Greater Picture
It is perhaps surprising that the Room of Requirement can be used to carry out what we assume is a task for Voldemort, as Hogwarts is supposed to be protected from Dark Magic. There are several possibilities here. One possibility is that the Room of Requirement is an exception, or that someone has performed a spell which allows it. Another possibility is that what is being done is not Dark as such, but can be used for Dark purposes. What Draco is doing is repairing a Vanishing cabinet, a task which in isolation is not Dark. It is the use it is put to once it is repaired that makes it so useful to the Dark side.
Harry's decision to heed Hermione's advice and refrain from testing the Prince's spells on someone without knowing the results was a wise one. Sectumsempra has a devastating effect, which, had it been used in a different circumstance, could have cost someone their life, and in a later chapter, it will be nearly fatal for someone.
Readers should note the reference to Inferi. They will be seen later in the book.
