Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Half-Blood Prince/Chapter 22
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Chapter 22 of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: After the Burial
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[edit] Synopsis
Harry, Ron, and Hermione are studying the Apparation handbooks in preparation for their test. Hagrid sends a message saying that Aragog, the giant spider, has died. He asks if Harry, Ron, and Hermione could attend the funeral. Between the three, they decide not to go; it is such a silly thing to get detention over, after all.
Hermione suggests Harry have another try at Professor Slughorn's memory during class, as it will be pretty sparse with students off taking Apparation tests. Ron suggests using the Felix Felicis potion to help Harry get Professor Slughorn's memory. Hermione agrees, but Harry is reluctant; he had been saving it, although he is unsure for what – but it has something to do with Ginny breaking up with Dean, and Ron somehow getting a girlfriend he actually likes.
With only three people in Potions class (Harry, Ernie, and Draco), Professor Slughorn sets an open challenge: make whatever they like. Harry notices that Draco is looking thinner and a bit unhealthy, and believes that whatever he is doing in the Room of Requirement is not going so well. Slughorn is impressed with Harry's Euphoria Elixir, but again manages to escape when they are alone. Returning to the Gryffindor Common room, Harry learns that Hermione passed Apparation, but Ron failed by half an eyebrow.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron head for the dorm, where Harry drinks some Felix Felicis. To Ron and Hermione's amazement, Harry decides to attend Aragog's funeral. Covered by his Invisibility cloak, Harry returns to the Common room, followed by Ron and Hermione. Lavender, unable to see Harry but seeing Ron and Hermione arriving together from the boy's dorm, flies into a jealous rage. Heading out the portrait hole, Harry brushes against Ginny; she thinks it is Dean, and rounds on him.
Following a detour that the potion seems to suggest, Harry runs into Slughorn who, upon learning about Aragog's death, notes that acromantula venom is particularly valuable. Recognizing that this may be an opportunity to entice Slughorn to share his memory about Tom Riddle, Harry invites him to the funeral. Slughorn arrives at Hagrid's hut, well dressed and carrying bottles of mead. After an emotional service, and with help from Harry's flawless and surreptitious refilling charm, Hagrid and Slughorn become drunk. Knowing Slughorn will remember nothing the next morning, Harry talks about his parents' death. Hearing how his favorite student, Lily Evans, died, causes Slughorn to become extremely sad. Harry says he needs the memory about Tom Riddle, and, as a persuasion tactic, reminds Slughorn that he is Lily's son. Harry finally convinces Slughorn that he is the "Chosen One", and the teary-eyed professor yields the memory. Slughorn falls asleep after handing over the wisps of memory to Harry.
[edit] Analysis
This is the first time Harry's powers of persuasion have been truly seen, although he was under the influence of Felix Felicis at the time. This is also the first time that Harry has spoken about his parent's death in this manner, and probably the only time without experiencing extreme emotion, knowing it will help fight Voldemort. Even in death, James and Lily are still able to battle the Dark Lord. Readers should recall some chapters back that Professor Dumbledore said Harry was uniquely equipped to obtain Slughorn's memory. Dumbledore may have known about the Felix Felicis, although using it may actually have been unnecessary; Dumbledore knows that Harry having Lily's eyes, and Lily being one of Slughorn's favorite students, would be a powerful and emotional persuasion tactic. That, and being well plied with alcohol, is enough to coax Slughorn into divulging the memory; remembering Lily's sacrifice in fighting Voldemort also helped. Although Slughorn will have forgotten the incident when he awakes, he probably would have been appreciated the irony that it was his own Good Luck potion that allowed Harry to retrieve a memory from him that he tried so hard to keep hidden. Readers may wonder if Slughorn ever again awards another student this potion as a prize.
[edit] Questions
- Why is Acromantula venom so valuable?
- Why does Harry invite Slughorn to the funeral?
- What might Harry have been intending to save the Felix Felicis potion for?
- How does Harry persuade Slughorn to give him the memory? What helps him?
