"There's no need to call me 'sir,' Professor." -- Harry Potter
Gryffindors get their course schedules. Harry, Ron and Hermione discuss Malfoy and Quidditch trials, then go to their first day of classes. In Defence Against the Dark Arts Harry fights back against Snape’s attempt to jinx him and gets detention, during break he hears his first lesson with Dumbledore will be Saturday, and in Potions Harry wins the Felix Felicis thanks to a perfect potion he brewed with the instructions written in his book by the Half-Blood Prince.
Calendar and Dates
The entire chapter takes place on the first day of classes, Monday, 2 September. For reasoning, see HBP08
Interesting facts and notes
As we learn later, the Half-Blood Prince is a half-blood wizard (the son of a "pure-blood" witch and a Muggle) whose witch mother's family name was Prince.
Exceptional character moments
The various reactions to Amortentia.
Memorable lines
"It's high time your grandmother learned to be proud of the grandson she's got, rather than the one she thinks she ought to have - particularly after what happened at the Ministry."
"'Take Charms,' said Professor McGonagall, 'and I shall drop Augusta a line reminding her that just because she failed her Charms O.W.L., the subject is not necessarily worthless.'"
"Slughorn could've handed me that book, but no, I get the one no one's ever written on. Puked on, by the look of page fifty-two, but-"
Words and phrases
Characters Introduced
Commentary
Pensieve (Comments)
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