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The next morning before breakfast, [[../../../Characters/Harry Potter|Harry]] tells [[../../../Characters/Hermione Granger|Hermione]] what he overheard on the train. [[../../../Characters/Ron Weasley|Ron]] repeats that [[../../../Characters/Draco Malfoy|Draco]] was probably just showing off to [[../../../Characters/Pansy Parkinson|Pansy]], but Hermione says that is an awfully big lie just to impress a girl. Hermione confiscates a Fanged Frisbee from a passing fourth-year. Ron takes it, saying he has always wanted one. [[../../../Characters/Lavender Brown|Lavender Brown]], passing by, giggles loudly and appreciatively at Ron's comment.
Harry is worriedworries that [[../../../Characters/Rubeus Hagrid|Hagrid]] will be upset that they arare no longernot taking his [[../../../Magic/Care of Magical Creatures|Care of Magical Creatures]] class. [[../../../Characters/Minerva McGonagall|Professor McGonagall]] hands out timetables, a complicated process this year because OWL results determine which classes students qualify for. Hermione gets her courses straight away., while [[../../../Characters/Neville Longbottom|Neville]] cannot take [[../../../Magic/Transfiguration|Transfiguration]] with only an Acceptable OWL, but his [[../../../Magic/Charms|Charms]] grade is high enough for that course. McGonagall tells [[../../../Characters/Parvati Patil|Parvati Patil]] that [[../../../Characters/Firenze|Firenze]] and [[../../../Characters/Sibyll Trelawney|Professor Trelawney]] are splitting [[../../../Magic/Divination|Divination]] classes, and that Professor Trelawney is teaching sixth year.
Harry's lost hope to become an [[../../../Magic/Auror|Auror]] revives when Professor McGonagall informs himsays that [[../../../Characters/Horace Slughorn|Professor Slughorn]] accepts lower OWL grades than [[../../../Characters/Severus Snape|Professor Snape]] for NEWT-level [[../../../Magic/Potions|Potions]] classes. Both Harry and Ron sign up. Professor McGonagall hands Harry a list with new [[../../../Major Events/Quidditch|Quidditch]] recruits to conduct trials with. In the Gryffindor Common room, [[../../../Characters/Katie Bell|Katie Bell]] congratulates Harry on his captainship and asks to be informed about tryouts.
In the first [[../../../Magic/Defence Against the Dark Arts|Defence Against the Dark Arts]] lesson, Snape reviews the many forms the Dark Arts can take, with gruesome examples. He teaches how to cast nonverbal spells (performing magic without using a spoken incantation). When Snape chooses Harry to play a victim of a nonverbal spell, Harry instinctively blasts a spoken [[../../../Magic/Protego|Shield Charm]] at Snape, and (after giving him cheek) earningearns a detention. Harry is momentarily reprieved by [[../../../Characters/Jack Sloper|Jack Sloper]], who inquires about Quidditch tryouts, and [[../../../Characters/Albus Dumbledore|Professor Dumbledore]]'s request to meet for their private lesson, which is scheduled at the same time as the detention. Harry, eager to see Dumbledore's message, leaves Sloper in mid-sentence.
Harry finds Potions far more enjoyable without Snape. Hermione, as usual, excels and earns Gryffindor thirty points for correctly guessing the contents in three cauldrons, [[../../../Magic/Veritaserum|Veritaserum]], [[../../../Magic/Polyjuice Potion|Polyjuice potion]], and [[../../../Magic/Amortentia|a Love potion]], and for accurately identifying the effects of [[../../../Magic/Felix Felicis|Felix Felicis]]. Slughorn is impressed by her abilities, even though she is Muggle-born. Another Muggle-born student, [[../../../Characters/Lily Potter|Lily Evans]] (Harry's mother), was another favorite, although he is inclined to prefer purebloods. That he is the former Head of Slytherin House further supports this tendency.
As the name suggests, Felix Felicis is liquid luck. One tablespoon at breakfast will provide a perfect day for whoever drinks it. It is dangerous if made improperly and is banned in competitions, examinations, and elections. Excessive consumption can cause giddiness, recklessness, and even death. For the first lesson, whoever brews the best [[../../../Magic/Draught of Living Death|Draught of Living Death]] will win a tiny flask of Felix Felicis from Slughorn, enough luck for twelve hours.
Harry brews his potion with help fromusing a second-hand textbook, ''Advanced Potion Making'', that Slughorn loaned him. Handwritten into the book's margins are many new spells and jinxes, as well as revisions to standard potions. Harry tries some offinds the annotated variations on the standard potions, and finds themrevisions more effective than the original instructions. With it, Harry createsbrews the best Living Death draught in the class – as good as his mother could have done,. Slughorn saysawards – and winshim the Good Luck potion.
When he later tells Ron and Hermione that he haswas been followingusing the instructions in this mysterious book's instructions, Hermione becomes furious by his ill-gotten success. [[../../../Characters/Ginny Weasley|Ginny]], overhearing ths, asks if Harry is using instructions from a book. Remembering Ginny's nearly-fatal experience with [[../../Chamber of Secrets|Tom Riddle's diary]], Hermione tests the textbook with her wand for any hidden magical properties, but is unable to detect any. WrittenHarry notices somthing written on the back cover: ''This book belongs to the Half-Blood Prince''. Whoever the "Prince" may be, Harry is grateful to this talented unknown student.
== Analysis ==
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