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== Analysis ==
If another student was using the Prince's textbook, Hermione, who is a [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Major Events/Prefects|Prefect]], would likely have confiscated the bookit and reported them. However, she says nothing about Harry, and instead voices her disapproval directly to him, althoughthough she knows it will have little effect. This is a typical behavioral pattern for Hermione, andwho only once has she reported Harry for something. In [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Prisoner of Azkaban/Chapter 11|''Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'']], she informed [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Minerva McGonagall|Professor McGonagall]] that had Harry received a [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Magic/Brooms|Firebolt broom]] from an anonymous donor (who she suspected could bewas [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Sirius Black|Sirius Black]], then believed to be trying to murder Harry). Although Hermione's motivation was motivated by genuine concern over Harry's safety rather than preventingreporting him engaging infor mischief. Unfortunately, her actions resulted in a severe backlash and monthsbeing ofshunned estrangement fromby Harry and Ron for months, causingresulting Hermionein much anguish. Although Hermione staunchly believes in obeying school rules, but she fears Harry and Ron's retaliation even more, causing her to overlook their frequent, althoughalbeit minor, misconduct. However, even thoughwhile Hermione remains disapproving ofover Harry for using the Half-Blood Prince's notes, and resents Harry outperforming her in Potions class, she saysremains nothingsilent, andlikely fearing another reprisal. Over time, she actually becomes quite curious about the Prince's identity. This has also subtly changed the Trio's relationship. Ron and Harry have usually sought out Hermione mostly for help or information, althoughthough they occasionally had to suffer her disapprovaldisdain for their academic laziness. Now Harry has another meansavenue tofor findfinding the information he needs, at least regarding Potions.
Dumbledore's private lessons are nothardly what Harry expected. Rather than learning new magic, he is to viewstudy Voldemort's past throughby viewing other people's memories. Exactly how this can aid Harry is still unknown, but learning more about his enemy may help defeat him. Studying the Gaunts has provided cluesClues about Voldemort's own personality. Althoughhas theybeen gleaned from studying the Gaunts, who had sunk to a low social status and lived in poverty after previous generations squandered the family fortune. Regardless, the Gauntsthey still considered themselves superior to other wizard clans based solely on their bloodline's descent from Salazar Slytherin, and therefore expected preferential treatment. This is similar toreflects Voldemort's own attitude. TheAnd while the Gaunts apparently felt little need to educate or cultivate themselves, although the sad, pathetic (and physically unattractive) Merope secretly yearned for a better life, despite her severely limited prospects. When she fell in love with the Muggle, Tom Riddle, she usedmagically aentrapped love potion (or similar enchantment)him to entrap him and escape her abusive family and abysmal life. Unfortunately, as soon as the potionenchantment wore off, Riddle abandoned the pregnant Merope, who, deeply despondent and either unable or unwilling to use magic to care for herself, died soon after giving birth, leaving her son, [[Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Characters/Tom Marvolo Riddle|Tom Marvolo Riddle]] (Voldemort), to be raised in an orphanage. While Harry, and readers, may see Merope as a sympathetic character, it should be remembered that she usedmagically duplicity to trapentrapped Tom Riddle, Sr., who otherwise would never have had any interest in her. It is unknown why Merope discontinuedstopped using the love potionmagic on him, althoughthough perhaps it becomes less effective over time, she was affected by pregnancy, or she may have hoped that Riddle would comeeventually tofall in love with her on his own. AlthoughWhile Riddle had every right to leave the bogus relationship, if he knew Merope was pregnant, his abandoning an innocent child is inexcusable; Merope may not have revealed her condition before Riddle was gone, ifthough hethe orphanage where Tom Jr. was raised certainly knew ofRiddle itSr.'s identity; Meropeit mayis never haveknown toldif they were ever in contact with him thatabout shehis wasson, pregnanthowever.
== Questions ==
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