Hogwarts Herald

The fifth chapter of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is called “An Excess of Phlegm.” The chapter begins with Harry and Dumbledore being welcomed into the Burrow by Mrs. Weasley and Dumbledore noticing Nymphadora and Tonks in the kitchen. Tonks quickly excuses herself and Dumbledore soon leaves as well. After the took have apparated away Mrs. Weasley comments on how tall Harry is and begins making food for him. As she prepares him soup and bread Harry realizes Hermione is staying at the Burrow because her cat, Crookshanks jumps on his lap.

As he eats Mrs. Weasley tells him about Mr. Weasley getting promoted to head of the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects. Harry notices the special clock Mrs. Weasley has that points the status of each family member has everyone pointed at mortal danger. It soon changes to Mr. Weasley traveling and he soon arrives home and joins Harry at the table to eat the soup. Harry yawns and Mrs. Weasley sends him up to bed in Fred and George’s room, as they staying at their joke shop in Diagon Alley.

Seemingly moments after falling asleep Harry is awoken by Hermione and Ron coming into the room. They want to hear about his mission with Dumbledore and are sort of disappointed it was just about finding a new professor. Ginny comes in all upset about some woman annoying her. Harry is confused as the three talk about a her. He soon finds out they are talking about Fleur Delacour as she comes into the room. He also learns that Fleur is engaged to marry Ron’s brother, Bill.

Fleur leaves the room and Mrs. Weasley sort of rants about the two getting engaged so quickly, although Ron thinks it is because she hates Fleur. In the conversation Ginny calls Fleur Phlegm, as a behind her back insult. Mrs. Weasley is supposedly trying to get Bill to fall for Tonks instead and this leads to them fighting over whether Tonks or Fleur is better.

Ginny is called down to help make lunch and conversation leads to Dumbledore. Harry tells his friends that he is going to have private lessons with Dumbledore, which leads to Harry finally telling them about the prophecy. Hermione is tense after hearing that neither can live while the other survives and causes one of Fred and George’s jokes to explode and punch her in the eye. Down in the kitchen Mrs. Weasley tries to heal the purple eye, but nothing seems to work, as Hermione starts anxiously thinking she failed all her O.W.L.s.

The O.W.L. results then arrive for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Harry ends up with one Outstanding in Defense Against the Dark Arts and only two failing grades (Divination and History of Magic). Ron passes 7 of the subjects with no Outstandings. Hermione gets 10 out of 11 Outstandings with her only non-Outstanding being Defense Against the Dark Arts. Harry is satisfied with his grades, although his hopes of being an Auror are smashed since he did not get an O in Potions.