Hogwarts Herald

Chapter Twenty-Five of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is called “The Seer Overheard.” Ginny’s relationship with Harry finally is a reality. His performance in potions has suffered because of hiding the Half-Blood Prince’s book in the Room of Requirement, but Slughorn attributes it to being lovesick. Hermione comes in to the common room one night with an idea on who the Prince is. She found a photo of an Eileen Prince, Captain of the Hogwarts Gobstones Team. Harry does not believe it though and Hermione does not really have any proof that Eileen was even a half-blood.

Harry gets a note to see Dumbledore right away. On his way to Dumbledore’s he runs into Professor Trelawney outside the Room of Requirement. She had just gone in to try and hide something, but someone was already in there. She heard a male voice gleefully whooping before being hurled out of the room. Harry thinks she should tell Dumbledore, but she is hesitant at first because Dumbledore has been ignoring her information including a lightning struck tower (this foretells the major thing that happens in a few chapters, but I did not notice this the first time through).

On the way to Dumbledore’s office Trelawney talks about Snape interrupting her initial interview with Dumbledore, which is when she made the prophecy about Snape. Harry then begins to think that it was Snape that made the prophecy known to Voldemort, which led to his parents being killed.

He then storms to Dumbledores office. Dumbledore tries to explain that he has located the cave where he believes there is a Horcrux, but he notices Harry is distracted. Harry realizes that Dumbledore does know that Snape was the one that told Voldemort the first half of the prophecy. Harry questions whether Snape is really on their side, but Voldemort fully trusts Snape.

Dumbledore then asks Harry if he still wants to go with to get the Horcrux. He says he does and Dumbledore says he can if he agrees to follow all orders without question. He has Harry go grab his invisibility cloak and then meet him in the entrance hall.

When Harry goes back to get the cloak he quickly tells Ron and Hermione about Malfoy celebrating. He tells them to round up the D.A. members to help watch the castle, especially Malfoy and Snape. He also has them share the rest of the Felix Felicis with Ginny, so he knows they will be safe.

The chapter ends with Dumbledore guiding Harry to apparating from Hogsmeade to the seaside where the cave with the Horcrux is.