Hogwarts Herald

Chapter Twenty-Nine of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is called “The Phoenix Lament.” Ginny gets Harry up from Dumbledore’s body and leads him back to the castle. Ginny takes him to the hospital wing. She explains no one is dead and that Draco had stumbled over her brother, Bill, but he will be alright, although he was attacked by Fenrir the werewolf. Ginny informs Ron, Hermione, Luna, Tonks, and Lupin, who all around Bill, that Dumbledore is dead. Harry confirms the story and explains how Snape killed Dumbledore.

McGonagall arrives and Harry explains that Snape was the one that killed Dumbledore. They all had wondered about Snape, but Dumbledore always trusted Snape. McGonagall begins to blame herself because she is the one that summoned Snape to defend against the Death Eaters and if she had not she does not think he would have gotten involved.

Ron and Ginny explain how they had been patrolling outside the Room of Requirement, but Malfoy got past them. Then he used Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder to keep them from seeing what was going on as he snuck the Death Eaters into the castle. Hermione and Luna had been outside Snape’s office when Flitwick came to tell Snape about the battle. When Snape saw them he told them to tend to Flitwick, who had collapsed in Snape’s office. Hermione now feels stupid because she realizes Snape stupified Flitwick.

The others recount about the battle below the tower and how they could not get past a barrier set up except Snape. They just assumed Snape was in a hurry and knew some magic they did not. Harry thinks you needed a Dark Mark to pass the barrier. They all saw Malfoy and Snape come down from the tower, but they all let them pass because they just assumed they were running from the Death Eaters.

Mr. and Mrs. Weasley arrive to see Bill. They do not know what will happen to Bill because it is unique for someone to be attacked by a werewolf when not transformed. Mrs. Weasley makes a suggestion that he will not be married now, but Fleur protests and says he is still to be married. She does not care how he looks. Mrs. Weasley suddenly comes to terms with Bill actually marrying Fleur and says Fleur can use a goblin made tiara her Great Auntie Muriel has.

Suddenly Tonks is yelling at Lupin saying that Fleur still wants to marry Bill even though he has been bitten by a werewolf. Lupin says it is different and Tonks does not care. It soon becomes apparent that Tonks had been in a down mood lately not because she loved Sirius and he died, but because she loved Lupin and he was afraid of having a relationship.

McGonagall calls for a Heads of House meeting with Slughorn representing Slytherin. First she asks Harry to come with her, so she can talk to him. She leads him to Dumbledore’s office, as now that Dumbledore is gone she is the new Headmistress. The only thing that had changed in the office is that Dumbledore’s portrait had joined the portraits of past headmasters.

McGonagall asks what Harry was doing with Dumbledore when they left the castle, but Harry says he cannot. He does however tell her about Rosmerta being under the Imperius curse. The heads of house and Hagrid then arrive. McGonagall expresses her thought that the school perhaps should not reopen next year. Professor Sprout says he thinks it should remain open as long as there is at least one pupil that wants to return. Slughorn thinks no pupils will come back. McGonagall realizes Dumbledore probably would not have wanted to close the school.

She then asks for Hagrid’s opinon. Hagrid is surprised she asks and McGonagall explains that she asked because Dumbledore always valued Hagrid’s opinions. He says he will remain, although Hogwarts without Dumbledore will be very different. McGonagall decides that they should consult the governors on the matter.

McGonagall wants to send the students home immediately. They then decide that Dumbledore is to be laid to rest on Hogwarts grounds. Harry then speaks up and says the students should not be sent home until after the funeral because they will want to say good-bye. They all agree.

With the Minister of Magic approaching the castle, Harry is excused and he rushes off to the Gryffindor common room. Harry goes up to the dormitory where only Ron is. Harry then tells Ron the Horcrux was a fake. Ron wonders about who R.A.B. is. The chapter then ends with Hrry mourning about the loss of Dumbledore.