Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was published sixteen years ago today. The penultimate book in J.K. Rowling’s magical series follows Harry in his sixth year at Hogwarts. A majority of the story is centered around Harry and Albus Dumbledore revisiting fragments of Lord Voldemort’s past, seeking any information that can be helpful in defeating the Dark Lord.
In addition, Harry must successfully complete his challenging courses and navigate the unpleasantries of being a teenager. His school rival, Draco Malfoy, is hiding a secret that Harry’s determined to uncover, as well as discovering the identity of the mysterious “Half-Blood Prince” once Harry acquires the person’s old potions textbook.
To celebrate sixteen years of the Half-Blood Prince, let’s look back on sixteen of the most important and hilarious lines from the book!
“‘You don’t know what I’m capable of,’ said Malfoy, more forcefully. ‘You don’t know what I’ve done!’”
“We must try not to sink beneath our anguish, Harry, but battle on.” – Albus Dumbledore
“You sort of start thinking anything is possible if you’ve got enough nerve.” – Ginny Weasley
“’You said to us once before,’ said Hermione quietly, ‘that there was time to turn back if we wanted to. We’ve had time, haven’t we?’”
“Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth.” – Albus Dumbledore
“Dumbledore would have been happier than anybody to think that there was a little more love in the world.” – Minerva McGonagall
“’Yes, Harry, you can love,’ said Dumbledore, who looked as though he knew perfectly well what Harry had just refrained from saying. ‘Which, given everything that has happened to you, is a great and remarkable thing.’”
“’This is the copy of Advanced Potion-Making that you purchased from Flourish and Blotts?’
‘Yes,’ said Harry firmly.
‘Then why,’ asked Snape, ‘does it have the name ‘Roonil Wazlib’ written inside the front cover?’
Harry’s heart missed a beat. ‘That’s my nickname,’ he said.”
“’I’m not worried, Harry,’ said Dumbledore, his voice a little stronger despite the freezing water. ‘I am with you.’”
“[Harry] did not usually lie in bed reading his textbooks; that sort of behavior, as Ron rightly said, was indecent in anybody except Hermione, who was simply weird that way.”
“’Do you remember me telling you we are practicing non-verbal spells, Potter?’
‘Yes,’ said Harry stiffly.
‘Yes, sir.’
‘There’s no need to call me ‘sir,’ Professor.’” – Harry Potter and Severus Snape
“Dumbledore says people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right,” – Hermione Granger, quoting Dumbledore
“’I’d want him finished,’ said Harry quietly. ‘And I’d want to do it.’”
“I have played my part well…And you overlook Dumbledore’s greatest weakness: He has to believe the best of people.” – Severus Snape to Bellatrix Lestrange
“Have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress? All of them realise that, one day, amongst their many victims, there is sure to be one who rises against them and strikes back!” – Albus Dumbledore
“You dare use my own spells against me, Potter? It was I who invented them–I the Half-Blood Prince!” – Severus Snape