Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince questions by chapter

We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. One question per chapter, across all 30 chapters, and every one is editable before you print. The example answers under 3 of the chapters are the ones printed at the front of the booklet.

1. Chapter 1

   How does the meeting between the Muggle Prime Minister, Fudge, and Scrimgeour show that trouble in the wizarding world also affects people without magic?

2. Chapter 2

   What does the phrase “Unbreakable Vow” suggest about the promise Snape makes to Narcissa at Spinner’s End? Use details from their meeting to explain.

3. Chapter 3

   How does Dumbledore stand up for Harry during his visit to the Dursleys, and what does this show about how he thinks Harry should be treated?

4. Chapter 4

   What seems most important to Horace Slughorn when Harry and Dumbledore visit him? Explain how his home and his talk about former students give you clues.

   Example answer: I think Slughorn cares a lot about comfort and knowing important people. He talks proudly about former students who became successful. He also seems especially interested in Harry because Harry is famous. These clues make me think he enjoys feeling important through his friendships.

5. Chapter 5

   At the Burrow, Harry learns that he has been made Quidditch captain. How might this new responsibility affect his friendships and his school year?

6. Chapter 6

   Which details from Draco’s visit to Borgin and Burkes make Harry suspicious? Explain which clue you find most convincing.

7. Chapter 7

   Compare Slughorn’s friendly gathering on the train with Harry’s secret visit to Draco’s compartment. What does Harry hope to gain from each situation?

8. Chapter 8

   How do Tonks and Snape treat Harry differently when he arrives late at Hogwarts? What do their actions suggest about their attitudes toward him?

9. Chapter 9

   Harry uses handwritten notes in his Potions textbook to succeed in Slughorn’s lesson. Do you think accepting this help is a good choice? Explain your reasons.

10. Chapter 10

    In the memory of the Gaunt family, what is the difference between being proud of your family and treating other people as less important?

11. Chapter 11

    Why does Hermione secretly interfere with Cormac McLaggen’s Quidditch tryout? What does her choice reveal about her feelings and her sense of fairness?

12. Chapter 12

    How does Katie Bell’s encounter with the cursed necklace change the mood of the Hogsmeade visit? Explain which details make the danger feel real.

    Example answer: I noticed that the visit changes from an ordinary trip into a frightening emergency. Katie rises into the air and screams after touching the necklace. That detail makes the danger feel real because she cannot control what is happening to her. I think the scene shows that even a place students enjoy visiting may not be safe.

13. Chapter 13

    What does Dumbledore’s visit to young Tom Riddle at the orphanage reveal about Tom’s behavior? Choose two details that help you understand him.

14. Chapter 14

    Harry lets Ron believe that he has put Felix Felicis in Ron’s drink before the Quidditch match. What does Ron’s performance suggest about the power of confidence?

15. Chapter 15

    After Harry overhears Snape and Draco arguing at Slughorn’s party, what do you predict Harry will do with this information? Support your prediction with what he has learned so far.

16. Chapter 16

    Why does Harry refuse to give Scrimgeour the support he wants during their conversation at the Burrow? Explain what matters more to Harry than pleasing the Ministry.

17. Chapter 17

    What makes Dumbledore think Slughorn’s memory has been changed? Explain why getting the true memory matters to their investigation.

18. Chapter 18

    How does Harry respond when Ron is poisoned in Slughorn’s room? What does his response show about using knowledge in an emergency?

19. Chapter 19

    Harry asks Kreacher and Dobby to follow Draco. How do the two house-elves’ attitudes toward Harry differ, and how might that affect their work?

20. Chapter 20

    What do the memories involving Hepzibah Smith and Voldemort’s request for a Hogwarts job suggest about the kinds of things Voldemort values?

21. Chapter 21

    Why is it so difficult for Harry to get into the Room of Requirement while Draco is using it? Explain what this shows about the room’s magic.

22. Chapter 22

    During the evening of Aragog’s burial, how do Felix Felicis and Harry’s conversation with Slughorn help Harry obtain the memory he needs?

23. Chapter 23

    Why does Voldemort want to make Horcruxes? Explain how this goal connects to his fear of death.

    Example answer: I think Voldemort wants Horcruxes because he is terrified of dying. A Horcrux holds a hidden piece of his soul, which can keep him from being fully destroyed. He is willing to murder people and damage his own soul to gain that protection. To me, this shows that his wish for power is also driven by fear.

24. Chapter 24

    What lesson could Harry learn from using Sectumsempra against Draco without knowing what the spell does? Support your answer with the consequences in this chapter.

25. Chapter 25

    How does learning that Snape overheard the prophecy affect Harry’s feelings about Dumbledore’s trust in Snape?

26. Chapter 26

    In the cave, how do Harry and Dumbledore depend on each other? Describe a moment when one of them needs the other’s help.

27. Chapter 27

    What do Draco’s words and actions on the Astronomy Tower reveal about his feelings toward the task he has been given?

28. Chapter 28

    Harry calls Snape a coward during their confrontation. What does the word “coward” mean to Harry in this moment, and why does he use it?

29. Chapter 29

    How does Fawkes’s song help express the feelings of the people at Hogwarts? Explain why music might say something that ordinary words cannot.

30. Chapter 30

    At Dumbledore’s funeral, what do the many different people who attend help Harry understand about Dumbledore’s place in their lives?