Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

This book, the sixth in the Harry Potter series, has been my favourite of the series ever since the first time I read it. It also introduced me to reading books in English. With Dutch being my first language, this was quite the step, but one I am quite grateful for, as I now primarily read in English.

After an eventful year at Hogwarts, things are a little different in the muggle world. Harry is back at the Dursleys for his summer holidays. It isn’t as quiet as usual, and more and more people are missing. Not much has changed at the Dursleys, but Harry gets a letter that Dumbledore will come to pick him up early. What could be so important that it couldn’t wait a few more weeks?

“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." The words had escaped him before he knew what he was saying.”

J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

As I told you in the beginning, this book has always been a favourite of mine, and there is only one reason for this. As someone who got sorted into Slytherin when the Wizarding World site was still Pottermore, I always had a place in my heart for Draco Malfoy. I feel for the boy as he had to grow up in that house, surrounded by Death Eaters and a dad who was too scared of Voldemort to give his son the love he needed. The consequences come up in this book, and you get into the struggles Draco is facing. I am so happy two people at the school tried to protect him to the best of their abilities without endangering him or his family.

“Someone's dead," said Malfoy, and his voice seemed to go up an octave as he said it. "One of your people...I don't know who, it was dark...I stepped over the body...I was supposed to be waiting up here when you got back, only your Phoenix lot got in the way.”

J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

It doesn’t matter how many times I read this book; it always leaves me speechless. Harry Potter and the Halfblood Prince will always be a five-star book.