The crux of the matter

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Chapter 18

Horcruxes, it seems, have just become a major development. Exactly what kind of development I'm not sure.

Here's what I've gleaned so far:

• They have an evil purpose and someone invented them or waved a wand and muttered something unintelligible. Poof, we now have Horcruxes.
• People, at least the few who seem to know about them, are more afraid to talk about them than they are to say the name Voldemort.
• Not much is known about them. If Hermione can't find a 10-pound, dusty book about them then there probably isn't a book to be found.

Here's what I don't know:

• Is a Horcrux and animal, vegetable or mineral?
• Is it a physical thing, a mystical thing, a spell, an abstract idea, the Latin word for Death Eater?
• Whatever it is, does Harry have to kill it, find it, avoid it, learn how to use it, learn how to defeat it?

Those of you who finished these books ages ago are smiling because you were once clueless. Or you're making fun of me. "It's 2020 and you don't know what a Horcrux is? Dude, you are so behind the times." If J.K. Rowling is reading this — and who's to say she isn't — she's probably saying, "Just finish the books already." She would have a point.

I've been to the Harry Potter worlds at Universal Orlando. I've lived in a house full of Potterheads for years. And this is the first I'm hearing of Horcruxes? The entire universe has either done a masterful job of keeping a secret or Dumbledore's used some kind of spoiler-alert charm.

Just how will Harry get Slughorn to say more about Horcruxes? Hard to say, but events like Ron's love-potion seizure, Slughorn's failed potion and Harry's quick thinking to grab the bezoar might begin to break down Slughorn's reluctance. Ol' Sluggy is a fanboy of Harry, for sure, but building trust takes time. Maybe Harry finds out another way, maybe everyone finds out all at once or maybe Harry breaks Sluggy down honestly or by slipping him some veritaserum (that's a thing isn't it?).

My assumption is that Harry's actions saved Ron from something worse than a seizure. And maybe this episode will wake Won-Won up to his true feelings.

Or just make him dumber.

Enough slugs for one day

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Chapter 7

For a guy who had to be "talked into" coming out of retirement, Horace Slughorn sure likes forcing attention on himself. As with most new professors throughout this series, I suppose we'll be hearing a lot from Slug this school year.

Will he be an ally for Harry? Possibly. He likes to be associated with successful people and ride their robetails, so I could see him being helpful to "the chosen one." He might even buy Harry's theory that Draco Malfoy has the Dark Mark and is a future Death Eater. Of course, with a mom and pop loyal to the Dark Lord it only makes sense.

Malfoy sounded convinced that Voldemort will rise to supreme power, and Malfoy couldn't bear being on the losing side.

Which brings us to Harry's foray into the Slytherin compartment. He is desperate to convict Malfoy and is willing to risk much (including a physical beating) to get the evidence that his rival is indeed loyal to Voldemort. He said as much even though he didn't say too much.

Because I chastised Hermione for her lack of spy craft in Knockturn Alley I should do the same with Harry for getting caught. Hastily devised plans often fail.

School is about to start, and it looks like from the chapter names that I'm only two away from learning why this book is titled "The Half-Blood Prince."

I've ridden the Hogwarts Express at Universal in Orlando, but I've always wanted to ride a real train to real places and see real countryside. Add that to the bucket list.