Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Draco Malfoy is tasked by Voldemort, through his mother Narcissa and aunt Bellatrix, to kill Albus Dumbledore. The Death Eaters needed Dumbledore eliminated, and Draco, being a student at Hogwarts, was in a unique position to get close to him. This mission also served as a way for the Malfoy family to restore their standing with Voldemort after their failure to retrieve Harry in the previous year.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Draco's parents meeting with Snape and Bellatrix, discussing the mission in secret.

• draco malfoy mission
• voldemort
• dumbledore assassination
• death eaters

The Half-Blood Prince is Severus Snape. Harry discovers an old Potions textbook annotated by the mysterious prince in the cupboard when he needs to borrow a book for class. The annotations contain spells and shortcuts that help Harry excel in Potions, including the highly effective spell 'Levicorpus'. Snape reveals himself as the Prince during the confrontation with Harry in the hallway, admitting he is the 'Half-Blood Prince' as his old nickname at school.

Foreshadowing: Snape's knowledge of dark curses and his intense interest in Harry's Potions work hint at his connection to the book.

• half-blood prince
• snape
• severus snape
• textbook
• potions magic

Snape kills Dumbledore as part of a pre-arranged plan between them. Dumbledore was already dying from a curse he received from the cursed ring Horcrux he found earlier in the summer. Knowing he had less than a year to live and that Voldemort had tasked Draco with killing him, Dumbledore convinced Snape to kill him instead, spared Draco from becoming a murderer and ensured Dumbledore would die at the hands of someone who could flee to the Order's side.

Foreshadowing: Dumbledore's visibly damaged hand throughout the movie hints at his weakening condition.

• snape kills dumbledore
• dumbledore death
• death
• easter egg

Horcruxes are dark magical objects that contain a fragment of a wizard's soul, created through the act of murder and a specialized spell that splits the soul. Voldemort created multiple Horcruxes to achieve immortality, hiding pieces of his soul in various objects. The movie reveals through Slughorn's memory that Voldemort intended to make seven Horcruxes, splitting his soul into seven pieces.

Foreshadowing: The locket Harry and Dumbledore retrieve and the diary destroyed in Chamber of Secrets are both Horcruxes.

• horcruxes
• voldemort immortality
• soul splitting
• dark magic

Dumbledore drinks the protective potion guarding the Horcrux locket because it was the only way to reach and retrieve it. The potion was designed to be virtually undrinkable, causing extreme pain, thirst, and madness. Dumbledore insisted on drinking it himself, telling Harry he was 'old enough to die' compared to Harry, and that his will was stronger to endure the suffering. The potion severely weakened Dumbledore, making him vulnerable for the final confrontation at Hogwarts.

Foreshadowing: The Inferi in the water were placed there to protect the Horcrux, showing how valuable the object was to Voldemort.

• dumbledore cave
• locket horcrux
• protective potion
• inferi

The Burrow is attacked by Bellatrix Lestrange and Fenrir Greyback because they want to capture Harry Potter. With Harry being the 'Chosen One' who Voldemort fears and wants dead, the Death Eaters target his adopted family home. The attack demonstrates how Voldemort's followers are now operating openly and violently in the wizarding world, striking at loved ones to get to Harry.

Foreshadowing: Earlier scenes show Death Eaters attacking in the Muggle world, escalating their boldness.

• burrow attack
• bellatrix lestrange
• greyback
• harry's family

Slughorn's true memory reveals a young Tom Riddle asking him about Horcruxes, specifically how many times one can split their soul and what happens to the remaining piece of soul when the original body dies. This conversation shows that Voldemort was seeking immortality and had already planned to create multiple Horcruxes. Slughorn had modified the memory to hide his own role in providing this dangerous information, which is why getting the true memory was crucial.

Foreshadowing: Slughorn's initial memory appears different when Harry views it with Dumbledore, showing it has been tampered with.

• slughorn memory
• tom riddle
• voldemort past
• immortality

Harry becomes suspicious of Draco after witnessing him and Narcissa meeting Death Eaters in Knockturn Alley, then being Petrified by Draco on the Hogwarts Express when Harry tries to investigate. Throughout the year, Draco shows signs of being under immense pressure, is often missing from classes, and displays suspicious behavior. Harry's suspicions are confirmed when Draco is revealed to have been given a secret mission by Voldemort, though he wasn't technically a Death Eater yet.

Foreshadowing: Draco's mother Narcissa goes to Snape for help, and Harry sees them whispering in Diagon Alley.

• draco suspicion
• harry investigation
• death eater
• hogwarts express

Ron accidentally consumes a Chocolate Cauldron meant for Harry that was laced with a love potion (Amortentia). Romona, the student who gave it to her, was attempting to give it to Harry. The potion causes the person who consumes it to become obsessively in love with whoever gave it to them, hence Ron's sudden affection for Lavender, much to Hermione's distress.

Foreshadowing: Earlier in the film, Romona is shown giving out Valentine's Day gifts at the Weasley house.

• ron love potion
• amortentia
• lavender brown
• romantic plot

Dumbledore is severely weakened because he found and wore the cursed Ring Horcrux during the summer before the school year. The ring was cursed with a powerful dark curse that spread up Dumbledore's arm toward his heart. While Snape contained the curse to Dumbledore's hand, it was still killing him slowly. This is why Dumbledore is physically diminished during the cave quest and why he knows he will die within a year.

Foreshadowing: Dumbledore's blackened hand is visible throughout early scenes, and he explains he has 'a surfeit of scar tissue' when Harry notices.

• dumbledore weak
• cursed ring
• ring horcrux
• curse

Harry uses the Liquid Luck potion (Felix Felicis) he received from Slughorn to convince Slughorn to reveal his true memory about Horcruxes. Under the potion's influence, Harry feels confident and makes all the right choices, he gets Slughorn to open up about the conversation with young Tom Riddle regarding Horcruxes. The potion gives Harry the 'luck' to say and do exactly what is needed to extract this crucial information.

Foreshadowing: Harry first uses Liquid Luck to win Quidditch tryouts and impresses Slughorn, setting up its later importance.

• liquid luck
• felix felicis
• slughorn memory
• horcrux quest