Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is a film based on J.K. Rowling’s sixth book, showcasing Harry’s investigation into Voldemort’s past secrets and his preparation for the ultimate battle. David Yates highlighted the film’s dark atmosphere with lighting and colors while focusing on the emotional development of the characters.

The scene of Harry and Ginny’s kiss required numerous takes, and plastic tableware was used in the Hogwarts dining hall to avoid frequent breakage of glassware. This film marks a turning point in the series, transforming childhood fantasy into a serious and dark reality.

Dumbledore Die Scene

Dumbledore’s death in “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” was emotionally intense and difficult to film. Michael Gambon (Dumbledore) and Alan Rickman (Snape) admitted that they poured a lot of emotion and pain into the scene, as it was one of the most important and shocking moments of the series. The filming was done with great care, as director David Yates wanted the scene to feel as realistic and emotionally powerful as possible. Particularly challenging was conveying the moment when Harry, broken and confused, watches the tragic death unfold.

Soundtrack

“In Noctem” is a melancholic composition used in the scene of Dumbledore’s death in the film. The song, performed with Latin lyrics, expresses Hogwarts’ mourning and emotional pain. This soundtrack further intensifies the dark and tragic atmosphere of the film, emphasizing Dumbledore’s loss and the shock experienced by the characters.

Alan Rickman

In “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”, Snape (played by Alan Rickman) is revealed in a new light, making his character more complex and dramatic. For the first time, we see Snape as a restless, fearful individual, with actions that are increasingly difficult to interpret and multifaceted.

Moments like his relationship with Dumbledore show that, despite his outward appearance of harshness and affinity for dark magic, Snape is actually a more complex character, developing his own emotional and moral perspectives. This portrayal presents him as a figure who is just, yet dramatically conflicted.

Horcrux

We first learned about Tom Riddle’s Horcruxes in the 6th installment. A Horcrux is a magical object in the Harry Potter universe that explores the darkest connection to immortality. It allows dark wizards to place a fragment of their soul into an object, thus preventing death. However, this process is unimaginably horrific — creating a Horcrux requires committing murder, which tears the soul apart and enables the wizard to transfer part of it into a physical object.

Tom Riddle’s Diary

Lord Voldemort, as one of the most powerful and dangerous wizards, created seven Horcruxes to ensure his immortality. Interestingly, the destruction of the first Horcrux — Tom Riddle’s diary — was accomplished completely unintentionally by Harry himself. In The Chamber of Secrets, Harry knew nothing about the true nature of this object; he simply wanted to save Ginny Weasley, who had accidentally awakened Voldemort’s diary. Using a Basilisk’s venomous fang, Harry destroyed the diary, completely unaware that it was one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes — a fragment of his soul.

History of Horcruxes

The secret of the Horcruxes first became known when Professor Horace Slughorn revealed the information to Tom Riddle during his years at Hogwarts. The young Tom Riddle, who was always striving for power, questioned Slughorn about the possibility of splitting one’s soul into multiple parts. Slughorn, who initially didn’t realize the danger he was facing, merely pointed out that splitting the soul is the result of great evil, and this was how the concept of the Horcrux became known. However, Tom Riddle misused this knowledge, and it was precisely this conversation that laid the foundation for his horrifying plan — to split his soul into seven parts, making his destruction nearly impossible.

Marvolo Gaunt’s Ring

Marvolo Gaunt’s Ring was the next Horcrux that Albus Dumbledore destroyed. Dumbledore realized that the ring was a Horcrux because it was connected to Tom Riddle’s family history and the symbol of the Peverell brothers. The ring also contained the Resurrection Stone, which Voldemort had turned into a Horcrux. Dumbledore destroyed the ring, but the process caused him severe injuries.

Snape Half-Blood Prince

In “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince”, the “Half-Blood Prince” book reveals Snape’s hidden side. Harry finds a book containing dark magic techniques and follows its advice, unaware that it belongs to Snape. This book reflects Snape’s complicated and morally ambiguous past, revealing the complexity of his character. Snape, as a figure of dark magic, unexpectedly becomes a more emotional and complex character, rather than just a negative one.

Harry Potter Spell

Levicorpus – A spell Harry learns from Snape’s book. It causes a person to be flipped upside down and hung by their ankle, which is somewhat awkward for defense.

Sectumsempra – A dangerous spell that causes deep cuts and severe bleeding. Harry uses it accidentally, and it proves to be quite perilous.

Muffliato – A spell that creates a buzzing sound to prevent others from overhearing. Harry uses it to maintain privacy with his friends at Hogwarts.

Confundo – A spell that causes confusion and makes a person unable to think clearly. Harry uses it to gain certain advantages.