Voldemort is now at large. His supporters are wrecking havoc. The wizards and the muggles are suffering losses. Yet, good still lives on.

Harry enters his sixth year at Hogwarts. They begin N.E.W.T. work. Much to the students' delight, there is a new potions master. A familiar face takes up Defense Against the Dark Arts who is more interested it seems, in the Dark Arts themselves then defense against them. Harry receives a potions book that has helpful clues and tips. It once belonged to someone known as, the Half-Blood Prince. Hermione is afraid that the book is similar to Tom Riddle's diary that nearly took Ginny Weasley's life 5 years ago.

Dumbledore is giving Harry 'private lessons.' They concern learning how the monster called Voldemort came from an orphaned boy who grew up with muggles. (Similar to our young hero...) Dumbledore and Harry's bond grows stronger and Dumbledore pours more confidential information into Harry's mind. They work together, strategizing on how to destroy Voldemort. The Dark side has huge plans as well, and they're using Hogwarts students to fulfill them. Hogwarts suffers a loss. Does the Dark side prevail?

Despite the hard times, love is in the air. Everywhere, girls and boys are fighting over each other. (This, I believe, is the downer of the book). It doesn't do much for the plot and strays away from all that is good about the story. Ron is also dating, and even Nymphadora Tonks gets her head stuck in a love cloud. With who, I cannot say. It will be interesting to see if that actually works out.

The Order of the Phoenix, book 5, is my favorite. I would rate the Half-Blood Prince an eight out of 10. And by the way, who IS the Half-Blood Prince?