The house of gaunt

           Forortherestoftheweek’sPotionslessonsHarrycontinuedtofollowtheHalf-BloodPrince’sinstructionswherevertheydeviatedfromLibatiusBorage’s,withtheresultthatbytheirfourthlessonSlughornwasravingaboutHarry’sabilities,sayingthathehadrarelytaughtanyonesotalented.NeitherRonnorHermionewasdelightedbythis.AlthoughHarryhadofferedtosharehisbookwithbothofthem,RonhadmoredifficultydecipheringthehandwritingthanHarrydid,andcouldnotkeepaskingHarrytoreadaloudoritmightlooksuspicious.Hermione,meanwhile,wasresolutelyplowingonwithwhatshecalledthe"official"instructions,butbecomingincreasinglybad-temperedastheyyieldedpoorerresultsthanthePrince’s.

           HarrywonderedvaguelywhotheHalf-BloodPrincehadbeen.AlthoughtheamountofhomeworktheyhadbeengivenpreventedhimfromreadingthewholeofhiscopyofAdvancedPotion-Making,hehadskimmedthroughitsufficientlytoseethattherewasbarelyapageonwhichthePrincehadnotmadeadditionalnotes,notallofthemconcernedwithpotion-making.HereandthereweredirectionsforwhatlookedlikespellsthatthePrincehadmadeuphimself.

           "Orherself,"saidHermioneirritably,overhearingHarrypointingsomeoftheseouttoRoninthecommonroomonSaturdayevening."Itmighthavebeenagirl.Ithinkthehandwritinglooksmorelikeagirl’sthanaboy’s."

           "TheHalf-BloodPrince,hewascalled,"Harrysaid."Howmanygirlshavebeenprinces?"

           Hermioneseemedtohavenoanswertothis.