Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Characters

Ron’s oldest brother, who works as a curse-breaker for Gringotts bank. He is engaged to Fleur Delacour. In the final battle of Half-Blood Prince he is bitten by the werewolf Fenrir Greyback and severely mutilated, although he does not actually become a werewolf.

Ron’s older brother and George’s twin. Using Harry’s winnings from the Triwizard Tournament, Fred and George have just opened a wildly successful joke shop. Although they’re given to teasing and practical jokes, Fred and George are deeply loyal to their family.

Ron’s older brother and Fred’s twin. Using Harry’s winnings from the Triwizard Tournament, Fred and George have just opened a wildly successful joke shop. Although they’re given to teasing and practical jokes, Fred and George are deeply loyal to their family.

One of Hogwarts’ professors of Divination. Although she’s largely incompetent and has taken to drinking, Trelawney also made the famous prophecy that named Harry or Neville as Voldemort’s greatest enemy, and led Voldemort to kill Harry’s parents.

The Prime Minister of Muggle England, whom Fudge and Scrimgeour visit briefly to inform of Voldemort’s return. Like his Wizarding counterparts, the Muggle Prime Minister seems more concerned with preserving his power and reputation than protecting his constituents; also like them, he emerges as completely unequipped to fight Voldemort.

Harry’s mother, who was killed by Voldemort during Harry’s infancy. In Half-Blood Prince, Slughorn frequently mentions that her gift for Potions made her one of his favorite students, despite her Muggle ancestry.

Harry’s father, who was killed by Voldemort during Harry’s infancy. Although Harry treasures his father’s memory and wants to emulate his bravery and loyalty, he’s recently caught a glimpse of his flaws by entering Snape’s memories and watching James bully him mercilessly during their time at Hogwarts.

Sirius’s cousin and a member of the Order of the Phoenix. Like Sirius, she is alienated from most of her family because of her mother’s decision to marry a Muggle and abandon Voldemort’s side. She is in love with Remus Lupin.

One of the four Marauders – James Potter’s clique at Hogwarts – who later betrayed Harry’s father and now works for Voldemort. Pettigrew appears only briefly in Half-Blood Prince, as a servant to Severus Snape.

A Gryffindor in Harry’s class and Ginny’s boyfriend for much of the novel. As Harry’s feelings for Ginny become stronger, he’s disturbed to find himself disliking Dean, with whom he’s always been friendly.

A fellow Gryffindor and Ron’s girlfriend for much of the novel. Lavender’s sappy and sentimental behavior alternately flatters and disconcerts Ron; meanwhile, their relationship hurts Hermione and annoys Harry. Ron’s relationship with Lavender represents the ways in which romance can disrupt pre-existing friendships.

A seventh-year student and Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Katie falls victim to the Imperius Curse and is forced to deliver a cursed necklace to Hogwarts. When she accidentally touches the necklace the plot is discovered and stopped, but she almost dies as a result.

A house-elf working for Hepzibah Smith. Through the elf’s memory, Harry and Dumbledore witness the elderly witch show a young Voldemort her two treasures, the cup of Hufflepuff and locket of Slytherin. Shortly after this visit Voldemort murders her, steals her valuable possessions, and frames Hokey for the crime.

A rich and elderly witch who, besotted by the young Tom Riddle, reveals two ancient relics that she owns: the cup of Hufflepuff and the locket of Slytherin. Subsequently, Riddle kills her and turns the artifacts into Horcruxes.

A house-elf Harry has known for years, who once belonged to the Malfoy family and has lived at Hogwarts since his emancipation. Dobby helps Harry by tracking Draco’s movements, although he’s unable to uncover much information.

A Ministry employee who visits the Gaunts and apprehends Morfin for attacking Muggles. Through Ogden’s memory, Harry and Dumbledore gain some insight into the nefarious behavior and values of Voldemort’s family.

One of the owners of Borgin and Burkes, the infamous purveyor of sinister secondhand goods. Burke gives Dumbledore his memory of buying Merope’s valuable locket and paying far less than the valuable antique was worth.

One of the owners of Borgin and Burkes, an infamous purveyor of sinister secondhand goods.

A conman, thief, and half-hearted member of the Order of the Phoenix. In Hogsmeade, Harry encounters Mundungus selling items pilfered from Sirius’s house and is enraged by this betrayal of his godfather’s memory.

A giant spider living in the Forbidden Forest. A friend of Hagrid’s, he becomes ill and dies during Half-Blood Prince. It’s during his funeral that Harry manages to persuade Slughorn to reveal a critical memory about Voldemort’s time at Hogwarts.

Snape’s mother, from whom he derives the moniker “Prince.”

A Slytherin student and Draco’s love interest, who takes particular pleasure in bullying Hermione.

A Ministry employee and former professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, who used her position to suppress news of Voldemort’s return. Like many people associated with the Ministry, she is much more preoccupied with maintaining an official narrative than actually fighting Death Eaters.

An Auror working for the Ministry of Magic, who is currently embedded in the Muggle Prime Minister’s office. He’s also a member of the Order of the Phoenix.

A professional Quidditch player and one-time competitor in the Triwizard Tournament. During his time at Hogwarts he briefly dated Hermione, a relationship Ron is still jealous of two years later.

The manager of the orphanage where Voldemort grows up.

One of Draco’s sidekicks, who disguises himself as a young girl in order to keep watch while Draco uses the Room of Requirement.

One of Draco’s sidekicks, who disguises himself as a young girl in order to keep watch while Draco uses the Room of Requirement.

A Hufflepuff student, and the niece of Amelia Bones.

Hogwarts’ resident Healer, who runs the hospital ward and cares for students and teachers who suffer injuries and ailments.

Dumbledore’s predecessor as Headmaster of Hogwarts. Like many other teachers, he was taken in by the young Voldemort’s combination of talent and flattery. Only on Dumbledore’s advice did he refrain from hiring the young man as a Hogwarts teacher.

A Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

The proprietress of the Three Broomsticks. At the end of the novel Dumbledore discovers that Draco has placed her under the Imperius Curse and forced her to assist in his various plots, like passing the cursed necklace to Katie Bell and poisoning a bottle of mead intended for Dumbledore.

Katie Bell’s best friend.

A Beater on the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

A Gryffindor student.

A Hufflepuff student whom Harry dislikes for his smug and biased commentary during Quidditch matches.

A Slytherin student who becomes a fixture at Slughorn’s parties and suppers, as a result of his famous mother.

Narcissa Malfoy’s sister, a prominent Death Eater. Unlike Narcissa, Bellatrix cares little about family ties and is obsessed with Voldemort to the point of mental derangement. In Order of the Phoenix she kills her cousin, Sirius Black.

Draco’s father, currently in Azkaban for supporting Voldemort during the battle at the Ministry of Magic at the end of Order of the Phoenix.

A former Death Eater and headmaster of the Durmstrang Institute, another Wizarding school that Viktor Krum attends. When Voldemort returns to life and summons his minions, Karkaroff tries to resist rejoining the Death Eaters and is murdered.

The owner of Diagon Alley’s wand shop and a prominent member of the Wizarding community. Early in the novel he’s kidnapped by Death Eaters, showing that Voldemort’s return will disrupt the most essential aspects of Wizarding life.

The beloved owner of an ice cream shop in Diagon Alley. Early in the novel he’s kidnapped by Death Eaters, showing that Voldemort’s return will disrupt the most essential aspects of Wizarding life.

The owner of a robe shop in Diagon Alley.

The Head of Ravenclaw House and Charms professor.

The Head of Hufflepuff and Herbology Professor.

The conductor of the Knight Bus, who is falsely accused of being a Death Eater and imprisoned by the Ministry. Shunpike’s unjust detention reflects the Ministry’s desire to seem competent at any cost.

The deeply unpleasant caretaker at Hogwarts.

A fourth-year Gryffindor, who tries to slip Harry a love potion in a box of chocolates.

One of Hogwarts’ original founders.

One of Hogwarts’ original founders.

One of Hogwarts’ original founders.

One of Hogwarts’ original founders.

A ghost who haunts the Hogwarts bathrooms. In Half-Blood Prince Myrtle befriends Draco, taking pity on his growing anxiety and paranoia over his task from Voldemort.

An enchanted portrait who guards the entrance to Gryffindor Tower.

One of Hogwarts’ resident ghosts.

A Hufflepuff in the same year as Harry, and a member of Dumbledore's Army. She has to leave school when her mother is murdered by Death Eaters.

The Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She is killed by Death Eaters.