Fortuitous Intervent

After a trying first day without his girlfriend Harry receives a surprise night-time visit from a friend who convinces him, with a little help from the Weasley family ghoul, to reconsider some of his recent life choices.

Feeling a little confused about the identity of the Half-Blood Prince? Fear not, you aren't alone. Harry discovers that he, Voldemort, Ron, Hermione, and a few surprising guest others are confused about it as well.

Percy Weasley lay sleeping on his desk at the Ministry of Magic, exhausted from working all day, everyday, and well into the night, for two months straight. He slept mouth open, dripping drool onto the parchment under his cheek. A mortally sharp Quill point protruded beneath his head, dangerously close to piercing his ear lobe. He wore his glasses skewed across his forehead as though he were a Cyclops in need of a lens for viewing with his third eye.

Dyeing his hair is what saved his life. To be sure it was a heinous undertaking done without the aide of magic. He’d been without his wand for so long it was entirely possible he couldn’t have managed to do it with magic, anyway. Impossible to fathom, though, that Muggle women did this to themselves intentionally, and without benefit of pain medication.

Scene: The Leaky Cauldron at Halloween. The pub is decorated Hogwarts-style in preparation for the characters' in-between-books Halloween celebration. Ron and Hermione are helping Harry decorate.``Hermione: Ron, come give me a boost over here, will you? I can’t staple this beheaded elf to the ceiling without you.``Ron: Sure, honey, I’ll be right there. (leaning over, he whispers to Harry who is filling a wooden barrel with apples for bobbing) Harry, uh…did you send my parents an invite to this party?

Scene: the Black family home. Harry is sitting at the kitchen table perusing a copy of the Daily Prophet, scratching Crookshanks between the ears whilst he stands on top of the table enjoying a saucer of milk.``The front-page headline of the Daily Prophet reads: There is no news to report. There will be no news to Report tomorrow either. There will be no news to report until the publication of book six. thank you for keeping your subscription current with us anyway.``Harry (muttering quietly to himself while he sips his tea): No news is good news. (He turns the page) I wonder what the personal ads will say. Oh, here’s one from Fred and George.