Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Theme of Choices

In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Dumbledore told Harry, "It is our choices, Harry, that show us who we truly are, far more than our abilities." It would be easy to only know Voldemort through his abilities and through the havoc he wreaks in the Wizarding community, but in Harry Potter 6, we become acquainted with the choices that define Voldemort – choices that he had no control over and choices that he does. The ultimate choice at the heart of this story is that between love and hate.

1. What big choices does Harry make? Dumbledore? Snape? Voldemort?
2. Did your opinion of Malfoy change based on the decisions he makes?
3. Does anyone in Book 6 regret any of their choices? Why?
4. Why does Dumbledore choose to trust Snape?