After dinner, Cortney went to the library with De'lexi, Milan, and Joey. Professor McGonagall told Harry that Dumbledore would like to see him at its office. Harry got there and they began to talk about classroom stuff.

" What are your activities outside the classroom? " Dumbledore asked.

" Sir? " Harry asked.

" Well I've noticed you spend a great deal of time with Ms. Granger, I can't help wondering if..." Dumbledore trailed off.

" Oh! No ! No! I mean she's brilliant! And we're friends. But no," Harry rambled.

" Forgive me, I was being curious. Well, enough chit-chat. You must be wondering why I summoned you tonight. The answer lies here. What you're looking at his memories. Memories that belong to one individual: Voldemort. Or as he is known then, Tom Riddle. The vial contains the most particular memory. The day I first met him, I'd like you to see it, if you would," Dumbledore explained. He reached into the cupboard, pulled out a flask, they walked over to the Pensieve. Harry carefully poured it in. Dumbledore looked at Harry before they both ducked their heads. After a few minutes of observing the memory. They emerged from the Pensieve, Harry was shocked at what he saw.

" Did you know sir? Then? " Harry asked.

" Did I know I met the most powerful dark wizard of all time? No. If I had I'd-over time here. Tom Riddle grew close to one particular teacher, can you guess who that teacher might be ?" Dumbledore questioned.

" You didn't bring Professor Slughorn back just so he could teach Potions, did you? " Harry asked.

" No, I didn't. You see Professor Slughorn possesses something I desire very dearly. He won't give it up easily," explained Dumbledore. 

" You said Professor Slughorn would try and collect me? " Harry asked.

" I did," Dumbledore confirmed.

" Do you want me to let him? " Harry asked.

" Yes," the headmaster confirmed.

********

Quidditch tryouts were the next day for Gryffindor. Cortney promised Seamus that she would come down and watch. She sat in the stands with Hermione. Altogether she was supporting Seamus, Dean, Ron who was trying out for Keeper and Ginny was trying out for Chaser. A few rows away from them was Lavender. Cortney and Cortney glared at each other.

" Quiet! Hey! " Harry shouted. Nobody heard him.

" Shut it! " Ginny boomed. Everyone went silent and faced Harry.

" Thanks," Harry said to Ginny. " Alright then, um. Now then remember just because you made the team last year does not guarantee you a spot for this year is that clear? " Everyone nodded their head. " Good". Ron seemed pretty annoyed by Cormac. Now Cormac was in keeper when he went to block, he suddenly jerked out of the way. Cortney looked at Hermione.

" Hermione! " Cortney hissed silently.

" Shut it! " She hissed back. In the end, Dean, Ron, and Ginny all made the team, And Harry stayed seeker. Seamus didn't make the team, he was pretty bummed about it.

**************

Later in the Gryffindor common room, Cortney was with Seamus. Comforting him about not making the team. Harry was sitting crossed on the floor reading his potions book. Cortney found this strange. She navigated his mind and began to question Harry.

" I'll be right back," Cortney told Seamus, as she, Hermione, and Ron walked over to Harry.

" He's got something for you, Hermione," Ron said. " McLaggen".

" He's vile," Hermione replied.

" Have you ever heard of this spell? Sectumsempra? " Harry asked showing Hermione the book.

" No, I haven't!  If you had shed of self-respect you turn that book in," Hermione scolded.

" Not bloody likely, he's top of the class. He's even better than you Hermione! " Ron defended. " Slughorn thinks he's a genius".

" Well I'd like to see whose book that was, lets take a look, shall we? " Hermione asked reaching for the book.

" No," Harry said hiding the book behind his back.

" Why not? " Cortney asked.

" The binding is fragile," Harry said.

" The binding is fragile," Cortney repeated. 

" Yeah,"  Harry said. Ginny came up from behind him, snatching the book out of his hands. She opened the front page.

" Half-Blood Prince ? " she asked reading the name.

" The Half-Blood Prince ? " they questioned.

" That's what it says here. This book is the property of the Half-Blood Prince," Ginny read. 

******

Cortney was now in the three broomsticks with Draco. They walked through the shop and stopped at the stairs. The two stared at Harry as he stared back.

" Go, I'll distract him," Cortney whispered to her cousin. Draco nodded he walked away and she walked over to the Golden Trio. She took a seat down next to Hermione.

" Bloody hell," Ron groaned. They looked over and saw Dean and Ginny in a corner on the other side of the shop.

" Calm down Ron they're only holding hands," Hermione said. They looked over to see them making out. " And snogging".

" I'd like to leave," Ron said as the three drinks arrived. 

" What? You can't be serious? " Ron gasped.

" That happens to be my sister," Ron acknowledged.

" So? What if she came over here and saw you snogging me would you expect her to leave? " Hermione stated blushing slightly. Cortney raised her eyebrow at Hermione. It got awkward pretty quickly after she said that. Harry randomly stood up smiling, he was smiling and waving at someone.

" Harry my boy! " Slughorn said making his way to them.

" Hello sir, wonderful to see you," Harry said shaking his hand.

" Hello, Granger. Lestrange," Slughorn greeted. Both girls smiled and nodded at him.

" So what brings you here? " Harry questioned.

"The Three Broomsticks and I go way back. Further, then I came to admit," Slughorn replied. " I can remember when it was The One Broomstick". He gestured his hand over to the entrance, almost spilling Hermione's butterbeer. " Listen in my old days I used to have a supper party, just a few students. Would you be game ? " 

" I'd consider it an honor, " Harry smiled.

" You'd be welcome to Granger and Lestrange," Slughorn added.

" We'd be delighted sir," Hermione spoke for the two of them.

" Splendid ! Look for my owl! " Slughorn cheered. He turned to Ron. " Good to see you Wealumby". Before Ron could correct him, the professor left.

" What're you playing at? " Ron asked.

" Dumbledore asked me to get to know Slughorn," Harry replied.

" Get to know him?" Ron questioned.

" I don't know. It must be important, if it wasn't Dumbledore wouldn't have asked," Harry shrugged. They left Hogsmeade, but Cortney tagged along with Pansy and the others girls. Word got around that Katie Bell a girl in Gryffindor has been cursed. She is now in the hospital.