Identity of the Half Blood Prince

[Diana]

No: HPFGUIDX 103278

This is a very specific title that could be taken two ways, one 
meaning the title character is actually of royal blood or the other 
meaning that he only *behaves* like he's royalty. 


I know I'm not alone in thinking that the half blood prince of the 
title is most likely a character we've never met before.  It's quite 
possible that it will be a character that will help bridge the gap 
between wizards and another magical species (centaurs? goblins? 
house-elves? giants?).  This half-human and half-what? character may 
help the wizards in their war against Voldemort and the DEs.  How 
Harry would have time to interact with such a character while he's 
busy going to school at Hogwart's is anyone's guess...unless this 
character attends Hogwarts as a student...or is one of his 
teachers.  If JKR suddenly announced that the title prince was a 
character we've met before then I'd speculate that it was Firenze.   

Since it's definitely not Harry nor Voldemort, then any of the 
current male characters could be the title character with the 
exception of the Weasleys, the Longbottoms, the Blacks or the 
Malfoys, who are all pure-blood wizard families.  I seriously doubt 
it's a character we've met before, however, as all the titles of 
each book have been named after something or someone introduced for 
the first time in that book. (Yes, I know Sirius was mentioned in 
PS/SS, but it was NOT mentioned that he was a prisoner or in Azkaban 
at that time). 

Who is NOT the prince?  There are characters I've definitely ruled 
out.

I do not think the title prince is the briefly mentioned Mark Evans 
or Hagrid or Lupin or Snape or Dumbledore or Voldemort's heretofore 
unseen son/brother/uncle.  I strongly believe that Voldemort has NO 
living relatives because it is stated that he is the last remaining 
descendant of Salazar Slytherin.  I'm also ruling out Seamus 
Finnegan, Dean Thomas and Dudley Dursley.  The reason I'm ruling 
them out is that Seamus and Dean are already familiar characters and 
I think JKR would have definitely have dropped several big clues 
about this big role they'd play later on, and there have been none.  
I rule out Dudley because Harry spends his least amount of time with 
the Dursleys in book 6, according to JKR herself, and if Dudley was 
important enough to be in the title, then that just doesn't make 
sense.    

As for any of DEs being the prince, I can't see it, as they are all 
Voldemort's minions with no importance other than to carry out 
Voldemort's orders, much like Crabbe and Goyle do Draco's bidding.  
As for members of the order, I would automatically say that everyone 
from Kingsley Shacklebolt to Mad-Eye Moody are, again, familiar 
characters that already have their place in the books.  

To be honest, I'd be disappointed if the prince of the title was a 
character we already know.  

I would not be surprised if the the half blood prince is the new 
DADA teacher, as that post needs filled yet again....  

Diana L.