NOTE: This is a descriptive essay focusing on options, not answers. I'm a phylosopher at heart =P You have been warned.



What makes the Half-Blood Prince a Half-Blood Prince?


(1) Part of the Wizarding World government?
Basing it on the British Monarchy organization, this Prince might act the same upon the Ministry of Magic, the wizarding governmental organization.
But. In previous books, Minister Fudge appears as the main governor. As well, the Bulgarian Minister was invited to the Quidditch World Cup (GF8), not a Queen, King or Prince; and these countries seem to have the same system of government. A Prince is an important figure and it’s doubtful that it had never been mentioned in the books before. Or may it be that his blood caused him to have his authority undermined?

(2) Prince from another culture?
Many have said “Hagrid”. Objection to this is that Giant Tribes doesn’t seem to have that power structure: they have “Gurgs” and they are taken out of power every time a stronger giant kills the one before (OP20), not by heritage. Goblins and House-Elves we know to be inserted human’s society (PS5, CS3), and Centaurs and Merpeople, we know not enough of them to tell how their society hierarchy works.

(3) Past Sovereign (Medieval Times)?
Sadly we don’t know much about royalty of the wizarding world, save for Queen Maeve (Chocolate Frog Cards). Others: The Founders, possibly Gryffindor. (See following)


Who’s the lion-guy? (Supposing he is the Half-Blood Prince)

1) Godric Gryffindor.
Explanation: Described as “an old lion”, makes reference to Gryffindor crest. Objection: In the description this person is walking, with a limp. Could Gryffindor be walking in the portrait? Has Gryffindor somehow managed immortality? Or found a way to record himself and be found (let’s think of Riddle’s diary CS13,17)?


2) Gryffindor’s heir.
Explanation: Slytherin got one, right?
Objection: One might wonder where he has been all along, and why Dumbledore had Gryffindor’s sword in his possession and not him.

3) An Animagus.
Explanation: The human appearance of Peter Pettigrew described that “something of the rat lingered” (PA19); as well the lion-like description might be referring to this “lion-ness” that remained after the transformation back to human. It’s not common to have people with “yellowish eyes” either. Could be Gryffindor/’s heir be hiding as a lion?
Objection: …Where would you find a lion in the story? The Forbidden Forest?


So what’s the conclusion? What’s the point of this essay?

That these are the options, now it’s your time to guess =)





Sources:
- Harry Potter books
- JKRowling.com
- HP-lexicon.org