How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Quote #1
RON: The Sorting Hat urged us all to be brave and strong in these troubled times. Easy for it to say, though. It's a hat, isn't it?
Yeesh. When even the Sorting Hat is offering social commentary, you know there's some crazy stuff happening. What does "troubled times" mean? Well, that's basically code for Death Eaters flying around London and terrorizing people. Evil isn't in hiding anymore, folks.
Quote #2
DUMBLEDORE: Meanwhile, the post of Defense Against the Dark Arts will be taken by Professor Snape. As you know, each and every one of you were searched upon your arrival here tonight. And you have the right to know why. Once, there was a young man who, like you, sat in this very hall. Walked this castle's corridors. Slept under its roof. He seemed, to all the world, a student like any other. His name: Tom Riddle. Today, of course, he is known all over the world by another name. Which is why as I stand, looking out upon you all tonight, I'm reminded of a sobering fact: Every day, every hour—this very minute, perhaps—dark forces attempt to penetrate this castle's walls. But in the end, their greatest weapon is you.
Eeep, what's all this about people wanting to break into the castle? Hogwarts has always been a sanctuary for Harry and the other kids, so it's disturbing to hear and see that the teachers are pretty worried about the castle being penetrated by "dark forces." And that the kids could be used as weapons by these bad guys? Double yikes.
Quote #3
MRS. COLE: There have been incidents with the other children. Nasty things.
When Dumbledore went to visit young Tom Riddle (who eventually became Lord Voldemort), Mrs. Cole told him that young Tom had already had some "nasty" run-ins with the other children. As in, Baby Voldemort probably committed some seriously sinister magical acts against his counterparts. This kid was bad news directly from the start, it seems.