Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling

J.K. Rowling
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
Staring, Harry put his hand into the basin and attempted to touch the
potion. He met an invisible barrier that prevented him coming within an
inch of it. No matter how hard he pushed, his fingers encountered nothing
but what seemed to be solid and inflexible air.
“Out of the way, please, Harry,” said Dumbledore. He raised his wand
and made complicated movements over the surface of the potion, murmuring
soundlessly. Nothing happened, except perhaps that the potion glowed
a little brighter. Harry remained silent while Dumbledore worked, but after
a while Dumbledore withdrew his wand, and Harry felt it was safe to talk
again.
“You think the Horcrux is in there, sir?”
“Oh yes.” Dumbledore peered more closely into the basin. Harry saw his
face reflected, upside down, in the smooth surface of the green potion. “But
how to reach it? This potion cannot be penetrated by hand, Vanished, parted,
scooped up, or siphoned away, nor can it be Transfigured, Charmed, or
otherwise made to change its nature.”
Almost absentmindedly, Dumbledore raised his wand again, twirled it
once in midair, and then caught the crystal goblet that he had conjured out
of nowhere.
“I can only conclude that this potion is supposed to be drunk.”
“What?” said Harry. “No!”
“Yes, I think so: Only by drinking it can I empty the basin and see what
lies in its depths.”
“But what if — what if it kills you?”
“Oh, I doubt that it would work like that,” said Dumbledore easily. “Lord
Voldemort would not want to kill the person who reached this island.”
Harry couldn’t believe it. Was this more of Dumbledore’s insane
determination to see good in everyone?
“Sir,” said Harry, trying to keep his voice reasonable, “sir, this is Voldemort
we’re —”
“I’m sorry, Harry; I should have said, he would not want to immediately
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