Yep, according to Rope Of Silicon, Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince has been rated PG for "
Seriously though, while it is somewhat unexpected news, I'm frankly surprised that the last two films were PG-13 in the first place. Yes there was some fantasy violence (like the second act dragon-chase), even a handful of on-screen murders (via conveniently gore-less green energy blasts), but nothing that anyone would have batted an eye about had the films retained the PG of their predecessors. In the last two films (especially Order Of The Phoenix), the violence was far more emotional than physical.
Of course, the seventh book... that one will be a hard PG-13, even if the obscene amount of carnage is relatively bloodless. But as for Harry Potter 6, chalk this up to a The Legend Of Zorro situation... same amount of violence, identical body count, a little less blood and dirt (and no heads in a jar), and you go from a PG-13 for The Mask Of Zorro to a PG for The Legend Of Zorro. Point being, don't panic. Considering that the PG-13 volumes have been the most successful sequels thus far, I don't think Warner Bros. has any incentive to further antagonize the fans by intentionally toning down the material for the last two books. Besides, if it's as 'PG' as Star Wars: Episode II: Attack Of The Clones (violence galore, onscreen murders, off screen genocidal massacres, three or four beheadings), then there shouldn't be an issue.
Scott Mendelson