The Aftermath: We Were All Correct (About Harry’s Ressurection)

Sometime a week before Book 7 came out, someone commented (I can’t find it now) that Harry would die, but then come back. I think most everyone on the site thought it was a silly idea. It sparked something in my brain though, I told several people at that time that I thought that just might be the perfect solution, but I couldn’t figure out how J.K. could make it work. J.K. is J.K. of course, and she did!

So, the half of the Harry Potter fans in the world who thought Harry would die were right! And the other half who thought he would live were also right!

For me, as I was reading, the book seemed to drag at places, it seemed like they spent a lot of time waiting around. Looking back now, I see I was just being impatient, wanting to know the end of the story. J.K. got them through the horcruxes little by little, with the other intrigue of the Three Hallows thrown in to disrail them, and ended up tieing all the loose ends nicely.

Here on this site, I was right all along, Dumbledore was dead, but as I’ve maintained for years, he was killed by Snape on Dumbledore’s orders, as a part of some as of yet unexplained grand plan. We finally know what that plan was.

On the other hand, there were several points that fans have been adamant for months and months about that I refused ever to believe. Harry was a horcrux, and even though I said I never thought that was true, I also said the only way it could have possibly happened was by accident, which of course is how it turned out it happened.

All the Snape/Lily shippers are this morning both incredibly happy (that they were right) and incredibly sad (that in the end, Snape had to die without reconciling with her only son, Harry). I always believed Snape was ultimately on our side, but never bought the Snape/Lily thing for a second.

We were ALL wrong about about what I had named, for lack of anything better, the Septology Symbol. I thought we had nailed it, the Greek letter Delta (a triangle) and the Greek letter Phi (a circle with a vertical line through it) standing for Dumbledore (Delta) Phoenix (Phi). It, of course, ending up being the anti-Dumbledore symbol, the symbol of the Three Hallows.

Nobody got anywhere near guessing anything right about the Hallows, as far as I know.

Mostly everyone got it right that the UK Children’s cover was a Gringott’s vault, and they were probably there looking for horcruxes. And even though opinion varied widely on this, I was strongly in the camp that the being on Harry’s back on the UK Children’s cover was a Goblin, not a House-Elf, because of the ears and the fingers, although I couldn’t imagine why Harry’d have a Goblin on his back. (Rob Gringott’s? You’d have to be mad!)

I’m still not exactly sure what is pictured on the US cover… Most of the conversation about it here revolved around the fact that neither Harry or Voldemort had wands, but in both of thier confrontations at the end of the book, they are using wands. Is the picture the ultimate moment, when Voldemort has just done the AK, and Harry has just Expelliarmused the Elder Wand?

We do finally know why Dumbledore smiled when Harry told him about Voldemort using his blood in Goblet of Fire. Dumbledore knew his plan was complete when he learned that, and that even though Harry had to die, Harry would be safe. Only J.K. Rowling could take such a complicated series of events and make it sound so logical and simple.

Some people we cared about died. Madeye. George disfigured and now missing his twin, who died doing what he did best, making a joke. Lupin and Tonks. Poor Teddy has to grow up without parents. But he has a godfather who knows what that’s like.

And in a strange bit of irony, actor Jamie Waylett‘s birthday was yesterday (July 21), so his character, Vincent Crabbe, died in the book that came out on his birthday!

But Percy came back at the last minute to stand with the Weasleys. Narcissa redeemed the Malfoy family and saved Harry by lieing for him. And Neville took his proper heroic place in the prophecy.

A fairy tale ending for the greatest fairy tale of our generation that will live for many generations to come. Thank you, Jo.

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David Haber
David Haber

D.S. Haber (known to his friends as Dave) is a professional muggle computer programmer and web designer and lives in Los Angeles. He is proud of the fact that he is a new-blood wizard with no (apparent) previous magical blood in his family. His favorite Quidditch team is the Falmouth Falcons, who's motto is "Let us win, but if we cannot win, let us break a few heads." He is also a West Ham United (Hammers) fan.

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Oatmeal
Oatmeal
16 years ago

R.I.P
Dobby

Pat
Pat
16 years ago

Harry did not die and come back, because he did not die. Dumbledore said so. He survived the Adavra Kedavra because of the protection that he shared with Voldemort. So actually, those who thought Harry would die were completely wrong.. not only didn’t he die, he couldn’t have died.

dirk
dirk
16 years ago

Yes, I really thought it was a great book but I still have so many questions, like when I was reading the last page I kept thinking: which job does Harry have now and that kind of things.

daryl
daryl
16 years ago

good book, i will hp so much! it was a shame so many characters died, but their death was not in vain!

jake
jake
16 years ago

I was surprised at the number of people who died. She said 2 main characters would die, yet we lost many more lives. I would consider Fred, Moody, lupin, and tonks all main characters, and thats twice the amount!

Susan
Susan
16 years ago

Harry *could* have died. Dumbledore said so — Harry had the choice to get back to living or continue on beyond the veil, so to speak…

Anyway… to the brilliant creator of this site: I came to this website (“Dumbledore is not dead”) after HBP and I loved your analysis. While you were wrong about the main point, your analysis was spot on (Snape killed Dumbledore on his orders and his heart was not in it)… but only a creative genius like JKR could have come up with the problem of Dumbledore having a short time left to live, so it was all OK anyway. And, what about that… Dumbledore had a weakness for power, so he tried on the ring and it became a death sentence. I think that’s why he shielded Harry from knowledge of the Hallows… because Dumbledore himself had a weakness for power, as did two other young equals of his: Grindelwald and Voldemort… and look what happened to them. He didn’t want Harry to turn bad, but, that’s why Harry’s so great — he doesn’t have any desire for power or cruelty. Just an amazing ending to the greatest series of books, ever! Thanks for this site, btw, I really enjoy reading your theories!

Harsh
Harsh
16 years ago

I am going to be devastated now that i have no more harry potter books to look forward to. This really is the perfect ending for the perfect series and J.K did a great job keeping us in the dark and bringing twists and turns along the way. I would rate it infinate stars however since i don’t think it’s possible 5/5 stars will do. I’m hoping that perhaps J.K can write a book or series that is written from dumbledore’s point of view and has dumbledore’s story in it. Even though we know alot about his previous life i still feel that there is alot more to know. Perhaps J.K can also write a series contuining on with harry’s children but i think that that’s a way too far-fetched thought. And hopefully she will write an encyclopedia cause it will be really fun to read. And i would just like to say that all Harry potter books would remain with me and stay in my soul forever. I still can’t believe life without harry potter but like everyone we have got to move on and find a new series.

Raghav
Raghav
16 years ago

no more harry potter books… i think i’m gonna miss voldemort just as much…

Megan
Megan
16 years ago

i can’t believe that its over…but enjoy today, its the frist day of the rest of our lives…long live harry potter and the memory of it all

Sam
Sam
16 years ago

I have to agree with dirk, ive been wandering what jobs they have etc, whether or not george carried on with the weesleys wizard weezes now fred has died etc.
However the book was still another masterpiece produced by J.K. An amazing finish to an awesome series.

mia
mia
16 years ago

i cant believe there are no more books left! Well, at least the last book was great! Of course i was sad about the people dying, but there got to be. It wouldnt’ve been as good unless some people died. And also, it could’ve been worse, with ron or hermione dying!

I simply cant see how anyone can manke up a story like this series! Jk rowling is amazing!

Leonie
Leonie
16 years ago

I also just finished the book.

I do know what the american book cover stands for, its the moment Harry asks Voldemort to feel remorse. At least that’s my opinion, I can’t think of anything else, although they’re not holding wands.

Just like Dirk, who posted earlier, I’m also having some questions. Why are two of the three children of Harry and Ginny named after relatives of Harry and none of them after a relative of Ginny? (I thought Fred would be nice…)
What kind of job does Harry have? Did Neville ever get married? Who in the world would marry Draco Malfoy? What happened with uncle Vernon, aunt Petunia and Dudley? Where are they?

ce.ce
ce.ce
16 years ago

i liked the book was it was such a difference from the other ones. there were no parts where the trio was at ease and just hanging around. all parts of the book were very tense and i wish there were more parts about harrys parents. i think sirius shouldve made more of an appearance, i dont know how but it wouldve been really cool. it was kind of sick that jk had to kill hedwig, an innocent owl. i wish that snape couldve told harry everything harry saw in the pensieve face to face. the epilouge was way too short and gave hardly any info on the characters. im really sad that poor lupin and tonks had to die. on the upside, draco now owes harry a life debt, so that could come in handy eh? well done, jk, ill miss reading about harry.

robbie
robbie
16 years ago

note: There is only one special wand that goes from master to master! and that is the one from Death.
I wish Sirius had a painting that we (and Harry!) could talk to.
Seriosly, what is behind the curtain in the death room – I thought there would be more about that.
What about the room of love in the dept of mysteries?
What happened to that horrible woman — Dolores Umbridge, and was she really pure blood, because she was lying about the locket! (i think she was lying)
Also I was wondering about how madeye could “see” under the invisibility cloak but I wonder if he couldn’t really and just said he could.
I think they were good. Obviously I wish there would be more because I too would like the past and future stories (how did mr and mrs weasley meet?)! but as she has said no more …

KB
KB
16 years ago

I could type an essay on my thoughts and feelings on this book, but all of you have done an excellent job and have said everything I can think of.

One thing, to expand from Phoebe from Philippines’ post, on this idea of love:

When Harry is essentially trapped in “limbo” between life and death, he can see Voldermort’s soul that was in him, in the form of a helpless being. Assuming Harry knew what it was, I think it speaks of his true character that despite his anger at Voldemore, despite the deaths he has endured because of Voldemort, and despite the tasks and life that Harry has had because of Voldemort, Harry was still willing and wanting to help him, to comfort and console, to care about him, to “love his enemy”

And that’s what Dumbledore explains to Harry in the 6th book, that the power he has is love, the power to care for others unselfishly.

All in all, an excellnt book by JK Rowling. Hopefully in interviews or (hopefully) future books (series or non), she explains some of the questions that were left unanswered, such as jobs, state of the school, who married Draco, etc.

Cecil
Cecil
16 years ago

Oh, that’s so good to eventually being able to read reactions and questions… In France (where I am from) they won’t have the book translated before months, so I can’t talk about it to my friends!

THe book is GREAT but there are a few questions that linger, and I hope JKR will want to fill some void. I would have loved to see how the Minister of Magic get back on its feet with Shackebolt (What happens to pervert Umbridge?) life at Hogwarts after this battle, and the careers and life of all the survivors.

When Hedwig got killed, I wondered why taking her in her cage, for a risky trip, instead of just letting her fly, she always knows where Harry is anyway (cf. POA where she knew he was in Diagon Alley after he stormed out from the Dursley’s).

I thought Teddy would be raised by Harry and Ginny, but he was probably raised by his grandmother (like Neville) Tonk’s mum, who by the way lost her husband, daughter and son-in-law. Harry says something about Teddy coming for dinner 4 times a week at their home – a little like Sirius being a another son for the Potters, for others reasons.

I was wondering about Victoire, but since this is a French name, the suggestion that she is Bill and Fleur’s daughter is certainly right. And this is an appropriate name as she was certainly conceived and born shortly after the victory over Voldemort.

Another question: How Voldemort could think that he was the only one that knew about the Room of Requirement when so many items had been left behind in it – obviously by others students and teachers and even elves? Or did the Room opened for him as an empty room, ready to welcome his Horcrux, since that’s what he needed?

Another question: So Snape was on the “good” side. But how did he really help the Order of the Phoenix? To cover up his role, he gave informations to Voldemort about the whereabouts of Harry and the others. Voldemort thanks him at the end for his services, and indeed, even though he was loyal to Dumbledore, he ended helping Voldemort a lot, and Mad-Eye (not to mention Hedwig) died for it.
I think JKR will write again about Harry Potter (she is less adamant now about it than she was)- maybe not a novel though.

William
William
16 years ago

I loved the book, I think it was the perfect way to end the saga.

To respond to a question asked on page 1 (I think), Harry WAS the Master of Death. He had the Cloak and the Stone with him, and he was the true owner of the Wand. In my eyes, he survived, because he was the true Master of Death, but not for power or prolonging his life. He was the Master of Death because he accepted it, and willingly embraced death, knowing it would help rid the world of Voldemort.

vinay
vinay
16 years ago

whew. I was waiting for when you guys would put back comments back on.
This book was the best in the series. No flaws. no boring scenes.
The Battle of Hogwarts Rocked!
hmm I was right. Deathly Hallows were objects. I didnt want to think they were Horcruxes and voila they aren’t.
And Severus….. SEVERUS!
Man I wish there had been a portrait of him when Harry went to see Albus for the last time. It would’ve been awesome to see how Severus would have whole-heartedly spoken to Harry. Now that Harry knows the truth.
ALL HAIL SEVERUS!
Should’ve expected that Albus was dying from the inside coz of that Ring.

BTW I wonder if anyone saw it. The side cover for the British edition of HBP shows the Ring right? Well look closely, you can see the Deathly Hallows symbol behind the crack.

RAB IS Regulus! Aah. And the Kreacher helping bit was right as well.
Even though a lot of it had been guessed, it rocked! Worth every penny. I’m reading it the third time now.
Haha the last chapter brought tears in my eyes. Albus Severus Potter. Long Live JKR!

steve the pirate
steve the pirate
16 years ago

awesome book. epilouge left me wanting more, though. maybe she will pick up with their kids at the school.

Phoebe
Phoebe
16 years ago

To KB from North Carolina, Harry did give Voldemort that chance at redemption before Voldemort cast his last AK. Right after he called him Riddle. He called on him to try for some remorse. Remember what Hermione said about remorse being the only way to restore a ripped soul? Also, it’s significant that his response to the AK curse was to disarm, not kill. Evil was once again brought down by its own hand.

To CE.CE from California, I think that having Hedwig die was Ms. Rowling’s way to reinforce the idea that Harry was stripped of every physical thing that he valued, he lost the firebolt in the same instant as he lost Hedwig, and even his holly-phoenix feather wand. The only things he was allowed to keep were things he could keep WITHIN himself: love, bravery, support, friendship and loyalty. I think Ms. Rowling explained this through Ginny’s birthday gift to Harry; nothing too big because he wouldn’t be able to carry it around, remember?

Kari
Kari
16 years ago

Deathly Hallows is an amazing book. I read it once, and then decided to read it again and again. I can’t get enough of it.
I was disappointed that so many of our favorite characters had to die though.
I loved the part about Harry being the last horcrux, and when Harry visits Snape’s memories in the pensieve.
Great job JK!

Tristan Allen
Tristan Allen
16 years ago

I wish there had been more in the epilouge, but other than that I just loved the book. I always said Harry was a horcrux and was thrilled when I found I was right. I’m just upset that she killed off so many wonderful characters. I was also glad to see Snape redeem himself and Kreacher become plesant. It was a great way to end this amazing saga.
P.S.
am i the only one who was a little teary eyed about Dudley and the tea cup?

Ryan
Ryan
16 years ago

Author, you forgot that Dobby died too. The one person that I was most shocked to see die was Fred. I figured that most of the Order would die but not Fred. Also, I was wondering how Harry could be the last horcrux when slughorn said that there was an incantation to create a horcrux.

JK
JK
16 years ago

OK, reading all these comments, and I might add I LOVED this book, there is one more thing I want to know about, and that is how Kreachur reacted when the trio didn’t return to the grim old place, and how he then figured out to go to Hogwarts. Also, I was a bit disappointed that that dragon didn’t turn out to be a grown up Norbert. Oh well.

mrs. Weasley
mrs. Weasley
16 years ago

First–What an amazing book….didn’t you feel like you just had to remember to breathe or to move sometimes because the action was just so riveting?
Second–a wonderful moment– my 19 year old son reading the end of the book as I drove him to the airport and he said–Way to go Mrs. Weasley!–that’s so like you mom!”
Third–funny so many creatures seemed to disappear from the story–Crookshanks and Mrs. Norris for two examples. Thought they’d have a special secret.
Fourth–Dumbledore was a very complicated person. Even at the penultimate year of his life, he could be tempted by power and desire and forget his priorities as he put on the ring. When he said he admired Harry’s character, he really meant it.
Five–The wedding made me cry.
Six-It must have been amazing for Jim Dale to be reading this aloud, not knowing any more than we did about what the next pages would bring.
Happy hearts Harry and JK!

Phoebe
Phoebe
16 years ago

I think the ultimate magic of the Harry Potter Series and the genius of Ms. Rowling is that she did answer every single question–and not all the questions are answered in the last book. Ms. Rowling planted some answers in as early as the first book! It’s up to the reader re-read the books to find the answers. Like the question of how Neville was able to get the sword was answered in book 2: the sword of Gryffindor will be able extracted from the sorting hat by a true Griffindor who needs it. And Ms. Rowling has laid the foundation of how significant it was that Harry looks like his dad, but had his mother’s eyes. that’s why Snape hated him, yet kept him safe. Snape hated James’ memory, but will go to any lengths to preserve Lily’s. Ms. Rowling has ensured that her books will be read again, and again, and again. Need more answers? Look again. It’s there.

By the way, to the reader who wondered why the diadem of Ravenclaw seems to be virtually unprotected, Ms. Rowling answered that question too. Hogwarts is one of the most magically protected place in the HP universe, and the reason that Voldemort thought Dumbledore & the good guys wouldn’t find it in the Room of Requirement is that he thought that only rule-breakers would have gone in to the Room of Requirement “Storeroom” and certainly Goody Two Shoes Dumbledore is too rule-abiding. To quote, Harry said ‘Too bad for him (Voldemort) that I’ve had to hide things in my time’!

Dave
Dave
16 years ago

It was a GREAT book, and JK didn’t leave any loose ends, but there are still a few things I am wondering. Most of all though, why did Umbridge have/want the locket?

JK
JK
16 years ago

Dear Phoebe from the phillipines – thanks for that explanation/reminder as to why Neville gets the sword. You are right, of course!

Sarah
Sarah
16 years ago

Thank you David for keeping this fantastic site! I love the final book as much as each of you! I was most shaken by the death of Dobby, got myself in tears. And of course there’s Snape. JKR should really have put his potrait in the headmaster room so that Harry could talk to Snape after the battle.
A quick question, JKR mentioned before that two main characters died in the final book. Who exactly was she referring to? Snape for sure. Is Fred or Lupin or Dobby the other one?

Anonymous
Anonymous
16 years ago

how could dumbledore have beat grindelwald if he had the elder wand? and if dumby had the elder wand, how did draco disarm him. that thing seems like it stops working a lot. and did harry survive through all the books just because his mother died for him. i mean, could voldermort ever have killed him when harry was under 17, or did lily make it impossible?
GO SEVERUS

Yo Fitz
Yo Fitz
16 years ago

I think the cover is Harry about to cath the elder wand. We can’t really see Harry’s right hand, which is probably holding Draco’s wand.
Beautiful job by JK explaining what was to me unexplainable: how could Snape really be on the “right” side, because he lamented the Potter’s death, and yet so hate Harry? Simple answer: he loved Lily, loathed James, and Harry looked like James!
I also LOVED that Dumbledore had weaknesses; but, notice, he CHOSE not to seek power because it was his weakness. Terrific!
Also: the Malfoys never really reform; they are bullies, and bullies are cowards. Cowards do what is expedient. Narcissa “helps” Harry simply because it furthers her own needs.
I would have LOVED to see Dudley in the train station with HIS wizard son, Harry. How cool would that have been?

JK
JK
16 years ago

There is one question I still have from book one; if I missed the answer, someone please enlighten me! How come Harry was the inheritor of so much gold? Is it like in bk 7, that whoever owned the deathly hallow invisibility cloak would probably be rich (meaning I assume they could steal whenever they wanted to–that doesn’t seem right) or did i miss something about James’s inheritance? Or was it just that it seemed a lot of money to Harry, who’d never had any? I’ve actually wondered about this gold in Gringotts over all the books. Why doesn’t he help out the Weasleys, for instance, since they are like his adopted family, and seem to need cash? At least once we are told he doesn’t buy things for Ron, so as not to insult him, but what about in the later books, when he’s a member of the OoP? How about in the final book, when no one can work? it’s just kind of weird to me that this is never discussed. Harry is very rich, but he never touches his money. Why not?

MrsRemusLupin
MrsRemusLupin
16 years ago

I think on the “people we cared about who died”… Snape needs to be mentioned.

I love Snape so… knew he coulnd’t bad! grrr… I’m still crying… so sad…

seriousblue
seriousblue
16 years ago

THE CLOAK! In the 4th book moody saw through the cloak! Loophole!

JK
JK
16 years ago

One little moment that now makes more sense to me is that when Harry and Snape are first doing occlumency lessons, Harry has a memory of himself as a little boy in Dudley’s too big hand-me-downs, and Snape momentarily pauses, as if he has some sympathy….a small thing, but I think he did at that moment wonder if Harry were a kindred spirit after all. Then he shut it out because of his greater hatred of James.

Desi
Desi
16 years ago

I loved this book. I agree that there were some parts that felt slow, but I understand the reason why. My question, if anyone out there can answer it, is in reference to the King’s Cross Chapter. I’ve heard a lot of people say that the baby under the seat at King’s Cross was Voldemort himself, that’s why when Harry was revived he saw Voldemort waking up too. I was under the impression that the baby was the part of Voldemort’s soul that was living in Harry, making him the 7th Horcrux. By leaving the baby behind, Harry left behind the piece of Voldemort that invaded his soul 16 years earlier. What do you think?

Ashley R.
Ashley R.
16 years ago

Desi from Miami:
You have just made that whole scene make sense! I didn’t really get what was up with that baby, but now… now I do! Thank you!

Dave Haber
Dave Haber
16 years ago

Yes, Desi, this is what I believe, too. Up in the “real world”, Voldemort is still alive. Harry has brought that little, ugly piece of Voldemort with him to the station. Dumbledore tells him he can go back if he wants. But the little ugly peice of Voldemort is dieing, it cannot go back.

dayu
dayu
16 years ago

I’ll miss Fred… wonder what happen to George?

Rt
Rt
16 years ago

JKR did an awesome job. The book was great. But there were a few things that would have been nice to know..like who is the new headmaster of hogwarts, what’s harry’s job etc. Also, this is probably a dumb question, but if the elder wand is unbeatable then how did Dumbledore win it from Grindelwald in the duel (although Dumbledore was more skillful of the two, according to his own admission)?

Anyway, thanks to the creator of this site. I throughly enjoyed all your theories. Great work!

Ben Brian G. Palmes
Ben Brian G. Palmes
16 years ago

Very spectacular ending though I hate losing Fred, the Weasley Twins were among my favorite characters…sigh! well anyway, I hope when they make a movie out of the Deathly Hallows, it will be longer, something like 4 dvds! 3 hours each.
Well its finally over but I wouldn’t mind reading all the books all over again!
Was a bit emotional but really it was a spectular ending, simply shows that evil can never triumph over good!

Fear not fellow fans, we have two more movies to go!

Thanks for the great ending Jo! I love it!

ps: my wife is still reading the Deathly Hallows

DJ's Gal
DJ's Gal
16 years ago

Lots of great comments, and here’s some things I picked up while reading to pass on to those with questions… regarding Umbridge and the locket, JKR says (through Harry’s thoughts, I believe), that here’s Umbridge as this investigator of Mudbloods, so to bolster her own family tree she takes this locket off Mundungus with an “S” on it and tries to pass it off as the “Selwyn” family locket, like she’s this pureblood with an ancient family history. She clearly didn’t get the significance of it. Also, the baby under the chair, I thought that was VERY significant. It’s definitely Voldemort’s bit of soul, and not only that, because all of the other horcruxes (with the exception of Nagini) have been destroyed, that’s pretty much ALL that’s left of Voldemort’s soul. Clearly the nasty little thing is struggling against being there, and Harry (who does put on robes after he wakes up, by the way, go back and re-read that he does this) and Dumbledore are completely whole and happy to be there. And Harry makes a comment to Voldemort during their final meeting, he basically says, ‘you’d better show remorse, because I’ve seen what you are going to be like (on the other side), and it isn’t so pretty.’

JKR, if you are reading these comments out there, I just have to say THANK YOU for sharing your incredible story with us. You have an amazing gift!

Kaitlyn
Kaitlyn
16 years ago

Ahh, I hadn’t thought of that – I assumed it was Voldemort’s future self? And that’s why Harry said he’d seen what Voldemort would become if he didn’t show remorse. I need to re-read.

BUT! Who was the character that was a Squib/non-magic user that suddenly did magic late in life? JK said so, but I couldn’t catch it.

P.S. I adore Snape.

Marjorie
Marjorie
16 years ago

A previous quote:- “Cowards do what is expedient. Narcissa “helps” Harry simply because it furthers her own needs.” Yes – yes indeed, and this is pivotal to the story. It also it picks up on the governing motif of Love.

Narcissa, as we saw previously in HBP, essentially puts her son above her loyalty to Voldemort (as I think any caring mother would) and she asks Snape to help her save her son because she loves Draco.

At the point in DH where Narcissa lies, she may well be lying for her own ends BUT it ensures that Harry survives, in fact, without it Harry might have died – maybe a second AK course would kill or do enough damage that Harry would not be able to fight strongly enough.

I suspect that the Malfoys will always retain their attitude but it is now more the attitude of the monied and affluent to the poor, rather than the pureblood vs. mudblood attitude they could safely maintain before.

Phoebe
Phoebe
16 years ago

To JK from California, to answer your question about Harry and the money and helping out the Weasleys, Do you remember that bit in book 2 about Harry going to Gringotts with the Weasleys and he was embarrassed about having money while they didn’t? It said Harry would gladly have shared all his gold with them but he knew they would be too proud to accept. Ms. Rowling is also very clear about money (and by extension, greed)not being one of Harry’s top priorities, that he only thinks of it when it he’s spending or making use of it (like giving the triwizard money to the twins). She even emphasized it in Book 1, that Dumbledore said Harry did not see wealth or immortality in the Mirror of Erised. Hope that helps.

James Potter being rich has also been implied. Think of it this way: in book 3 (and a few other instances afterward), Sirius and James are described as the forerunners of the Weasley Twins. I think it’s was Ms. Rowling’s way of saying that James is ALMOST like Sirius’ twin in background, ideals, etc. Notice that Ms. Rowling is careful to compare Sirius and James with Fred and George, and NOT Ron and Harry?

The fun thing about the HP books is that you find a bonus story beneath the straightforward one.

As for the loopholes, try looking again, maybe the answers are just waiting on your next read. I’m not saying Ms. Rowling is perfect, but close enough. The only head-scratcher i found was in book 2, which i believe she used the wrong word.. that Tom Riddle was the ‘last ancestor of Salazar Slytherin’. I think she meant ‘last descendant’, don’t you think?

By the way, Book 7 did mention that Fred and George were still running their business via mail (owl) order from Auntie Muriel’s.

tiny
tiny
16 years ago

great book! im upset now…upset that there won’t be anymore hp books…anyhow, hopefully, jk rowling would be writing plenty of new stories that we could enjoy, even if she did will they be as good as hp?…

supercat
supercat
16 years ago

I was severely disappointed with the epilogue. I recall reading years ago that Ms. Rowling said she’d already written the last chapter; I don’t know exactly when she wrote it, but it may well be that Luna is absent because she hadn’t been created yet.

I was a little confused by what happened to the Sorting Hat. Being blasted and bursting into flames would seem like it should cause non-repairable magical damage.

Although Harry never casts Avada Kedavra, he does frequently use the Imperius Curse against innocent targets. Is that not also unforgivable?

Finally, since I don’t have the book handy, when did the Goblins say that wizards stole Gryffindor’s sword? Could it be that the sword had indeed been given back to the goblins well before the time of SS but was magically stolen from them, by Harry Potter and the Sorting Hat, in CoS?

rahul
rahul
16 years ago

I am a bit confused… I remember the goblin runs away with Godric Gryffindor sword during the Gringotts chapter. How did Neville get hold of the sword when he kills Nagini, or does the sorting hat provides him the sword the same way it did in chamber of secrets?

Dhiman
Dhiman
16 years ago

Hi.
Fabulous ending to the greatest series ever written. And great job done in this website, too, nearly guessing all the clues ( you forgot to mention that you also guessed the identity of R.A.B correctly).

mr duck
mr duck
16 years ago

now that i’ve read deathly hallows, i think i might read it again just to pick up clues on other questions that might’ve been left unanswered…maybe even the whole series again…