Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

To be honest, I’m not the biggest Harry Potter (HP) fan around, nor a die-hard, insane believer of magic. It was only by chance that I got to watch HP and the Philosopher’s Stone and by necessity now that I have kept reading Rowling’s 7 (not counting Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them) books of the Boy Who Lived. Unlike other HP fans around the globe, I have read all the books only once but read them like I have my beloved Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy by Libbie Henrietta Hyman. I must admit that to indulge in HP’s parallel world for someone like me is truly incredible; like a good break from doing ten scientific papers, special projects and loads of exams all at once. 

Although fantastic, I must add that her books were written very carefully in that it never mentioned any religion like Christianity or Islam or Paganism etc. because if it did, the matter of explaining the whole concept to the kids would create a massive problem for the elders and, not to mention, a breach in our belief of God (Please correct me if I’m wrong). Surely, HP presented that evil could exist but what of God or his goodwill? Deathly Hallows even mentioned Death but nothing concrete on angels or of Heaven or Hell. In Chapter 35 King’s Cross, when HP and Dumbledore were talking, I sort of had the impression that they were in a place that should be for souls, I mean because at that time, both were supposedly dead. But as it turned out, their conversation was all just in HP’s head:

‘Tell me one last thing,’ said Harry. ‘Is this real? Or has his been happening inside my head?’
Dumbledore beamed at him, and his voice sounded loud and strong in Harry’s ears even though the bright mist was descending again, obscuring the his figure.
‘Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?’

 

When Bill and Fleur were about to get married, I wondered how the ceremony would proceed: would they do it their own way or have a little something of muggle tradition? The manner by which it proceeded was similar to how Christians do it (e.g. a white wedding gown, an entourage, someone like a priest to celebrate the event etc), minus the dressing gowns for the guys and the wand-waving thing after the announcement of Bill and Fleur as ‘being bonded for life.’

But hey, it’s just a story. I just wanted to say my piece.

Actually, I wanted this post to be about the 10 Surprising Things/Facts in Deathly Hallows. Being the last and supposedly the final instalment of HP, some of these things made me scratch my head in utter disbelief, some made me sigh, sad and some made me say, SAYANG.

1. Snape secretly loved Lily Potter. I wasn’t expecting it, but my greatest fear did materialize when it unfolded that Sev and Lily were really best friends and that the former eternally loved his BFF. This bit I loathed.
2. Molly called Bellatrix a BITCH. In Chapter 36 The Flaw in the Plan, when Bella almost hit Ginny with a killing curse, Molly had to shout and say, ‘NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!’ and they duelled instead. Eventually Molly killed her. And you thought Molly was just a plain housewife.
3. Fred’s death. Gosh, I couldn’t believe it but he died. So sad, so sad. The notable characters who died were Lupin and his wife Tonks, Mad-eye and Snape, who was finally revealed to be a good guy all along.
4. Harry and Ginny’s and Ron and Hermione’s kisses. Ginny’s gift for Harry’s birthday was a kiss, and Hermione and Ron’s, well, that was something we were all waiting for.
5. Neville pulled out Gryffindor’s Sword from the sorting hat and killed Nagini. And I thought Neville would die for sure. Surprisingly, Neville became more matured in this book. I mean he became the leader of DA once Luna and Ginny were gone and he was seriously fierce all throughout his appearances, no matter how short or small, in the book.
6. Dobby and Kreacher’s important roles. I didn’t expect Dobby to save HP and be killed. And surely, I didn’t expect Kreacher to ever like HP, Ron and Hermione, much more to help them.
7. Hermione was tortured. I would have wanted Hermione to die when Bellatrix shouted Crucio at her. It would have been more dramatic.
8. The statues and suit of armors came alive to defend Hogwarts. This part I like because it would look really, really cool on film. I just hope this scene would be shown though, seeing as to how long and detailed Deathly Hallows is.
9. HP must die. Because HP was the 7th Horcrux, he would have to die to ensure that Voldemort cannot be resurrected again, given that Nagini would also have be killed.
10. Harry & Ginny and Ron & Hermione. In the last part, Nineteen Years Later, the couples had their respective kids: Harry & Ginny had James, Albus Severus and Lily while Ron & Hermione had Rose and Hugo. Lupin and Tonks had Teddy and he’s bound to marry Victoire, Bill and Fleur’s daughter (I suppose). Even Draco had a son, Scorpious. And by far, Malfoy had the coolest name yet again.

Overall, I think this last chapter of HP’s life and adventures is just okay. It could have been better though. Actually, for a children’s story, HP is amazingly complex and mature that is why even us, adults, are mesmerized by it. I, for one, wold definitely miss HP and the wizarding world. But it was good while it lasted.

All was well.