Harry Potter and the Ultimate Reread

Nineteen Years Later

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 08:05:11 -0400

Today’s chapter: Deathly Hallows, Epilogue - “Nineteen Years Later.”

The train began to move, and Harry walked alongside it, watching his son’s thin face, already ablaze with excitement. Harry kept smiling, and waving, even though it was like a little bereavement, watching his son glide away from him …

The last trace of steam evaporated in the autumn air. The train rounded a corner. Harry’s hand was still raised in farewell.

“He’ll be alright,” murmured Ginny.

As Harry looked at her, he lowered his hand absent-mindedly and touched the lightning scar on his forehead.

“I know he will.”

The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well.

Finite Incantatem. Mischief managed. The end.

I know you enjoyed the books, but I hope you also enjoyed the HPreread experience and found it a good way to pay tribute to The Boy Who Lived, his excellent creator (The Woman Who Wrote?), and this wonderful series that’s been giving us all so much pleasure for so many years.

Thanks to the truly brilliant J.K. Rowling for writing such a magical story, and to you for reading along. Enjoy the movie and all your future rereads! :)

The Tale of the Three Brothers

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:07:17 -0400

Today’s tale from Beedle the Bard - “The Tale of the Three Brothers.”

But though Death searched for the third brother for many years, he was never able to find him. It was only when he had attained a great age that the youngest brother finally took off the Cloak of Invisibility and gave it to his son. And then he greeted Death as an old friend, and went with him gladly, and, equals, they departed this life.

When Harry gives up the Elder Wand at the end of Deathly Hallows, he says, “If I die a natural death like Ignotus, its power will be broken, won’t it? The previous master will never have been defeated. That’ll be the end of it.” I really like the parallel between Harry and the humble third brother. I imagine him living out a long, trouble-free life, and dying peacefully.

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump

Wed, 13 Jul 2011 07:58:28 -0400

Today’s tale from Beedle the Bard - “Babbitty Rabbitty and her Cackling Stump.”

Though some six centuries have elapsed since Beedle wrote this tale, and while we have devised innumerable ways of maintaining the illusion of our loved ones’ continuing presence, wizards still have not found a way of reuniting body and soul once death has occurred. As the eminent wizarding philosopher Bertrand de Pensées-Profondes writes in his celebrated work A Study into the Possibility of Reversing the Actual and Metaphysical Effects of Natural Death, with Particular Regard to the Reintegration of Essence and Matter: “Give it up. It’s never going to happen.”

The Warlock's Hairy Heart

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:41:05 -0400

Today’s tale from Beedle the Bard - “The Warlock’s Hairy Heart.”

As we have already seen, Beedle’s first two tales attracted criticism of their themes of generosity, tolerance and love. ‘The Warlock’s Hairy Heart,’ however, does not appear to have been modified or much criticised in the hundreds of years since it was first written; the story as I eventually read it in the original runes was almost exactly that which my mother had told me. That said, ‘The Warlock’s Hairy Heart’ is by far the most gruesome of Beedle’s offerings, and many parents do not share it with their children until they think they are old enough not to suffer nightmares.

You might say it’s a little … grimm.

The Fountain of Fair Fortune

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 08:00:02 -0400

Today’s tale from Beedle the Bard - “The Fountain of Fair Fortune.”

The night’s entertainment concluded with a packed hospital wing; it was several months before the Great Hall lost its pungent aroma of wood smoke, and even longer before Professor Beery’s head reassumed its normal proportions, and Professor Kettleburn was taken off probation. Headmaster Armando Dippet imposed a blanket ban on future pantomimes, a proud non-theatrical tradition that Hogwarts continues to this day.

Two things:

If this is the kind of tidbit we get from Pottermore, then Pottermore is going to be fantastic.
Dear J.K. Rowling: Please, please, please write Hogwarts, A History someday.

The Wizard and the Hopping Pot

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 07:33:26 -0400

Today’s tale from Beedle the Bard - “The Wizard and the Hopping Pot.”

Beedle was somewhat out of step with his times in preaching a message of brotherly love for Muggles. The persecution of witches and wizards was gathering pace all over Europe in the early fifteenth century. Many in the magical community felt, and with good reason, that offering to cast a spell on the Muggle-next-door’s sickly pig was tantamount to volunteering to fetch the firewood for one’s own funeral pyre.

I love the fact that J.K. Rowling actually wrote this book. I love even more that she has included Dumbledore’s (hilarious!) commentary on the tales. Just when you think she couldn’t be more awesome …

The Flaw in the Plan

Sat, 09 Jul 2011 08:16:44 -0400

Today’s chapter: Deathly Hallows, Chapter Thirty-Six - “The Flaw in the Plan.”

“The true master of the Elder Wand was Draco Malfoy.”

Blank shock showed in Voldemort’s face for a moment, but then it was gone.

“But what does it matter?” he said softly. “Even if you are right, Potter, it makes no difference to you and me. You no longer have the phoenix wand: we duel on skill alone … and after I have killed you, I can attend to Draco Malfoy …”

“But you’re too late,” said Harry. “You’ve missed your chance. I got there first. I overpowered Draco weeks ago. I took his wand from him.”

Harry twitched the hawthorn wand, and he felt the eyes of everyone in the Hall upon it.

“So it all comes down to this, doesn’t it?” whispered Harry. “Does the wand in your hand know its last master was Disarmed? Because if it does … I am the true master of the Elder Wand.”

Once again, Voldemort is defeated by his unwillingness to accept that anything might have a power above his own. Also: Neville and Mrs Weasley both get to be extremely, mindblowingly awesome one last time.

Personally, I loved this final book. It brings the story to a fitting, satisfying end (except Fred’s death should never have happened). What did you think?

Reminder: starting tomorrow (July 10), we read The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Our final HPreread post, on July 15, will be Deathly Hallows’ epilogue.

King's Cross

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 07:17:36 -0400

Today’s chapter: Deathly Hallows, Chapter Thirty-Five - “King’s Cross.”

“But you’re dead,” said Harry.

“Oh, yes,” said Dumbledore matter-of-factly.

“Then … I’m dead too?”

“Ah,” said Dumbledore, smiling still more broadly. “That is the question, isn’t it? On the whole, dear boy, I think not.”

They looked at each other, the old man still beaming.

“Not?” repeated Harry.

“Not,” said Dumbledore.

“But …” Harry raised his hand instinctively towards the lightning scar. It did not seem to be there. “But I should have died — I didn’t defend myself! I meant to let him kill me!”

“And that,” said Dumbledore, “will, I think, have made all the difference.”

This is the only way this story could have ended. Harry Potter, the boy who lived.

The Forest Again

Thu, 07 Jul 2011 07:36:05 -0400

Today’s chapter: Deathly Hallows, Chapter Thirty-Four - “The Forest Again.”

He closed his eyes, and turned the stone over in his hand, three times.

He knew it had happened, because he heard slight movements around him that suggested frail bodies shifting their footing on the earthy, twig-strewn ground that marked the outer edge of the Forest. He opened his eyes and looked around.

They were neither ghost nor truly flesh, he could see that. They resembled most closely the Riddle that had escaped from the diary, so long ago, and he had been memory made nearly solid. Less substantial than living bodies, but much more than ghosts, they moved towards him, and on each face there was the same loving smile.

The Prince's Tale

Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:17:56 -0400

Today’s chapter: Deathly Hallows, Chapter Thirty-Three - “The Prince’s Tale.”

“If she means so much to you,” said Dumbledore, “surely Lord Voldemort will spare her? Could you not ask for mercy for the mother, in exchange for the son?”

“I have — I have asked him —”

“You disgust me,” said Dumbledore, and Harry had never heard so much contempt in his voice. Snape seemed to shrink a little. “You do not care, then, about the deaths of her husband and child? They can die, as long as you have what you want?”

Snape said nothing, but merely looked up at Dumbledore.

“Hide them all, then,” he croaked. “Keep her — them — safe. Please.”

“And what will you give me in return, Severus?”

“In — in return?” Snape gaped at Dumbledore, and Harry expected him to protest, but after a long moment he said, “Anything.”

Snape’s story explains a whole lot.

The Elder Wand

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 08:10:10 -0400

Today’s chapter: Deathly Hallows, Chapter Thirty-Two - “The Elder Wand.”

“All this long night, when I am on the brink of victory, I have sat here,” said Voldemort, his voice barely louder than a whisper, “wondering, wondering, why the Elder Wand refuses to be what it ought to be, refuses to perform as legend says it must perform for its rightful owner … and I think I have the answer.”

Snape did not speak.

“Perhaps you already know it? You are a clever man, after all, Severus. You have been a good and faithful servant, and I regret what must happen.”

The Battle of Hogwarts

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 07:56:52 -0400

Today’s chapter: Deathly Hallows, Chapter Thirty-One - “The Battle of Hogwarts.”

“Hang on a moment!” said Ron sharply. “We’ve forgotten someone!”

“Who?” asked Hermione.

“The house-elves, they’ll all be down in the kitchen, won’t they?”

“You mean we ought to get them fighting?” asked Harry.

“No,” said Ron seriously, “I mean we should tell them to get out. We don’t want any more Dobbys, do we? We can’t order them to die for us —”

There was a clatter as the Basilisk fangs cascaded out of Hermione’s arms. Running at Ron, she flung them around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth. Ron threw away the fangs and broomstick he was holding and responded with such enthusiasm that he lifted Hermione off her feet.

“Is this the moment?” Harry asked weakly, and when nothing happened except that Ron and Hermione gripped each other still more firmly and swayed on the spot, he raised his voice. “OI! There’s a war going on here!”

There is so much going on in this chapter, but that’s my choice for the best moment. What are your picks?

RIP Fred. I still am not over his death.

The Sacking of Severus Snape

Sun, 03 Jul 2011 08:33:22 -0400

Today’s chapter: Deathly Hallows, Chapter Thirty - “The Sacking of Severus Snape.”

“It’s not a case of what you’ll permit, Minerva McGonagall. Your time’s over. It’s us what’s in charge here now, and you’ll back me up or you’ll pay the price.”

And he spat in her face.

Harry pulled the Cloak off himself, raised his wand and said, “You shouldn’t have done that.”

As Amycus spun round, Harry shouted, “Crucio!”

The Death Eater was lifted off his feet. He writhed through the air like a drowning man, thrashing and howling in pain, and then, with a crunch and a shattering of glass, he smashed into the front of a bookcase and crumpled, insensible, to the floor.

“I see what Bellatrix meant,” said Harry, the blood thundering through his brain, “you need to really mean it.”

“Potter!” whispered Professor McGonagall, clutching her heart. “Potter — you’re here! What —? How —?” She struggled to pull herself together. “Potter, that was foolish.”

“He spat at you,” said Harry.

There comes a point when you can no longer sit back and take it.

The Lost Diadem

Sat, 02 Jul 2011 08:13:20 -0400

Today’s chapter: Deathly Hallows, Chapter Twenty-Nine - “The Lost Diadem.”

“Dumbledore left the three of us a job,” he said carefully, “and we weren’t supposed to tell — I mean, he wanted us to do it, just the three of us.”

“We’re his Army,” said Neville. “Dumbledore’s Army. We were all in it together, we’ve been keeping it going while you three have been off on your own —”

“It hasn’t exactly been a picnic, mate,” said Ron.

“I never said it had, but I don’t see why you can’t trust us. Everyone in this Room’s been fighting and they’ve been driven in here because the Carrows were hunting them down. Everyone in here’s proven they’re loyal to Dumbledore — loyal to you.”

Neville Longbottom: Revolutionary leader and all-round badass.

The Missing Mirror

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 07:57:02 -0400

Today’s chapter: Deathly Hallows, Chapter Twenty-Eight - “The Missing Mirror.”

“You’re Aberforth,” said Harry, to the man’s back.

He neither confirmed nor denied it, but bent to light the fire.

“How did you get this?” Harry asked, walking across to Sirius’s mirror, the twin of the one he had broken nearly two years before.

“Bought it from Dung ‘bout a year ago,” said Aberforth. “Albus told me what it was. Been trying to keep an eye out for you.”

The true story of what happened to Ariana and the rest of the Dumbledore family. Plus … NEVILLE!

We’re getting close to the end. The trio is headed back to Hogwarts, and Deathly Hallows, Part 2 is out two weeks from today!

The Final Hiding Place

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 08:07:49 -0400

Today’s chapter: Deathly Hallows, Chapter Twenty-Seven - “The Final Hiding Place.”

“What are we going to do, though?” said Hermione finally, hiccoughing herself back to seriousness. “He’ll know, won’t he? You-Know-Who will know we know about his Horcruxes!”

“Maybe they’ll be too scared to tell him?” said Ron hopefully. “Maybe they’ll cover up —”

The sky, the smell of lake water, the sound of Ron’s voice were extinguished: pain cleaved Harry’s head like a sword stroke. He was standing in a dimly lit room, and a semi-circle of wizards faced him, and on the floor at his feet knelt a small, quaking figure.

“What did you say to me?” His voice was high and cold, but fury and fear burned inside him. The one thing he had dreaded — but it could not be true, he could not see how …

Gringotts

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 08:37:48 -0400

Today’s chapter: Deathly Hallows, Chapter Twenty-Six - “Gringotts.”

The dragon had not realised that it was free: Harry’s foot found the crook of its hind leg and he pulled himself up on to its back. The scales were hard as steel: it did not even seem to feel him. He stretched out an arm; Hermione hoisted herself up; Ron climbed on behind them, and a second later the dragon became aware that it was untethered.

With a roar it reared: Harry dug in his knees, clutching as tightly as he could to the jagged scales as the wings opened, knocking the shrieking goblins aside like skittles, and it soared into the air. Harry, Ron and Hermione, flat on its back, scraped against the ceiling as it dived towards the passage opening, while the pursuing goblins hurled daggers that glanced off its flanks.

They found Hufflepuff’s cup! Yay! But they lost their only means of destroying it … doh.

Shell Cottage

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 08:02:14 -0400

Today’s chapter: Deathly Hallows, Chapter Twenty-Five - “Shell Cottage.”

“If you have struck any kind of bargain with Griphook, and most particularly if that bargain involves treasure, you must be exceptionally careful. Goblin notions of ownership, payment and repayment are not the same as human ones.”

Harry felt a slight squirm of discomfort, as though a small snake had stirred inside him.

Uh oh.

The Wandmaker

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 08:00:56 -0400

Today’s chapter: Deathly Hallows, Chapter Twenty-Four - “The Wandmaker.”

The wrappings fell open. The face was translucent, pale, sunken, yet almost perfectly preserved. They had left his spectacles on the crooked nose: he felt amused derision. Dumbledore’s hands were folded upon his chest, and there it lay, clutched beneath them, buried with him.

Had the old fool imagined that marble or death would protect the wand? Had he thought that the Dark Lord would be scared to violate his tomb? The spider-like hand swooped and pulled the wand from Dumbledore’s grasp, and as he took it, a shower of sparks flew from its tip, sparkling over the corpse of its old owner, ready to serve a new master at last.

Plus: a Horcrux at Gringotts? And wandlore.

Malfoy Manor

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 08:31:28 -0400

Today’s chapter: Deathly Hallows, Chapter Twenty-Three - “Malfoy Manor.”

The tiny elf trotted into the room, his shaking finger pointing at his old mistress.
“You must not hurt Harry Potter,” he squeaked.

“Kill him, Cissy!” shrieked Bellatrix, but there was another loud crack, and Narcissa’s wand, too, flew into the air and landed on the other side of the room.

“You dirty little monkey!” bawled Bellatrix. “How dare you take a witch’s wand, how dare you defy your masters?”

“Dobby has no master!” squealed the elf. “Dobby is a free elf, and Dobby has come to save Harry Potter and his friends!”

Dobby’s crowning moment of awesome.