Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Yeah, I was one of the ones who went out on Saturday to pick up the final Harry Potter book. Jo Rowling has done a very fine job of turning what started out as a series of childrens books into a complex and convoluted storyline. I started the book on Saturday, and finished it last night around 2am. I am pleased with how it went
Spoilers ahead. Proceed no further if you plan to read the book.
Rowling pulls no punches in this book. By the end of the third chapter, there are already two deaths: Mad-Eye Moody and Hedwig, Harry’s snowy owl. From there, things go down hill for Harry and Voldemort’s cronies seize control of the Ministry of Magic, and issue arrest warrants against Harry for the murder of Albus Dumbledore.
Harry spends most of the book on the run from Voldemort’s forces while at the same time hunting down the Horcruxes, objects in which Voldemort has stored parts of his soul in an effort to become immortal. Harry manages to find two of them before he is caught by Voldemort’s minions. He is eventually rescued by Dobby, the ever-helpful house elf, though Dobby is murdered by Bellatrix Lastrange during the escape.
The search for the Horcruxes take Harry, Ron, and Hermione to the halls of Hogwarts, where Severus Snape is serving as Headmaster. Voldemort, having learned that Harry is finding his Horcruxes, leads an attack against Hogwarts which turns into a massive battle between the forces of good and evil. Fred Weasley, Remus Lupin, and Nymphadora Tonks are slain in the battle, and Molly Weasley avenges her son’s death by killing Bellatrix Lastrange.
During the battle, Harry finds another Horcrux and destroys it along with the other two in his possession. Snape is eventually killed by Voldemort, and Harry manages to gain access to Snape’s memories which he views in the Pensieve. Harry learns that he was the last Horcrux, and that only his death can destroy Voldemort. He also learns that Snape had been working for Dumbledore the entire time, and that Snape had killed Dumbledore at Dumbledore’s orders.
Harry confronts Voldemort, and lets Voldemort hit him with the Killing Curse. However, due to the link between Harry and Voldemort, Harry survives. The fragment of Voldemort’s soul that Harry possessed was destroyed, though. Harry plays dead as he waits for the right moment to confront Voldemort for the final time.
Voldemort, in his vanity, displays Harry’s body as proof that he has finished off The Boy Who Lived. He is eventually challenged by none other than Neville Longbottom, who not only survives Voldemort’s attack, but destroys the final Horcrux – the snake Nagini – with the Sword of Godric Gryfindor.
Harry chooses this moment to make his move against Voldemort. After a fierce battle, Voldemort is struck down by Harry, ending the reign of terror.
The book was very well done, and neatly ties up all the loose ends that Rowling has left hanging thoughout the series.
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