Blog 3 Madeline Juergens Hufflepuff
As the Battle of Hogwarts is won and Harry finally defeats Voldemort, I think we Potter fans can all agree on feeling a tad bittersweet reading those last pages. However, as the series comes to an end, I think there’s a lot to learn in the series as a whole, and the last books closing chapters.
We learn that it was not only the destruction of Horcruxes that would finish Voldemort, but becoming the true master of the Hallows as well. The Hallows, three objects Dumbledore and Grindewald chased as teenagers, that in the wrong hands could bring death to all. While Voldemort searches only for the Elder Wand, Harry admits he would much rather have the resurrection stone, if only to bring back his parents from the dead. Yet another humble difference between the two. It only makes sense that Harry would be descended from Ignotus Peverell, the most noble of the three brothers. He did not wish to tease or provoke Death, and was wise enough to ask for a gift that would further protect him (the cloak of invisibility). However, Voldemort is descended from Cadmus. Cadmus chose his gift of the resurrection stone to humiliate Death even further. These two both sealed their own fates trying to conquer death… Voldemort made several mistakes, all stemming from his fear of dying. The day that Voldemort decided to kill Harry to preserve himself, was the day he created his own destiny. Harry grew up strong with all the tools he needed, protected by his mother’s love, his friends, Dumbledore, The Order, even Severus Snape.
The theme of death in the novels has never been more relevant than in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The destruction of Horcruxes means death for Voldemort. The possession of all three Hallows means becoming the Master of Death. Fear of dying causes Voldemort’s fate to ultimately be, death itself. The creation of his horcruxes, his search for only the wand, and his isolation from others makes him vulnerable and alone. Voldemort kills Severus, in hopes that he will become the master of the elder wand. Dumbledore must die, by Snape’s hand, so that Malfoy’s soul will not be tainted. The amount of death and dying is almost too much to bear, but it is essential. In my opinion the only other theme that could even be argued to be more important than death is sacrifice. The sacrifices of Hedwig, Tonks, Lupin, Fred, and Dobby. Countless lives lost since that day in the graveyard when Peter murdered Cedric. Everyone the death eaters have murdered, all for “the greater good”. But the ultimate sacrifice is when Harry goes into the forest knowing he will die. That for me, is when I knew that Harry would be victorious over Voldemort in the end. He may have been afraid, but he didn’t cower from it. Voldemort would never die to save his friends, or his family. He doesn’t even have any. He killed his own father. Voldemort is a coward. His name quite literally means "flight of death".
The hardest thing for me to understand when it was all over, was the fact that anyone could be so evil. I almost wish we could see more of what Voldemort was thinking as a child, although I’m sure one of the reasons I love this series is because Voldemort is quite the mystery. I can understand his feelings of envy towards people who share love and human connection. I understand his hatred towards his muggle father for abandoning him. But I don’t understand when he started to fear death. Or feel the need to kill and torture innocent people to justify the wrongs done unto him. The only thing we are ever truly sure of is that his link to Harry is strong. They are distantly related; they share a connection between minds. Harry’s and Voldemort’s wand cores share feathers from the same phoenix. And finally we learn the day that Voldemort decided to kill Harry, was the day he put part of his own soul inside of him. That Harry had become a horcrux. This is why they are so connected, that Harry can feel Voldemort’s thoughts and emotions. But regardless of all this Harry, has many qualities that Tom Riddle does not. Harry is brave, he knows sacrifice and love. He is noble and kind and wants to save everyone he knows and even people he does not. There is no room for hate in his heart.
The last thing I will touch on is Severus Snape, and Neville Longbottom. I believe these two characters are some of the bravest people in all of the novels combined. Not to discredit Hermione or Ron, but Neville has been battling with himself for years. When he kills Nagini and the sword of Gryffindor comes to him in the sorting hat, it shows that he has truly evolved into a brave and courageous man. He is no longer the young boy that Malfoy stole a rememberal from. He is a hero. And Severus Snape, on the other hand, is the ultimate symbol of love. For years Harry has despised him, only to find that all along Snape was protecting him for Lilly. That Severus left them the sword in the forest, and that for over a decade he has been trying to do everything he can to make his betrayal to Lilly right. Lilly’s love has surely gone a long way.
"The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." (Rowling, Deathly Hallows 328).