Finally, the seventh book in the Harry
Potter series ties up the loose ends
At
the beginning of book seven, "Harry Potter and the Deathly
Hallows," it's time for Harry to go back to school at
Hogwarts. It's to be his final year. Harry is just about
to celebrate his seventeenth birthday. That happens to
be the age when wizards are supposed to "come of age."
However, this time Harry is not to go back to Hogwarts
with his classmates. The situation is too dangerous, since
the evil Lord Voldemort has increased his power. Voldemort
has taken over the Ministry of Magic and placed his ally,
Severus Snape, in Professor Dumbledore's old position
of Headmaster of Hogwarts.
The situation is so bad that even Harry's Muggle family,
the Dursleys, have to be taken away to be hidden under
the protection of friendly wizards. The shield of protection
that had been placed around Harry by his mother would
no longer protect the Dursley home, once Harry turned
seventeen. Even Harry has to be sneaked off with the aid
of wizard friends from his past to keep from being captured
by Lord Voldemort's Death Eaters.
The action starts right away as Voldemort's Death Eaters
attack Harry as he and Hagrid are flying off on a motorcycle
to a secret location. Lord Voldemort had been tipped off
about the secret plans, and he and Harry become engaged
in an airborne battle. Incredibly, Harry's magic wand
seems to "take over" in the battle and Harry manages to
escape the trap.
Harry ends up at the old house belonging to Serius Black
that had become the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix,
the group sworn to defeat Voldemort and his evil followers.
There Harry is reunited with his best friends, Hermione
Granger and Ron Weasley. These two are pledged to help
Harry in his quest to search out ways to defeat Lord Voldemort.
Really, all they have to go on are some confusing directions
received from Professor Dumbledore, before his death.
Harry, Ron and Hermione know that they have to keep
moving from place to place or else they risk capture and
death. Very early in their venture, they are invited to
a wedding of some old friends from the past. Harry reluctantly
agrees to attend because he knows the danger involved
in attending such a public social gathering. And, of course,
he is right - the celebration is invaded by Death Eaters
just after the wedding vows are exchanged. Once again,
the three friends barely escape with their lives. Some
of the other guests aren't as lucky.
Most of the middle part of the book is devoted to the
attempt by Harry and his two companions to try to unravel
the meaning behind the instructions left by Dumbledore.
All the while they go from one narrow escape to another
as they track down one false lead after another. They
have to deal with weeks and weeks of frustration and failure.
Their close friendship, especially Ron and Hermione's
romantic feelings for each other, are put to the test.
Numerous figures from the past keep popping up, some to
help and some to hinder.
The culmination of the little group's effort comes about
with a siege by Voldemort's forces on a fortified Hogwart's.
The outcome of the horrific battle between the forces
of good and evil will be determined in the buildings and
on the grounds of this historic school for wizards. We
are left in suspense as to who will win and who will lose
until very late in this last of J. K. Rowling's seven
books.
