In "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the seventh and final book in the Potter series, author J.K. Rowling leads readers on an exciting adventure with lots of twist and turns and deaths along the way (not to mention, it solidified my love for Fred and George Weasley, Ron's brilliant and sexy twin brothers).
Author J.K. Rowling paints a frightening picture of merciless Death Eaters led by the archvillian Lord Voldemort.
They seem completely unready to face the powerful mastermind that holds this world between his pale soulless fingers. One clever young witch and two brave and bumbling young wizards can only counter such brilliance and savagery.
Hermione with her limitless intelligence and impeccable preparation, Ronald with his wit and almost stupid bravery, and Harry fighting to understand why people help him, not let his heroes disappoint him, and overcome his thoughts of the unbeatable Lord Voldemort.
Frightening, the young heroes seem unmatched for the task at hand. Bickering and confused, they lose faith in each other. Adamant not to ask for help or reveal their plans is admirable, but they don't seem to know what to do and the Order of the Phoenix isn't there to lead them, as they ought.
Rowling manipulates the reader's mind into a tale of sorcery and dark magic and evil beyond anything encountered before. The increasing death toll builds your dread thinking of who else must die and what else must happen "for the greater good."
Thinking back on it, you might come to the startling realization that from the beginning Rowling has masterfully depicted a quest that can only end this way. Her preoccupation of death throughout the series has manifested itself in magical creatures, circumstance and the scar that started it all. But now witness it turning itself into something far colder, the end of the Harry Potter Series.
As all the trails and side notes and objects of seeming insignificance begin to click in the final pages you can only marvel, racing through the pages, what kind of inspiration creates a story such as this one.
Racing through the pages, feeling the finale building, you glance down at the page numbers lamenting that it has come too quickly. That Harry still had things to figure out and secrets to unlock and mysteries to unfold. There's sense of finality that you hoped might never come out of the sweet little boy with Lily's green eyes and James' tousled hair.
You, like him, can never fully be prepared for the things you must face. But like him, you will face the end bravely and you will learn along the way that the greater good, the greatest treasures, and the greatest people to come before you aren't all you thought they were. And you might be surprised to find out that that comforts you.
I've finished the book, but my most burning question remains: Is the dream man that Rowling based Fred and George off of single?
