This must be the year I distract myself, because it keeps happening; but considering it is a fandom, I will share what takes over my brain. I swear, I am about halfway through the next season of Race to the Edge, but I decided one evening to put on The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie and remembered, hey, I like this movie. I should re-read the book series. Oh yeah, I remember liking these books. Then telling myself, you’re not getting into the show. I remember when the show premiered and had told myself then I was not watching it, which I did not. But seeing enough things about the show on Pinterest, I decide to give it a whirl…slightly bad idea because I’ve gotten completely distracted.
It is a bit odd to be reading the books while watching the show, which does not fully follow the books, but integrates a lot of the books in different ways. I love sassy Jace from the books, yet Jame Campbell Bower perfectly portrays Jace in the movie, yet, Dominic Sherwood brings his own spin to the character in the show that I also love (and want to wrap into a hug…he gets a sad look on his face and I want to give him all the love). And my brain which has not given up on developing essays and academia wants to write a paper comparing how both actors bring elements of the character to life; maybe the same aspect, but in different ways, yet they work. And I utterly adore how Matthew Daddario and Henry Shum Jr portray Alec and Magnus; there were times I was watching simply to watch Malec (the pairing of their characters and completely canon). I also have another set of brothers to add to my future project of brother relationships in different fandoms (Francis and Bash were also recently added…this project is going to end up being a book, lol). And there are some wonderful videos about the two, just like Francis and Bash, often using some of the same music (oh my heart).
I will admit, it was a bit odd to see so many familiar faces in the movie that I did not know when the movie came out. Well, I knew Aidan Turner as Luke since he’s Kili in The Hobbit and Mitchell in Being Human (the BBC version; I think an American version came out later). And I will always see Henry VIII from Tudors when I watch Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who plays Valentine. But Lena Headey is Jocelyn, but we know her as Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones. Jamie Campbell Bower is Young Grindelwald in Harry Potter [opposite Toby Regbo as Young Dumbledore…we just saw him as Francis in Reign], Caius in the Twilight Saga, and King Arthur in a short-run Camelot series (that show was a bit odd and dark). We know Jared Harris, who plays Hodge, as King George VI from The Crown and as Moriarty from Game of Shadows with Robert Downey Jr. Dorothea is played by CCH Pounder; I’ve seen her as Loretta Wade in NCIS: New Orleans. And we’ve seen Kevin Durand in Robin Hood with Russell Crowe. It was further strange to see Alan Van Sprang in the show as Valentine after just watching him as Henry de Valois in Reign; he wasn’t a great father in either show.
I honestly like all three; the books, the movie, and the show. Each has their pros and cons. The relationship development of Magnus and Alec is wonderful in the show. I did really enjoy Jace in the movie and Clary wasn’t quite as annoying as she gets in the books and the show. Jace was also wonderful in the show and well developed, particularly his emotional storyline in season 3. And I now want to get my own copies of the books and get the other series Cassandra Clare has written in the universe. Which, a thanks to my cousin for lending me the books, and I guess I should apologize for getting you back into the series *wink.
The show has inspired some more writing; it doesn’t quite fit into my series as well as elements of Reign. But it is helping me develop another character. And since it features the Seelie Court and Queen, it makes me stop and think about how similar or different my Faerie Realm will be from traditional version of the Seelie. And how I’m going to have to properly work in a Library/Archives type institution.
I should stop saying what is Up Next, because anymore, my brain says no, let’s go on a side quest.
So, the new live-action How to Train Your Dragon is out. I have seen it and I have thoughts. It probably doesn’t need to be said, but I shall anyway: SPOILERS AHEAD!!
I tried to go in open minded, telling myself to give it an honest chance and not go in planning to hate it. In fact, by the time I sat down in the theatre, I was excited for it. And I feel it is an excellent adaptation. I will say not quite as spectacular as the original animated, but much better than most live-action adaptations. I won’t go into a lot of detail, since this was my first viewing, just the first thoughts I have. It doesn’t have quite the humor that the animated has. But the actors make it their own. I enjoyed Mason Thames as Hiccup; not quite as quippy as his animated counterpart, but very real. I loved the emotions he showed and I was still impresses with Hiccup as a character while watching him; like, why does his village doubt him so much because he does these awesome things.
They’ve changed Astrid’s character a bit, but she still stands beside Hiccup and I like that. Gerard Butler reprised Stoick well. I liked the emotion he showed when he asks about Hiccup when he returns from looking for the dragons’ nest; “he’s gone?” and he clearly shows that Stoick is now fearful that Hiccup has died. We definitely inferred it in the animated, but I like it being shown clearer. Nick Frost was good as Gobber; again, not as quippy and sarcastic as he is as voiced by Craig Ferguson, but we can clearly see that Gobber cares for Hiccup. Heck, they even brought in some of the father-son dynamic from the show to Spitelout and Snotlout, which is rather impressive. And Fishlegs’ cards make an appearance. Valka is mentioned, by name, even, but not too much to deviate from the original, just, laying the groundwork more for the other movies. And I will admit, I am excited to see them brought to live action now. Please finish the trilogy.
The animatronic, lifelike Toothless is very good, though we miss some of the cute facial expressions from the animated. Still not as fond of how the other dragons appear on screen, but they had to nail Toothless and they did. The music is wonderful, of course. And since I have internalized this soundtrack over the years (it is part of my soul now), I can tell there were a few additions and I swear, some themes from later films peaked in. And they added words to the ending theme! I will be purchasing the soundtrack.
They nailed the Test Drive scene. It’s so iconic and loved from the original. I was sitting straight up in my seat, watching the scene and loving every single second of it. I wanted to cheer at the end. Hiccup also said my favorite line: “Thank you for nothing, you useless reptile.” (It’s my notification alert on my phone; has been for years). Again, I wanted to cheer out loud. The final battle was well done and they brought more emotion to Hiccup waking up and discovering his prosthetic foot, even though they didn’t add much to the actual shot.
I still have some issues with costuming choices. The one outfit Hiccup wears definitely looks like a hoodie. Actually, I think all of his tunics have hoods. Which were not in the original and not period. But they get better through the movie. And I think his outfit overall was the best adaptation.
Overall, I give this movie two thumbs up and I encourage everyone to go see it! I already want to see it again. And own it.
I have also seen clips from the new Isle of Berk theme park at Universal and yes, I definitely want to go. I want to hug Toothless!!
On the topic of Dragons, I swear, I will complete Race to the Edge. The story inspired by Reign has grown and I want to complete it (or at least a full rough draft) before I switch back. There will probably be a wrap-up blog of that show (once I’ve seen the last two episodes). Then back to Dragons. And there’s more to come with that, and a few more movies beyond.
Enemy of My Enemy starts with Astrid catching Hiccup and Toothless sneaking out, intending to go on a recon flight alone. She tells Hiccup it’s far too risky and points out it’s been months since the Viggo episode (bit of fourth-wall leaning there, love it). Hiccup appears to agree and let Astrid come, but as soon as she goes to get Stormfly, he and Toothless fly off alone. Hiccup is eager to test out Toothless’ new tail and really enjoys the flight, until they come across a ship with seemingly unconscious men. More like a trap. Toothless gets hit with an arrow, but Hiccup manages to get them to an island. He has to hide his dragon and keep him safe. Hmm, maybe Astrid had a point.
Someone is secretly helping Hiccup. And to everyone’s surprise, it’s Dagur. Who swears he is not there to hurt Hiccup. We’re all a bit skeptical. Hiccup remains calm, though weirded out and wonders if he’s in an alternate archipelago. Turns out, Dagur went through a major learning experience, discovering he was dispensable to Viggo, then getting stranded on the island for months alone. All that alone time has given him time to think, though he’s still got his crazy laugh. Dagur is calmer for the most part and also wants to do right by his sister. Heather is blood, which makes her closer to Dagur than even Hiccup (still weird). Dagur continues to be helpful to Hiccup, with knowledge of the antidote to Dragon Root.
It’s Dagur who counsels Hiccup on seeking revenge and obsession. It’s a dark road to go down. Paranoia is a terrible existence, the older boy tells his ‘brother,’ and it’s not Hiccup. However, the guards discover the young men. Dagur protects Hiccup and Hiccup even defends himself with a mace, lifting it with ease (remember back at the beginning of the first movie and he could barely lift an axe?). But Hiccup is still mistrustful of Dagur and when it appears that the antidote may not be working, Hiccup attacks Dagur. They fall in front of guards again and again, Dagur tries to protect Hiccup, especially when it looks like the Hunters will brand the younger man. Dagur manages to get free and has to leave Hiccup. The younger man shouts after his adversary “I hate you!”
But Dagur holds to his word to help Hiccup and comes to the rescue on Toothless. And now he understands the crazy stunts the two pull and is impressed, and queasy. The two shake hands and go to destroy the Hunters’ ship. They’re separated and Dagur sails off alone, eager to find Viggo himself and rid the archipelago of the man.
The Fireworm Queen arrives on the Edge, looking for Hookfang in Crash Course. She persuades the dragons to come to Fireworm Island. But it’s not a hunter threat, it’s a creepy new dragon that’s eager to destroy her nest. Fishlegs pulls out his dragon cards to figure out what the new dragon is (similar to fantasy cards…I guess. Not quite into that), calling is a Cavern Crasher. This thing oozes mucus out of its body to allow it to squeeze through impossibly tight cracks; it’s also wicked fast. All accurately pointed out by the twins; they do have their moments. Hookfang and Snotlout stand with the Fireworm Queen to defend her nest while the other riders try to figure out how to get rid of the new dragon. They dry out its mucus and it runs off. Hiccup even praises Snotlout for his actions, this after he encourages the twins. He’s becoming a good leader.
This gets tested a bit in Follow the Leader by Fishlegs, who was put in charge of the twins and Snotlout. But they walk over him and he doesn’t put up much resistance, instead daydreaming (in a different animation style) of being renowned by Berk and Hiccup and named the next leader of the Dragon Riders when Hiccup starts training to be chief (by a more Scottish sounding Hiccup). When Astrid and Hiccup return to the Edge and find things on fire due to the rambunctious riders, Hiccup expresses his disappointment in Fishlegs. This sort of thing can’t happen out here; they’re on their own and Viggo is certainly a threat.
So Fishlegs wanders off and discovers a new cave with some interesting finds, such as a sword and writing on the wall. He also discovers albino Night Terrors, who seem to make him their new leader when he closes an opening that was letting too much light into a big cavern. They like him so much they don’t want him to leave. Meanwhile, Hiccup is feeling guilty, that maybe he was too hard on Fishlegs. Meatlug alerts the other riders to Fishlegs’ plight. Fishlegs helps all of them get out of the cavern, with a little help from his favorite Terror, Darkvarg. They close up the hole, so the Night Terrors can’t get out. Then Fishlegs and Hiccup both apologize. Fishlegs points out that Hiccup leads by example, not fear. Hiccup also admits he struggles with containing the twins and Snotlout as well. The friends then eagerly geek out over Fishlegs’ discoveries.
Hiccup is working on his ‘Dragon Fly Two’ in Turn and Burn. Toothless is not amused, even when Hiccup talks about the precarious situations that it gets his rider into that he also has to rescue him from. Snotlout and Hookfang want to help their leader, but end up lighting Hiccup’s hut on fire. Before Snotlout and Hiccup can truly get into an argument, Stoick arrives, to speak to Snotlout. Spitelout is driving the chief nuts, now wanting to improve everything. Stoick feels they are out of Spitelout’s place in the tribe, or station in life. His relationship with Spitelout is very similar to Hiccup’s relationship with Snotlout [a lot of the fandom hold that Snotlout and Hiccup are cousins, which is inspired from the books, from what I’ve heard]. Spitelout’s main idea is an off-Berk secret cache. Now that man hasn’t been seen in a month. Stoick has come to get Snotlout to help look for his father. Hiccup joins them.
The men find Spitelout’s building and dragon traps, but not Spitelout immediately. They do discover a new dragon, a Singetail, which Spitelout appears to save them from. Stoick and Spitelout argue and Stoick appears to have a double standard. “Stoick is allowed to take whatever ridiculous chances he likes. It’s the rest of us who have to stay in line.” Hiccup tries to get everyone back on track; they can work together to drive the Singetail off and save the storehouse. His suggestion, since it is an unconventional dragon, is to fight it unconventionally. They soon discover the dragon can also fire from its belly.
Fed up, the chief lays down the law and both sons hesitate to follow their fathers. Hiccup talks to his father, pointing out that Snotlout and Spitelout both just want to prove themselves to the Haddocks. They fly back to the storehouse to find more Singetails. Hiccup realizes that the fires the one has been setting have been a call for back up. Spitelout agrees to give up the structure, though Stoick does save the ‘S.’
In Buffalord Solider, Astrid is checking the perimeter and comes across an abandoned ship. It’s filled with bodies, mostly dead. One that still has a bit of life in it scratches her arm. She and Stormfly quickly fly back to the Edge. Her description of the bodies reveals that they died from the Scourge of Odin, a deadly plague that “swept through the archipelago centuries ago, wiping out entire Viking villages.” Tuffnut’s solution is moldy bread [which is technically how penicillin was discovered.] Astrid doesn’t mention the scratch. It’s Stormfly who gets Hiccup in the middle of the night when her rider becomes very sick. Astrid still protests there’s anything wrong with her, until she faints into Hiccup’s arms (we love Hiccstrid!)
Everyone works together, Snotlout having flown to Berk and back with Gothi’s notes. There is a cure for the Scourge, a solution made from the saliva of a Buffalord dragon. Except, those were hunted to extinction during the last plague. The twins start seeing a pattern in Dragon’s Eye notes and help discover a map to the Buffalord. The team sets out to find the dragon, Hiccup using Flightmare Algae for tracking and Deathsong amber glasses he was working on to see in the bright sunrise. There’s one dragon left. Pretty calm, but when the riders try to fly him back to the Edge, it freaks out and puffs up. Very well, they’ll get the solution and take it back. But it evaporates too quickly. Thanks to the twins, they also figure out that the saliva must be mixed with the herbs that the Buffalord eats. Snotlout retrieves Astrid.
She falls into Hiccup’s arms (and we hear a quiet, slow version of Romantic Flight) and he pleads with her to hold on. “I can’t imagine a world without you in it.” Hiccup is prevented from getting the cure for Astrid by the arrival of Viggo, Ryker, and other Hunters. This was all part of Viggo’s plan, to create supply and demand; Astrid just stumbled onto his test ship. Hiccup at first refuses to let them take the Buffalord dragon, until Viggo and Ryker are willing to kill it. Hiccup then begs for enough of the cure to save Astrid, “that’s a loss I’m not willing to take.”
Hiccup is able to cure Astrid and keeps his word that Viggo may take the dragon. But Hiccup also knew that the dragon would not travel with Viggo. The Hunters are forced to release the dragon, who flies back to his island and peacefully eats his herbs. The riders give the boat a proper funeral [which echoes a scene that comes up in How to Train Your Dragon 2, so if you’ve seen that movie first (which came out before the show), this is a very poignant scene]. Astrid then tells Hiccup, “I can’t imagine a world without you either.” The couple is well on its way to becoming an official couple.
The riders work together in A Grim Retreat to produce Gronkle Iron. They have a production line going. Except, they keep at it all day, which drains everyone. Most of the riders want a vacation. Hiccup is more concerned about having the iron for weapons and defense against Viggo. Even Astrid counsels Hiccup that they need rest in order to perform better. She and Fishlegs find a nice island that they can visit and pick up more sandstone even. Stoick and Gobber arrive to keep an eye on the Edge, and babysit Tuffnutt’s pet ‘Chicken.’
The teens enjoy an afternoon of swimming. At night however, the dragons turn feral, except Toothless. They all have to hide from their dragons; Snotlout at one point annoying Astrid so much she tells him “if you don’t shut your piehole, I’m going to leap out and plead with them to eat us both.” Hiccup eventually figures out there’s something in the water that’s affecting the dragons. Tuff throws salt when he runs out of weapons against their attacking dragons, which actually causes the dragon to stop. Tiny bugs leap out of the dragon; grimora. They are parasites that affect dragons. Salt drives them out, so they have to find a saltwater source. Toothless gets infected for a second time and traps Hiccup on top of a cliff. They both fall off, into the water, but there is a plasma blast. Could Toothless have fired on Hiccup? A minute later, the grimora fly out and Toothless and Hiccup burst out of the water. Hiccup now agrees that they will take breaks as they need so he doesn’t work them too hard and have to repeat the incident.
When arriving back on the Edge, the teens find out that Stoick and Gobber both think that Chicken was eaten by the other and have found replacement chickens. Chicken is of course fine.
Everyone is suspicious of the notes that Fishlegs keeps receiving in To Heather or Not to Heather. They find out they’re from Heather and urge Fishlegs to have her stop at the Edge. Everyone also wants to ask Heather to join the dragon riders permanently. But Heather worries she has the Berserker insanity in her. Hiccup is quick to assure her she is nothing like Dagur. Heather also spends time with Astrid as two warrior women. Until Heather brings up the subject of Hiccup; she feels that the two are perfect for each other and they should stop wasting time and express their feelings.
Heather and Fishlegs are rather cozy; Heather was more open in her letters to Fishlegs and readily agrees to take a tour with the young man, much to Snotlout’s dismay. Their mood is ruined once Meathlug and Windshear start fighting. Windshear is not used to spending so much time around other dragons, or other people being so near her rider. Hiccup is willing to work with Heather and her dragon, again, in the hope that Heather will stay with the riders.
There is a skirmish between Hunters and Riders; Fishlegs and Heather end up switching dragons and that seems to work. Windshear will still protect Heather, but not attack the riders’ dragons. Heather decides to stay. The mood is ruined when Hiccup receives a letter from Dagur, asking for his help to find his sister. Hiccup promises that Dagur won’t find Heather.
Styke Out centers on dragon fights run by Ryker and other Hunters. The matches have low attendance since one champion outperforms the other. When Snotlout and Hiccup go to rescue dragons, Hiccup is trapped by a knock-out gas and ultimately taken to the dragon fights, where Toothless as a Night Fury will be a new star and drum up business. Hiccup is also chained alongside the dragons.
Hiccup ordered Snotlout to go get help and Snotlout is very keen to get Hiccup back. The twins decide to become Thorston and Thorston, Sleuths Extraordinaire. What works better is using Heather’s knowledge of the Hunter organization.
Hiccup watches Toothless’ match against a Razorwhip and urges his dragon not to kill. After winning that match, the Night Fury will face the Triple Stryke champion dragon. Ryker finds out about the match and warns his underling, who won’t call it off, that if the Night Fury dies, he faces an unhappy Ryker and Viggo. Ryker also wants Hiccup. Said Viking the meantime, befriends the other dragons, though very carefully. “Call my old fashioned but I prefer not to lose another limb.” (Yay, the lad has some self-preservation.) Again, Hiccup urges Toothless not to kill the Triple Stryke, though the dragons are evenly matched, and is freed by Astrid shortly afterwards. Toothless shows the other dragon mercy and the rest of the dragons are set free. Ryker is forced back and the other riders chase the crowd away.
The Triple Stryke, which Tuffnutt suggest be named ‘Sleuther,’ follows them back to the Edge. All the riders are happy Hiccup is back, though Fishlegs points out that “Astrid would have killed you (Snotlout) if we hadn’t found Hiccup.”
I like that this episode focuses more on Toothless as a strategist and a glimpse what a Night Fury might be like in the wild. Hiccup still uses his brains to help dragons, but this wasn’t a problem to be solved from the air. It’s also a bit sweet that the riders all care so much about Hiccup that they get very angry when trying to find him.
The riders rescue a dragon egg in Tone Death. It’s a very cute dragon when it hatches. Until it starts screaming, and spitting amber. It’s a baby Deathsong. Hiccup still wants to train it. Heather figures out the way to calm the baby, named Garff now, is to sing to it. Commence all the different riders singing their lessons; it’s rather hilarious. But they decide it’s best to take the baby to be with its own kind. Things are a bit tense, hoping that the adult Deathsong will bond with a baby not its own. Garff has to echo that dragon’s song back and forget what the riders taught it.
Hiccup is also working on a new gadget; a flaming sword using Nightmare gel he calls Inferno. [Spoiler, this is a prototype to one he carries in the second movie.] It’s inspired by figuring out that a lit dagger will cut through Deathsong amber. He excitedly talks about modifications with Astrid, who comments “that will be the last we see of him for a week.”
Between a Rock and a Hard Place has the riders tracking a convoy of marble blocks. Turns out that the Hunters are using Catastrophic Quakens to mine the marble. Viggo is using it to create an impenetrable roof for his hide out. But the mining has made the island unstable. Hiccup does get to show off his different tails for Toothless, but Fishlegs is a big help. They free the Quakens, then use them to tear down Viggo’s roof (you can hear a bit of the battle theme in the background). Viggo is extremely displeased with Hiccup after that stunt.
When the riders return from a practice run at taking out a fleet, they find Dagur at Dragon’s Edge in Family on the Edge. He’s come in person to ask Hiccup for a dragon so he can find Heather. Hiccup and Toothless owe him; he saved their lives. Hiccup points out that Dagur also tried to kill them. Well, maybe deep inside, Dagur didn’t actually want to kill them. Hiccup eventually relents, mainly so Dagur doesn’t go wandering around. Dagur hugs his “brother,” and calls him “small and cuddly.” We agree with Hiccup, that Dagur should never say that again.
Hiccup on the side has to get Heather to leave so the siblings don’t see each other. He picks a sturdy and safe dragon for Dagur, a Gronkle. Also not terribly dangerous and less of a threat to the riders. Dagur still names the Gronkle ‘Shattermaster.’ Dagur is an enthusiastic student, but tries to do too much too fast. He ends up barreling into Hiccup and breaking his prosthetic leg. Hiccup takes Shattermaster to get a spare. While they’re gone, the other riders find Dagur with Toothless and fear he’s done something to Hiccup. Hiccup shows up to set them straight and admits he didn’t tell them about Dagur saving his life because he honestly doesn’t know how he feels about it.
There is still their plan attack on Viggo’s shipyard. Astrid finds it very strange that Dagur shows up right when they’re getting ready to strike. And unfortunately, Heather returns early and finds Dagur on the Edge. She is not happy. She calls Dagur a spy. Points out that he set her adrift as a child and killed their father. Dagur pleads that he is trying to change. He decides to leave since the riders don’t trust him. But he comes across Hiccup’s plans. He guesses what Hiccup’s attack plan will be and calls the young Viking gullible. Astrid sees them and Dagur agrees to be locked up, though he warns Hiccup that if anything happens to Heather on the mission, he’ll hold Hiccup personally responsible.
Dagur then escapes and heads out for the shipyard. Heather races after him, intent on killing him. Dagur starts the attack and reveals that it was indeed a trap. He flies alone into an ashy cloud where explosions go off. The rest of the riders have to hang back. Hiccup wants to go save him, but Astrid stops him. It’s too late. Hiccup is genuinely upset that Dagur is dead. On the Edge, Heather finds a letter her brother left for her. He has her “tell our little brother” (that is kind of sweet) to hit Viggo’s auction and release all those dragons. He also wants to set the record straight; he never killed their father. He just used his disappearance so the tribe would think he was tough enough to be chief. It starts to rain, but the letter gets wet from Heather’s tears. All accompanied by bagpipes and mournful music. I wanted to shed a few tears myself.
They take Dagur’s advice in Last Auction Heroes and have Trader Johan steal a map for them to the next location. Hiccup goes to his father to ask for Berk’s cache of gold to get Snotlout into the auction. He tells his father, “Viggo Grimborn is the most ruthless Viking we have come in contact with…. No dragon will be safe and eventually, he will set his eyes on Berk.” Snotlout is the only rider that Viggo hasn’t seen. He’ll still go in disguise and Gobber will go to keep an eye on the gold. Snotlout enjoys his assignment of being a rich businessman a bit too much; he’s gleeful to order other people around. The riders sneak in in the belly of Johan’s ship, with their dragons as the bait.
Eventually, the riders are caught, though Heather and Astrid make a kickass double team. Viggo intends to sell Toothless, as the only Night Fury in existence. There is a stranger at the auction, keen to buy the rare dragon. Viggo brings Hiccup out so he can watch. Gobber comes to the rescue, with his new dragon, Grump. He fights Ryker to protect Hiccup. Astrid is the one to saves him, but Viggo still gets away with their gold. Hiccup thought they had a chance to get it back, but Viggo switched the chests. The other riders tell Hiccup to look on the bright side, they saved the dragons.
The season ends with the first of a two-parter Defenders of the Wing. The riders continue to rescue dragons. But now, Viggo wants to meet. All of the riders, even Hiccup, is aware that this can be a trap. He lets Heather and Astrid come to the meeting spot with him, which is full of blue oleander, which is poisonous to dragons. Viggo calls Hiccup a worthy opponent and wants to offer a truce. They divide the map. Everything north of the line, the Hunters will have free rein, the riders may stay to the south, and neither side will cross the line. Viggo even signs his name to the map. He has no desire to rule the world, unlike some [big old hint drop]. He’s a business man and all this fighting is bad for business.
After the meeting, Hiccup notices that there is an island he doesn’t recognize as Viking or Hunter just inside the line on Viggo’s side. Hiccup is trying to work out what Viggo is thinking. So, they need to investigate this island. At first, all seems fine, though there is a large statue of a dragon. Then, the riders start disappearing and getting drugged. They eventually meet Mala, Queen of Defender of the Wing Island and her right-hand man, Throk. (Ironically, Mala is voiced by Adelaide Kane, who plays Mary Stuart in Reign, along with Ivy Belfrey/Drizella in the last season of Once Upon a Time.) Mala thinks that Viggo sent the riders to their island, that they are Hunters. They’re enslaving their dragons.
But when her Defenders try to release the dragons, they don’t fly away. Instead, Mala holds a trial and asks Hiccup questions. Tuffnutt does not help matters when he points out things that Hiccup has done, like shooting down Toothless and crippling him. Hiccup tries to argue that they could be allies against Viggo. He is willing to earn their trust. But Mala feels that the map Hiccup carries makes him guilty. Hiccup again will do anything to save his friends and their dragons. He bets their lives he can train a dragon in front of Mala. Of course, there are three Speed Stingers, but Toothless comes to his rescue. Mala trusts the dragon and releases the riders.
She explains that their island is home to a volcano and their Great Protector. An Eruptadon eats the lava and keeps them safe. But they find the Great Protector gone, with evidence that Hunters had attacked. Now Mala is angry that Hiccup has led the Hunters right to their home and taken their treasured dragon. Mala vows to kill Hiccup.
And that is how the season ends!
I like how the storyline is advancing. There are new challenges for the characters. They learn to work together and everyone has a skill to bring to the group. I of course like that Hiccup and Astrid are growing closer. Astrid still is the voice of reason in their friendship and continues to act as his right hand. Snotlout, while still reckless, is tempering it a bit. He wants to be helpful. He listens to Hiccup more. The twins are crazy, but do we expect any different. Stoick listens to his son as a leader and again, as the future chief.
As I commented in Season 2, Viggo is a smart opponent. Hiccup has his victories, but he can’t easily outsmart this man. Viggo has to work harder to counteract Hiccup. I like that Dagur is now on Hiccup’s side. Honestly, the boy doesn’t need that many enemies, and a Berserker is a good weapon in the arsenal; he’s got crazy ideas and enough guts to back it up. As showcased by taking the suicide mission.
The Defenders of the Wing will be a great group to keep an eye on.
This was released as a short with the second movie, but takes place between the end of Defenders of Berk and Race to the Edge. The riders are catching sheep and then start discussing how Dragon Racing was started [which spoilers, opens the second film]. They all wear face paint and Astrid comments to Hiccup that “red is your color,” but is speaking more to Toothless [note how Hiccup wears a red tunic in Race to the Edge]. Snotlout’s sheep catapult apparently took 32 attempts to perfect and thus he argues that he created the sport.
What really happened is that Stoick had the teens help Silent Sven gather up his sheep, and as the other riders tend to do, they made a competition out of it. Stoick then has to go on business to Loki Island for wood for their fleet and leaves Hiccup as ‘acting chief,’ and with strict instructions to begin preparations for the annual regatta. Hiccup remarks how the regatta comprises of boats sailing slowly across the harbor, arguing that they could start a new, exciting tradition. Stoick holds to the regatta; their clan has been doing it for ages as a way to blow off steam instead of fighting each other.
Fishlegs is the only one really excited for the regatta. Meanwhile, Hiccup walks in on Tuffnut planning on catching more sheep. When he tries to put a stop to it, explaining that they need to work on the regatta, Snotlout, in all his brilliance, retorts “Who made you acting chief?” “Stoick.” “Well, who made Stoick chief?” and everyone gives him a look. Hiccup asks Astrid for back up, then has to face the village when they excitedly cheer on the riders chasing sheep; one even remarking “this is better than the regatta!” So, Hiccup allows one more race to settle everyone down, though he works on making teams and baskets, then figures they’ll all be ready for regatta work afterwards.
Snotlout crashes into Astrid and hurts her arm. Hiccup finally talks Fishlegs into joining him when they find out that Meatlug is seasick and sinks their boat. However, Stoick returns early. Seeing how excited the village is, he decides to switch to dragon racing and adds some more ideas, such as the face paint to give it a warrior feel. Astrid will be the referee and keeps an eye on the riders. It comes to a tie breaker, involving the black sheep. Fishlegs and Hiccup find one in the well, but Snotlout has returned with one. Tuffnut rubs his face on the sheep, revealing it was painted, so the results are overturn to crown Hiccup and Fishlegs as the winners.
So, Tuffnut argues he invented the game, well, definitely the cheating. Hiccup insists they all invented it to keep peace, though it was Snotlout who made the sheep launcher.
Race to the Edge: Season 1
This show was developed by Netflix (though I have them on DVD in case of no Internet connection, or Netflix ever drops it) and was actually done after the second movie, but chronologically takes place before. It features an entirely new intro and utilizes music from the second movie. The series starts with the two-parter Eye of the Beholder, which sets the stage three years after the showdown with Dagur (making our main characters all around eighteen). Indeed, Dagur actually ends up escaping the Outcast prison and is bent on revenge on Hiccup.
Meanwhile, Hiccup is still doing stunts with Toothless and remarks he needs his own set of wings when they end up separating and plummeting for a minute. The narration of “this is Berk,” is back, explaining the time jump and showcasing the new parts of Berk. The riders have moved on to new tasks; the twins pledging to cause all the chaos they can in the name of Loki. Snotlout is a weapons’ tester, and Fishlegs is educating the children, talking about Hiccup and Toothless as the new heroes of Berk. Astrid catches up to Hiccup, who is eager to do more exploring; except they’ve covered the area directly surrounding Berk, more than once. Hiccup says “this can’t be all there is.” Astrid tells Hiccup she has joined the Berk Guard, so all of his friends have moved on to new jobs. But Hiccup still yearns to explore. He says as much to his father that evening.
Their evening is interrupted by news from Johann that Dagur has escaped and he is more berserk than ever. He also holds a map to Johann’s graveyard of ships, where he hides all his treasures. He warns the Berkians of the “Reaper” ship, which is full of booby traps. The other riders eagerly join Hiccup to head off Dagur; they plan to steal the treasures first so Dagur can’t use them to purchase a new armada. Their way is impeded by giant eels, which chase most of the dragons off. While they wait for them to return, they separate to gather treasure. The twins find jewels, Fishlegs finds maps, charts, and books, and Snotlout finds a chest of blond hair [which was actually prized by Vikings.] Hiccup heads over to the “Reaper,” determined that the most valuable items will be there. And if the ship is that booby trapped, it must be hiding something important. He jokes of the benefit of a metal leg when a trap springs around it and he prefers Toothless’s plan of simply blasting the door open. They also discover a dragon skeleton aboard the ship; so this place was no friend of dragons. Hiccup takes an object from the captain’s room because it must be dangerous to dragons and thus really cannot fall into Dagur’s hands. A giant axe falling makes sure they rush back to the deck of the ship, only to find that Dagur has captured the other riders.
Dagur is certainly more unhinged after three years in prison, attempting to flirt with his brother. But he’s busy with an army to build and revenge to plot. Astrid sends Hiccup after Dagur, but Dagur was expecting that, so he arranges for the ship to be sunk, causing Hiccup to have to choose between going after Dagur and the strange new item, or saving his friends.
Part Two immediately picks up with the riders’ predicament. And a new challenge is that the cage is made of dragon-proof metal. And the giant eels are back. They manage to escape and their dragons come to the recuse, so Hiccup chases after Dagur and gets the strange item back. Gobber tries to help the teens figure out what the item is, which Hiccup has named the Dragon Eye, though Tuffnut bears the brunt of the mistakes. While they’re at Gothi’s she recognizes a mark on the item that came from a Snow Wraith dragon. Hiccup persuades Gothi (who may have scribbled something not kind about him, but Gobber wouldn’t translate since Hiccup is the chief’s son) to go with them to get the tooth they need to unlock the Dragon Eye, saying that didn’t she once want to see what is out there and find answers to questions not thought of yet.
The Snow Wraith attacks during snowstorms, able to sense heat signatures, which the teens do try to use to their advantage. Luckily, when it attacks Gothi at one point, she makes to get a tooth stuck in her staff. Hiccup is now able to unlock the Dragon Eye. And it doesn’t do much to start, until it catches the light of a dragon’s fire, then it presents images on the wall. “This changes everything,” Hiccup remarks (and this line is used in the new intro.)
Hiccup excitedly shows the riders his discovery in Imperfect Harmony, explaining that much of it is in a different language and the maps show areas beyond the boundaries of their archipelago. Next, Hiccup goes to the council, pleading that he wants to explore the new areas. Spitelout brings up that they have been at peace for several years and they shouldn’t go looking for trouble. It’s more important to hunt for Dagur, than new dragons. Stoick agrees that peace is important, but dragons are important to Hiccup and what would any of them do for something like that? How far would they go to get it, what would they risk? Besides, they couldn’t stop the boy if they tried, he might as well have their support. The council agrees and Stoick sends his son off to find what is pulling on him. And when he’s done, Berk will be waiting for him. He also tells Toothless, “take care of my boy.”
The other riders again join in, shouting “into the great beyond!” They get discouraged after a while and Hiccup encourages them by saying “nothing that’s worth anything comes easy.” They have to fly though a bit of a storm, but the cloud covers break and they see new islands below them. A strange sound comes to them and their dragons head down to an island. It’s idyllic, but come morning, all the dragons are gone. While searching, Toothless comes across the riders and quickly pulls Hiccup’s leg to follow. The prosthetic leg. Which comes off, but Hiccup appreciates Toothless’s enthusiasm.
A Thunderdrum comes along while Toothless and Hiccup are flying and screams at the other teens. Hiccup comes back to chase the dragon off and tries to say he is going back up, but everyone shouts “no,” and Snotlout adds “I will take your other leg!” So they all go together and find a pile of dragon bones, then find pieces of amber, and finally, dragons trapped in the amber. A large shrieking dragon makes an appearance, which they name the Death Song. Its cry draws dragons in, then it spits amber at them to trap them, then eats them later. Toothless tries to take on the Death Song, but he’s soon trapped, as are the other riders, though Astrid pushes Hiccup out of the way.
He comes across the Thunderdrum again and manages to get it to trust him. They return to Hiccup’s friends, where he has an idea to spread Monstrous Nightmare gel on the cocoons, then make a spark so they break open. They also free a baby Thunderdrum, which why the adult one had stuck around. All the dragons work together to relocate the Death Song to a cave. The riders eagerly continue on their adventure; it’s the most fun they’ve had in years. They will try to find an island of their own to make into a base of operations. Into the great beyond!
That search continues in When Darkness Falls. Apparently, they keep coming across an island full of boars and once, Snotlout even tries to use Hiccup’s leg as a weapon, though they’re rescued by their dragons in time. Eventually, they come across a perfect looking island. The riders start planning what their outpost is going to look like; Hiccup just wants them to set up camp for the night. Astrid wants it defensible, Snotlout wants an “S,” Fishlegs wants it to be zen, and the twins wants a boar pit. They sleep next to their dragons that night and Tuffnut wakes to an odd sound. He does come across a chicken, but also a large dragon. The rest of the riders don’t immediately believe him, mainly since he shouts “chicken roar!” to warn them along with his phrase “I am hurt, I am very much hurt!” (first appeared in the first movie). Tuffnut goes looking for the dragon again, and Ruffnut accompanies him, ready to declare herself the winner of the “Thorston challenge” if Tuffnut is making it up. Hiccup pleads to go with them to get away from the others arguing about the outpost.
The giant dragon indeed shows up, though they realize it’s a lot of little dragons. The twins capture the light-colored leader. Hiccup allows Tuffnut to name it “Smidvarg,” though they call the rest of them Night Terrors. But Changewings soon move in and harass the other Night Terrors. The riders figure out that the small dragons work together to look like a large version in order to scare off predators and all work together to chase off the Changewings. The riders befriend the Night Terrors and Hiccup comes up with a single idea for the outpost, incorporating everyone’s wants. Everyone has their own spot and then there’s a clubhouse in the center, along with a training arena and stables. He calls it Dragon’s Edge.
The riders return to Berk at Stoick’s request to relocate a Scauldron, but the plan goes awry in Big Man on Berk. Fishlegs is now possibly allergic to Meatlug. Gothi determines that they should hypnotize him in order to get him over the allergy. Snotlout takes it as an opportunity to suggest a new personality to Fishlegs. When he wakes, he ignores Meatlug and is now all about heroics and being a super Viking named ‘Thor Bonecrusher.’ Snotlout gets a crush on him, but Fishlegs is fairly dismissive. The other riders want Fishlegs back, but since he broke Gothi’s staff, they have to figure out another way.
Fishlegs goes after the Scauldron, with Snotlout and Hookfang. Meatlug ends up saving Fishlegs, but then the Scauldron chases Meatlug. That fear snaps Thor back to Fishlegs. The riders end up being successful in their job to relocate the dragon. And unfortunately relocate Stoick’s new axe, which ‘Thor’ had taken. Turns out, Fishlegs was allergic to the new wax Gobber was using on the saddles (his earwax, everyone is suitable disgusted). Snotlout gives a kiss to Fishlegs, saying ‘Thor’ broke his heart.
Gustav Larson, now sixteen, shows up at Dragon’s Edge in Gone, Gustav, Gone, ready to join the Dragon Riders. Hiccup is busy checking out the Dragon Eye and so the other riders pass the teen around (he also has a crush on Astrid) and he causes chaos. He eventually comes across the Dragon Eye and thinks it’s a treasure map, taking it in order to find the treasure and prove his worth to the other riders. Hiccup finds him before he gets killed on an unstable island and explains that the rules are different out at the Edge. They’re far from Berk and other help, so they can’t be reckless. And to Hiccup, Gustav has just proven he’s not responsible enough to stay at the Edge. He’ll talk to the teen more in the morning. But Gustav takes off and gets captured by the Berserkers. He promises information to Dagur in return for a hot meal. He also promises the Berserker chief the Dragon Eye and a treasure. Hiccup arrives and trades the Eye for Gustav, but Gustav stays with Dagur, citing better treatment. Hiccup understood what Gustav was doing and has the other riders meet him at the island in order to save Gustav and the Dragon Eye.
The episode ends well, with Hiccup promising that Gustav will be ready to join the riders, someday. Gustav also needs to get back to Berk before his mom worries too much. Hiccup also managed to find the treasure chest on the island they had been looking for amongst the chaos and discovers another lens for the Dragon Eye. Meaning there are more out there.
The Dragon’s Edge census is interrupted by the Reign of Fireworms, with a possible migration of the fire starters hitting the island. But the teens can’t focus fully on the problem because the twins discover a “namey rock;” a claim stone that Stoick and Gobber verify as authentic and states that the twins are the direct Thorston descendants of the founder of the island, making Dragon’s Edge their island. The twins are thrilled and have ridiculous plans for the island. Hiccup just wants to make sure it doesn’t burn down. He figures that they should play along and let the twins try to rule and when they discover it’s harder than it looks, they’ll be begging for help. Which they ultimately do when the island is almost engulfed in fire. Before the others will help, Hiccup enforces that the island will be equally claimed by everyone, they’re all equal rulers.
The Night Terrors help out by forming a Fireworm Queen and Hiccup helps lead them away from Dragon’s Edge. And the claim stone matter is settled when Meatlug eats the rock, so everyone dances while chanting “it’s our island!”
The teens deal with a new dragon problem in Crushing It. A Rumblehorn has been causing destruction and they haven’t managed to capture it yet. Gobber comes to the Edge with news from Berk; Stoick is as ornery as a dragon and driving everyone crazy. Hiccup heads back to talk to his father, and Gobber will help fortify the base. He ultimately builds a defensive wall. Hiccup finds Stoick by “following the sound of the angry Viking,” and even Gothi writes some choice words about the chief, which Hiccup can’t repeat. Hiccup finds his father shining Thornado’s saddle and realizes his father is missing his dragon friend. So he invites him back to Dragon’s Edge to help with the Rumblehorn.
They arrive after the Rumblehorn has passed through and toppled a tower onto Gobber, making the one-armed, peg-legged Viking rather loopy. Stoick witnesses his son issue orders (like a chief in the making) and agrees that this wild dragon is fast, smart, and elusive. He’s a worthy adversary, the chief declares and helps his son search for the beast. They do make an attempt at capturing the dragon, but the Rumblehorn takes off, with Stoick hanging on to a rope. Toothless catches the falling chief.
Stoick and Hiccup note that the dragon is an excellent tracker, yet also doesn’t hurt anyone. Stoick feels that the dragon is trying to tell them something. He manages to get back on the Rumblehorn and rides the dragon out to sea, to discover a giant wave is coming right for the base. The teens reinforce Gobber’s wall, and the Rumblehorn helps Stoick topple a sea stack to protect everyone. Due to how well the Rumblehorn tracks, they name the new class the Tracker class and Stoick names the dragon Skullcrusher since he’s a protector, a leader, and hard-headed; a lot like Stoick. He’s gained a new companion and reminds his son that while he may miss Thornado, he also misses Hiccup.
It’s Fishlegs’ turn to check out the Dragon Eye and he comes across information about Dark Deep, the ancestral home of the Gronkles in Quake, Rattle, and Roll. Hiccup agrees to go with Fishlegs in case he would need help. When they find the rocky island, there are few Gronkles about. They’re chased by a boulder that turns out to be a gigantic dragon: a Catastrophic Quaken. It’s been chasing the Gronkles away, and they’ve moved to the Edge. The teens know they can’t stay, but Hiccup isn’t sure how to get rid of the Catastrophic Quaken and maybe, that’s just the natural order of things. Snotlout instead suggests fighting dirty and when Fishlegs doesn’t like Hiccup’s answer, he agrees to lessons from Snotlout.
He stands up to Hiccup, arguing that they do need to go back to Dark Deep. He gets Snotlout to go with him, but Snotlout is freaked out by the size of the giant dragon. Luckily, Hiccup and Astrid followed. Fishlegs uses his new courage to stand up to the Catastrophic Quaken. Turns out, the giant dragon was scared and defensive, which is why it scared off the other Gronkles. But when they realize it just wants friends, they return. Fishlegs is also reminded that he is not Snotlout and doesn’t have to act like the other rider.
There is a mysterious rider and dragon that have been attacking ships in the two-part Have Dragon, Will Travel. The riders are back on Berk, stocking up on necessities when Stoick gets the news. Hiccup insists it wasn’t them, so they go to investigate. They figure out from the barbs its left that the dragon is a Sharp Class, like Stormfly. They use the fire from Stormfly to discover more information and conclude that it’s a Razorwhip they’re looking for. They do find the campsite and the mysterious rider manages to capture the other riders until Hiccup and Toothless chase them, discovering that it’s Heather. She’s been living on her own for years and came across an injured Razorwhip that she nursed back to health and named Windshear. Hiccup offers their help; at the very least, she should come back to their base. Astrid likes how intense Heather has gotten and remarks that they’ve all grown up.
Hiccup also tries to talk to Heather about the ships that she and Windshear are attacking, arguing that there has to be another way. That night, Hiccup follows Heather when she leaves. She visits Trader Johan and Hiccup wrangles the information out of the long-winded man (even threatening trade sanctions, two words that the trader dislikes). He finds out that Heather’s village and family were decimated and Heather has vowed revenge. She goes after Dagur and his new dragon-proof chains wrap around her and Windshear and start pulling her in. The episode breaks at that point.
And immediately picks right back up in the second part. Hiccup and Toothless manage to save Heather and Windshear, though Dagur shouts something about a family reunion, since his so-called “brother” is there. On the way back to the Edge, Hiccup once again tries to talk sense into Heather; her mission is suicide, and while she may be comfortable doing whatever it takes, is she willing to sacrifice Windshear? Heather claims she is destined to be alone. The parents she knew, that were killed by Berserkers, where her adoptive parents; she was separated from her birth family as a child. She has vague memories of her father, and a horn to remember him by. They arrive back at the Edge and Toothless manages to get the other dragons to leave Windshear alone. Astrid takes Heather out from some girl time to compare their axes. It’s Heather who brings up the question to Astrid whether she’s a thing with Hiccup. Astrid insists she is only friends with Hiccup. Well, Heather notes, Hiccup is cute. Astrid admits yeah, if you like that “unassuming, heroic, dragon rider type.” Meanwhile, Heather admits she likes Fishlegs; Snotlout is off-putting.
While girl talk is happening, Hiccup gets a look at Heather’s horn. It bears Stoick’s crest. He flies back to Berk. Meanwhile, Heather goes back to Trader Johan, with Astrid’s company, and gets information on where to find Dagur. Heather plans to go after him again and asks for the riders’ help. Astrid insists it must be a capture mission, not killing. They’ll leave a map for Hiccup to find them. Back on Berk, Hiccup explains the situation and point blank asks his father, “is Heather my sister?” He arrives to stop Heather from killing Dagur and explains what he found out. The horn bears Stoick’s chief seal because it was a gift to the child of another chief, Oswald the Agreeable. Heather is Oswald’s daughter, making her Dagur’s sister [this is something Dagur had to have known; hence the “family reunion” quip]. He gets free in the confusion and while the other riders get ready to leave, he asks Heather to stay. She eventually flies off, but Dagur seems pleased with the idea of Heather joining him one day. Astrid asks Heather to stay, but the other girl needs to work things out. Hiccup apologizes to Astrid; he’s sorry she’s losing a friend. Astrid still has him though, she points out.
Hiccup shows off his latest invention in The Next Big Sting, the Dragonfly One, his own set of wings. Useful, if he ever gets separated from Toothless in the air. There’s an updraft at the cliff he’s standing on and figures it will help him with gliding. He gets three tries in before he wrecks the contraption and Toothless is not wholly pleased to continually rescue his rider. Astrid even insists he’s done. The riders then find an injured, young Speed Stinger. They splint its leg, then decide to take it back to the Edge to recuperate. Snotlout is not pleased. Fishlegs manages to work and rehabilitate the Speed Stinger, but it gets agitated when the other riders show up. They also discover that this pack of Speed Stingers have evolved to have webbing between their toes so they can cross water (and we see the larger pack doing such). Astrid then threatens to lock Hiccup up if his new project is “Dragonfly Two.”
Snotlout and Ruffnut decide to take the Speed Stinger back, but end up crashing, then getting surrounded by the pack. The Speed Stinger protects them, considering them to be its new pack. They hold off the main pack long enough and Snotlout even bonds with the Speed Stinger. But Hiccup insists its best to let the Speed Stinger go back to its pack. In the scuffle, Hiccup does in fact show off a new glider, using the idea of webbing.
The riders turn a new drill into a competition, as they always do, in Total Nightmare. Toothless and Hiccup work on beating a closing dome and are successful, due to the Night Fury’s speed [accompanied by theme music]. The twins live for the drama. Snotlout takes his turn, but Hookfang gets distracted and fights Snotlout. He puts Hookfang in a pen overnight, but Hookfang gets out. Snotlout finds him and discovers he’s visiting a female Monstrous Nightmare. Fishlegs also ponders if Hookfang could be going feral, considering Hookfang won’t leave the female.
The other riders round up other Monstruous Nightmares to tempt Snotlout back to riding, but he refuses, and there are no other dragons he wants to try. If he can’t fly Hookfang, he doesn’t want to fly any other dragon (and the other riders feel the same way). So Snotlout quits and plans to return to Berk. When he goes to say goodbye to Hookfang, he finds his friend injured. He also finds eggs in the cave behind the female Monstrous Nightmare. Worse, there’s a Titanwing Monstrous Nightmare. Toothless manages to scare it off, but Snotlout knows that it will have to be Hookfang that beats the Titanwing in order to protect the female. “He’s crazy!” Astrid exclaims. “He’s Snotlout,” Hiccup retorts. Snotlout goes to beat the dome, but purposefully loses, getting trapped with the Titanwing. The enclosed area works to Hookfang’s advantage and they tire the Titanwing out.
Thus end the first season of adventures for the dragon riders. I love this series. I love seeing the characters older and taking on adult responsibilities. This series does an excellent job of fleshing out the characters; we’re already seeing some of the other teens take center stage for an episode. We witness Hiccup growing into a leader and Astrid becoming his second, clearly shown in Dawn of the Dragon Racers. Snotlout is even maturing, showing that he truly cares about Hookfang and won’t ride another dragon. The twins are as crazy as ever, with Tuffnut adopting the chicken as a pet…the chicken is not amused at Hiccup’s attempts with Dragonfly One. I adore the humor of the series.
There’s the twist with Heather being Dagur’s sister. That was not something I originally saw coming and the writers did well to tie back in to Riders of Berk and Defenders of Berk. I did think for a minute, the first time watching the episode, that they were going to make Heather Hiccup’s long-lost sister, following the steps of many fanfictions. So I’m glad they made her Dagur’s sister instead and that will be something that comes into play in later seasons.
The first season that continues the story of the How to Train Your Dragon movies. Dragons are now on Berk. And Vikings have to learn to live with them. This is not something solved overnight, as Hiccup as the other teens discover. Most of the teens’ voices are back, though Ruffnut and Snotlout have new actors, as do Gobber and Stoick. Tim Conway (from the Carol Burnett Show) voices one of the villagers, Mulch and David Tennant does continue to voice Spitelout when he appears.
Since it is now a television cartoon, the animation quality is lower (and really noticeable at times). All of the episodes also echo Hiccups opening and closing narration from the movie; usually highlighting what the lesson that is to be learned (make your own call on how cheesy they are). As Hiccup lays out in the first episode How to Start a Dragon Academy, Vikings now have to learn to not battle dragons and learn to take the good with the bad. He starts with his friends riding dragons and training them. They do a little trick competition. We continue to learn that the twins get very excited about nearly dying. Astrid is the second-best rider after Hiccup.
One villager staunchly dislikes dragons being on Berk, Mildew (and he is as pleasant as his name and is constantly accompanied by a sheep…best description of him is why did they bother to spend a week digging him out of a snowbank). He’s able to stir up crowds and loudly demands that the dragons need to be put in cages, or better yet, off Berk completely. Hiccup volunteers to help solve the problem of dragons being in the Vikings’ business. It’s his chance to prove himself a man (at fifteen). Mayhem ensues and Stoick sides with the villagers and order the dragons off the island. Hiccup realizes they need to work with the dragons’ natural instincts…like using their poo as fertilizer. In response, Stoick grants Hiccup and the teens the right to use the former kill ring as a new dragon training academy.
Another consequence of no longer fighting dragons is that Gobber finds himself without much of a job. There is not as much need for weapons and he struggles to find purpose in Viking for Hire. He even tries to help Stoick out one day, but he makes a poor chief, such as naming a baby girl Magnus. Eventually, Hiccup tries to have Gobber build the other teens saddles, but they’re filled with weapons and not the most useful. However, it’s Gobber who takes on Hookfang, Snotlout’s Monstrous Nightmare, who’s going berserk. Turns out, he had a bad tooth and Gobber extracts it. He turns his attention to dragon dentistry.
It becomes dragons versus animals in Animal House; the animals on Berk, such as the chickens and yaks, are not used to the dragons being around constantly. It puts them off milk production and egg laying. Hiccup tries to show the animals that dragons aren’t so bad…it doesn’t go as well as he hopes. A big snowstorm rolls in. The teens are tasked with bringing the last animals in, but they bolt. Their dragons follow them into the snow and end up cocooning them in the wild weather, even the animals. (They had shown this protective instinct earlier in the episode when Astrid and Hiccup get stuck in an avalanche after sledding.) Trust is gained.
Terrible Twos introduces a new dragon to the teens, who are practicing evasive maneuvers (and Hookfang doesn’t like to listen to Snotlout). It’s at first equated to a flaming squirrel, but they eventually name it a Typhomerang for how it spins and fires up. Toothless dislikes the new addition to the house, particularly when Torch steals his dinner. Toothless is also the first to realize that Torch is a baby and the mother is looking for him. But Hiccup doesn’t understand what Toothless is pointing out, until he sees the parent for himself and realizes his mistake. He vows to listen to his dragon more.
We continue to see Toothless direct the other dragons on Berk. The riders go through trust exercises with their dragons and unfortunately crash into Mildew’s house in In Dragons We Trust. Stoick orders Hiccup to rebuild the roof, without Toothless. The chief explains to his son that all eyes are on Hiccup in regards to the dragons and his actions reflect on Stoick. (In other words, keep the dragons under control. Dragons, Hiccup can handle. It’s the twins and Snotlout in the mix that chaos erupts.) Overnight, dragon prints appear, seemingly Barf and Belch and they stole all the Vikings’ boots (an odd tradition [to an American] they have of leaving them outside overnight.) So Hiccup starts a night patrol, named “DUMB” for “Dragon United Monitoring Brigade” (and yes, it is a rather dumb name, and is pointed out several times in the episode) so they can prevent more dragon accidents. Except claw marks, possibly from Hookfang appear in the Great Hall. Toothless goes to investigate a noise while Hiccup defends the dragons. The armory explodes before Toothless can find his prey and he is instantly blamed, loudly by Mildew. Which makes Hiccup suspicious. But Stoick orders the dragons off the island to keep the peace. Hiccup vows to return for Toothless. While he is fixing Mildew’s roof later, he sneaks in and confirms his suspicions when he finds dragon props. Except Mildew returns (Hiccup hides) and throws the evidence into ocean.
With the armory gone, Gobber points out to Stoick that this would be an extremely bad time for an attack, namely by someone called Alvin the Treacherous (voiced by Mark Hamill; he’s got a thing for bad guys) in Alvin and the Outcasts. While the teens are searching the beach for the evidence to exonerate their dragons, Astrid and Hiccup spot an odd ship. The Outcasts have arrived. Hiccup sets off to retrieve the dragons, while the rest of the village take to the caves and woods. Fishlegs comes across Alvin, who declares he is looking for the “dragon master.” Fishlegs is tossed into the ocean for his trouble, but he comes back ashore and finds Hiccup. Astrid keeps Alvin occupied, particularly when Mildew intends to give the boy away. But Hiccup still steps out to protect his people, claiming to be the dragon master. Alvin points out that the teen is “Stoick’s little embarrassment,” but Hiccup persists in his claims and manages to get Alvin to take him to Dragon Island.
Still on Berk, Stoick and Gobber handily take on the Outcasts they come across (despite no official weapons). Stoick soon discovers why Alvin has come and worries for his son. But on Dragon Island, Hiccup finds Toothless and sneakily gets his saddle on, then corrects Alvin. He’s not a dragon master, he’s a dragon trainer. Stoick and the other teens have come as reinforcements and the teens take to the sky to launch dragon attacks against the Outcast ship. They work together to burn Alvin’s ship, but even in defeat, the Treacherous Outcast leader lets out a demented laugh, eager to get his hands on the boy again. These episodes reinforce that Vikings and dragons can trust each other, especially the duo of Toothless and Hiccup.
Hiccup attempts to sway his dad from the traditional, hard Viking way and learn to do things the dragon way in How to Pick Your Dragon. Stoick is stubborn, but Gobber manages to talk him round. Stoick agrees to ride behind Hiccup on Toothless and witness cheifing from a dragon. Now he’s eager for the idea and takes Toothless out the entire next day and exhausts the poor Night Fury. So Hiccup has to find a dragon for his father. They eventually come across a wild Thunderdrum that initially resists being trained and does not trust Stoick. When the Vikings find out that this one is protecting an injured friend, Stoick stays behind to aid the Thunderdrum, finally gaining the dragon’s trust. Stoick is slowly coming around to some of his son’s ideas.
Portrait of Hiccup as a Buff Man is self-explanatory. There is a portrait being painted of the chief and his heir; a tradition going back generations. Stoick is initially fine with Hiccup not looking as brawny as some others, but when the portrait is revealed to show Hiccup as a more typical Viking and Stoick loudly praises it, Hiccups is dejected. Stoick points out that the picture is Hiccup, just bigger and stronger. A villager openly remarks that it looks like the son of a chief. The teens have found a treasure map that stumped even Gobber and Stoick back in the day. After hearing everyone’s comments and pointing out that Viking tradition is to name the runt of the litter “hiccup,” the lad decides to try his hand at the treasure map. They start finding pieces and Gobber and Stoick soon figure out what Hiccup and the teens are up to. Gobber has to spell it out to Stoick that Hiccup is upset about the painting and then points out that the younger generation has gotten further in one afternoon than the two of them got in a month.
Eventually, Hiccup and Toothless fall into a cavern after getting the last piece of the puzzle. They discover the treasure, but that cavern soon collapses, scaring his friends and father as they search for him. He chose wisely and gets out and is greeted by a large hug from his father. He admits he just wanted to prove to his father that he was his kind of Viking. Stoick assures him he already was and orders the portrait redone.
Trader Johann is introduced in Dragon Flower, with the Vikings of Berk eagerly lining up to look at his exotic items. This is how Hiccup gets squid ink, instead of his charcoal. Mildew gets a strange order, but no one follows up immediately. Until their dragons start getting ill. Gothi, the village elder who scribbles in the sand since she is mute, determines the dragons are allergic to something new on the island. [The animation quality is particularly poor in the beach scene, where everyone throws things away.] The teens eventually work out that the new flowers they’ve been seeing across the island is poisonous to their dragons. Mildew claims innocence, but he is forced to come along to retrieve the antidote from a Scauldron. As usual, the plan doesn’t go exactly as they figured (Gobber eventually has to go scream in the forest after witnessing Mildew’s bare backside), but they do get the antidote and save the dragons. Stoick does not immediately jump anymore to wishing to be rid of the dragons; he’s even worried about his own dragon.
The first half of the season ends with a two-part episode: Heather Report. Snotlout and Hookfang come across a young girl washed ashore from a shipwreck. The rest of the teens are eager to help the girl, Heather (voiced by Mae Whitman, who voiced Katara in Avatar: The Last Airbender), though Astrid is suspicious. Heather is eager to learn about dragons and asks several questions, even inquiring about their Book of Dragons. Again, Astrid doesn’t trust the newcomer and doesn’t think they should be sharing so many secrets with her. It is also possible Astrid is a bit jealous. She eventually witnesses Heather speaking to Alvin’s second-in-command, Savage, promising to get the Book of Dragons. Afterward, Hiccup can’t find the book. Heather has taken Stormfly and is off to Outcast Island. The riders go after her, Astrid even fighting the other girl on the back of Stormfly. Unfortunately, the book lands on the island.
In the second part of the episode, Heather is trying to break out of jail so she can return to Outcast Island. Turns out, Alvin is holding her parents hostage. The teens begin to prepare to go against the Outcasts. Astrid dresses up as Heather in order to fool Alvin and get the book back. She has to demonstrate what she “learned,” and eventually tries to escape. The riders follow her and Heather successfully breaks out and follows on Stormfly. Hiccup has faith that Astrid will take care of herself and goes through with the plan. They’re briefly captured, but Heather arrives just in time, giving them the diversion to get free. Of course, the episode ends happily, with Astrid and Heather putting aside their differences, and the Book of Dragons back on Berk. But Alvin wants Hiccup even more now.
Thawfest is a lighter episode, highlighting the ongoing animosity between Snotlout and Hiccup. The Thawfest games have been going on for generations and the Jorgenson clan typically wins. [Apparently, in the books, Snotlout and Hiccup are cousins and fandom has accepted this. It doesn’t quite appose canon, though it’s never explicitly brought up.] We also see the Jorgenson chant of “oi oi oi!” (it will come up through the rest of the series.) Snotlout has won the past several years in a row, but this year, they’ve added dragon events, so Hiccup has a chance. He loses at the sheep lug, log roll, and axe throwing, with Snotlout taking the honors once again. But Hiccup excels at the dragon hurdles, freestyle event, and fly and shoot portion. He’s ecstatic and gloating, but Astrid warns him that he’s being a sore winner, compared to a gracious loser. It all comes down to an obstacle course and Hiccup has been modifying Toothless’ tail to increase their speed. He falls behind in the rock-climbing portion, but soon catches up to Snotlout, who begins to panic at the pressure his father has put on him to win. And Hiccup realizes he doesn’t want to win like this, so he purposefully crashes Hiccup. Status quo remains, but Stoick passes along that he’s proud of Hiccup and Astrid even rewards him with a kiss for being the better Viking.
When Lighting Strikes is my favorite episode of this season. Hiccup explains that life on Berk with dragons has its ups and downs. He helps design metal perches for the dragons so they stop landing on houses and crushing them. Then a lightning storm hits in the village, the first in many years. Fires start and the villagers believe that Thor is angry. Mildew instead blames the dragons, per usual, though this time, he targets Toothless directly. A Night Fury is said to be the ‘unholy offspring of lightning and death itself,’ thus, that is what Thor is upset about. Hiccup talks the villagers down for a minute and suggests a statue to Thor. His friends help him out, though make it out of metal again [which makes sense on the one hand, since Hiccup is a skilled metal smith, though we in the twenty-first century have figured out what’s going on.] Unfortunately, the lightning returns and strikes the statue, firing it at the metal perches that Toothless is hoping on. Mildew works the crowd into a frenzy and Stoick tells Hiccup to hide Toothless. Stoick doesn’t believe Toothless to be a threat and will now actively protect him. However, for their safety, he does suggest his son leaves with his dragon, until everyone calms down. They try to make it off the island, but the lightning in the sky hits the metal rigging on Toothless’ tail. They crash and that allows the crowd to catch up with them and lock Toothless away.
They make preparations to ship Toothless off the island. Except now they have to deal with the chief and Gobber, joined by Bucket and Mulch. Hiccup has also worked out that the lightning is hitting the metal specifically and he’s got an idea. Not a great idea, because it’s to stand at the top of a mast with a metal spear in his hand. Lightning strikes before he can lash it, so it travels through Hiccup, sending him into the water. Toothless breaks free and rescues his friend again. This echoes the ending of the first movie, even with Hiccup waking up in his bed and Toothless waiting for him. He looks down and dryly remarks “at least I didn’t lose another one,” regarding his legs. Stoick happily hugs his son. The villagers now believe that Thor is angry at the metal, so for now they take down the perches and the statue. Well, the male riders carry the statue up to Mildew’s house (Stoick’s instructions had been a high point on the island and technically…) The villagers apologize to Toothless and life goes on. I like that Hiccup continues to prove that he will do anything for his dragon. He used his analytical mind to solve the question, though some of his ideas are still a bit on the crazy, stupid side.
We’re introduced to another dragon in What Flies Beneath when large holes start appearing around Berk and animals are dropping away. When the riders go to investigate, they hear a strange whispering before a massive dragon erupts from the ground, a Whispering Death. Toothless orders the other dragons to back off and attacks the beast himself and won’t even let Hiccup help him. That night, he leaves on his own to hunt down the Whispering Death. Hiccup of course goes after him come morning and finds more holes, even jumping into one. Yep, the home of the Whispering Death, but no Toothless. Hiccup instead wants to attempt to train the beast. Luckily, Toothless is to the rescue before the teen gets bitten. Fishlegs and Hiccup have also discovered a bite mark on the tail of the Whispering Death, which matches the teeth pattern of a Night Fury; these dragons have a past and hold a grudge.
Hiccup knows that Toothless needs to be able to fly in order to really fight the Whispering Death, but Toothless continues to push him away. So, another crazy idea, he walks off a cliff, praying that Toothless will save him. Of course the beloved black dragon does, and now they can really fire away at the Whispering Death. They realize that the enemy dragon dislikes sunlight and use that to their advantage so Toothless can pin and roar at his enemy. The dragon slinks off. Hiccup remarks in closing “I will always have Toothless’ back and he will always have mine.”
Twinsanity focuses more on Barf and Belch and the twins. The riders are working on commands, and of course, Ruffnut and Tuffnut can’t agree on which signal to give their one dragon. They get fed up and walk away from each other. To throw a wrench into the works, a contingency from the Berserker tribe is coming to Berk to sign an annual peace treaty. Since Stoick doesn’t believe that other Vikings will react well to dragons in the village, he orders the riders to hide their friends. Only, Barf and Belch are still in the village when the visitors arrive. Instead of Osvald the Agreeable, it is his son, Dagur, who know goes by the Deranged, who leads the Berserkers. Hiccup’s not pleased because Dagur usually uses the skinny teen as target practice when he’s visited in the past. Hiccup tries to get Barf and Belch away, but Dagur spots the dragon and eagerly declares they should kill it; one head for each chief. Hiccup has to find the twins. He finds out that they’re tired of sharing everything, though he urges them that other items can be replaced and duplicated, but not Barf and Belch.
Stoick stalls Dagur, and the riders arrive just in time to prevent the chief from putting an end to the visiting Berserker. The riders stage a dragon attack (using their hand signals) to drive the Berserkers away. The tribes remain at peace.
Hiccup ends up working with Snotlout in Defiant One. Snotlout dislikes having to take directions from Hiccup and attempts to go his own way in a search and rescue mission. Hiccup doubles back to help him, and they get caught in a waterspout. Hookfang goes flying and Toothless’ tail is damaged, again. They land on an island and Hiccup sets to work replacing Toothless’ tail. Snotlout is not much help, though he points out that Hiccup should be more prepared with proper provisions. He also whines about how great everyone thinks Hiccup is now; he killed the Red Death, he trained the dragons, he’s got the metal leg. When he steps in to ‘help’ with a connecting rod, he breaks it instead. Now they’re truly stuck. Hiccup eventually figures out they’re on Outcast Island…and Snotlout has left Hiccup’s satchel with the Berk crest lying around. But to get off the island, they have to sneak into the blacksmith shop. Hiccup is captured and Snotlout has to work with Toothless in order to rescue him. Alvin still wants the boy to train his dragons, though when Snotlout gets Hiccup out, he groans “how does that ninety-pound boy repeatedly defeat an entire army of blood-thirsty savages?” After this adventure, Snotlout and Hiccup begin to get along better.
Stoick sends the dragon riders out to search for Trader Johan, who is late. Apparently, there is something important aboard for Stoick. They eventually find the man adrift at sea, without his boat. It was lost to the titular Breakneck Bog. And the item aboard isn’t for Stoick, it’s for Hiccup, and further, it’s from his mother. Well, that just means that Hiccup is more determined to find it. Led by the twins and Snotlout, there is the tale that there is a fog monster within the bog that scrapes the skin from your bones. Hiccup orders Snotlout and the twins to take Johan back to Berk; he, Astrid, and Fishlegs (who is now not eager to potentially run into a fog monster) will search for the boat. They ultimately find it oddly in a tree. Along the way, Fishlegs warns the others “you don’t go towards the weird, scary sound.” Astrid points out, “yeah, we do. We always do.” But both will follow Hiccup on this important task.
There’s a strange bone shower and the noises increase. Turns out, it’s the twins and Snotlout, gleefully scaring Fishlegs and the others. Astrid then gleefully beats Tuffnut with a bone for the scare. They left Johan on a rock in the middle of the sea. But Hiccup finds the chest and is ready to leave. The boat falls out of the tree and then a strange fog rolls in. It takes the box and doesn’t behave as typical fog. That’s because they’re dragons, called Smothering Smokebreaths who steal metal to melt down to make their nests. Hiccup of course wants the chest back, so Snotlout gets to be the distraction. All the riders manage to make it out and back on Berk, Hiccup opens the chest. It’s a stuffed dragon toy his mother made him as a child. He was initially scared of it and accidentally dropped it in the water while fishing many years ago. Hiccup is now happy to have it back.
Fishlegs leads the story in Gem of a Different Color; he skips out on hand-to-hand combat (most would want to avoid Snotlout in that training. Hiccup is recommended to play dead when Astrid pins him) and ends up finding a glowing rock on his excursion. Gobber claims it to be a stone of good fortune and the villagers clamor to touch it. And Snotlout desperately wants it. Stoick lays down the law that Fishlegs found it. But Fishlegs doesn’t like all the attention, so he returns it overnight. Except he finds more glowing rocks and determines they’re dragon eggs. The eggs of an invisible dragon that spits acid; the Changewing. Unbeknownst to Fishlegs, Snotlout followed him and has nothing against taking the eggs. He auctions them off to the highest bidder, even getting a child Gustav Larsen in the deal. Fishlegs demands that Snotlout takes the eggs back; he refuses. The Changewings come to Berk to find their eggs, leaving destruction in their wake. Fishlegs gathers the courage to properly confront Snotlout and gets the last egg. Hiccup sums up the lesson: having courage isn’t the same as having no fear. It’s being afraid and pushing forward anyway.
The two-part episode We Are Family ends the season. Stoick has instructed the riders to put together a parade of dragons for their annual Bork Week celebration. Bork was the man who compiled the Book of Dragons and is Gobber’s ancestor. In order to gather all the dragons, the teens work on dragon calls. It’s then pointed out that there are no other Night Furies nearby. Hiccup’s a little sad about it, but Astrid points out that Toothless doesn’t seem to mind. Hiccup is also granted all the notes from Bork in order to continue his own study of dragons. In his reading, Hiccup finds there is a legendary Isle of Night, filled with Night Furies. So the riders set out to find Bork’s cave for the map. Snotlout hilariously gets taken by a Changewing and smacked against the pillar. And Toothless demonstrates the ability to use echolocation to find his way in the dark. On the map, Hiccup reads, Night Furies don’t get along with other dragons (bit odd, considering Toothless gets along fine with the rest of the dragon herd on Berk). So, of course, he sets out on his own. He thinks he’s found the island, but it’s soon apparent it’s a trap, set by Alvin to capture Hiccup, with Mildew’s help (he was too interested in those notes).
The second part of the episode has Hiccup breezily telling Alvin and his men that they don’t understand the dragons they have. Alvin locks up Toothless and Hiccup separately until Hiccup agrees to train their dragons. Mildew’s put in the next cage because Alvin is Treacherous. The other riders and Stoick follow Hiccup’s path and discover he was taken, determining that it was by the Outcasts. Meanwhile, both Toothless and Hiccup separately get free, Mildew even ‘helping’ Hiccup. In return, Hiccup shows Mildew how to gain a dragon’s trust. Reinforcements arrive and Hiccup’s new friend helps them out when Alvin releases the wild dragons. Hiccup does ultimately escape with Toothless, but Mildew gets left behind. And that was all part of the plan. Mildew now has tricks to teach the Outcasts.
Hiccup flies with Toothless in the parade and realizes they are each other’s family. Family is also the friends who stand by you. Sadly, we’re left with Alvin gaining the trust of a Whispering Death (of all the dragons to befriend!) and his maniacal laughter.
Overall, it’s a good continuation from the movie. Not as high of a quality, but it has its moments. Hiccup struggles to learn how to cope with being the dragon expert and melding Viking and dragon in one new way of life. Stoick in turns has to learn how to trust his son and comes around to being more supportive and even gains his own mount. The teens’ characters are further developed: Fishlegs supports Hiccup in knowledge, though is more scared than one would think for his size. Astrid is an excellent second-in-command. The twins love to goof off and Snotlout struggles a bit fitting in with a new Viking way, since he rarely wants to listen to Hiccup. We get some villains that are a credible threat to Berk: Alvin and Dagur. Mildew is annoying, but every village has that cranky old geezer who wants everything done the old way and complains about everything, constantly.
We also see Toothless take a leading role with the other dragons and also seems to love being with Hiccup. It is a kids’ cartoon, but it’s something that the whole family can watch. The narration doesn’t beat the lesson over your head too hard. Overall, well-rounded.
The final installment of Harry Potter’s tale [we are disregarding Cursed Child because in my opinion, it was terrible. I have seriously read better fanfiction.] The movie was split into two parts (which became the trend for several series, like Twilight and Hunger Games, then fell out of practice); which, considering how much was packed into the last book and how difficult it would be to trim it down, makes sense. Bill Nighy (who we know from Pirates of the Caribbean as Davy Jones) joins as the new Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour [he showed up in the book of Half-Blood Prince.] We briefly see Michelle Fairley (we know her more as Catelyn Stark from Game of Thrones, but she was also Princess Augusta in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story) as Mrs. Granger at the start of the first part, and we finally meet on-screen the eldest Weasley child, Bill, played by Domhnall Gleeson (son of Brendan Gleeson, ‘Mad-Eye’ Moody. But we also see Domhnall in the Star Wars sequel trilogy as General Hux.)
Part 2, we meet Kelly Macdonald (the voice of Merida in Brave; she also appeared in Goodbye Christopher Robin [depressing, I do not recommend watching], and she was Evangeline in Nanny McPhee) as Helena Ravenclaw and Ciarán Hinds (Mance Rayder in Game of Thrones, Firmin in Phantom of the Opera, and Lord Tarleton in Amazing Grace) as Aberforth Dumbledore.
The book opens with a meeting between the Death Eaters and Voldemort at Malfoy Manor, with conflicting reports on when Harry Potter will be moved. Snape has his own sources and they differ from the infiltrated Ministry of Magic. Voldemort declares “I shall attend to the boy in person. There have been too many mistakes made where Harry Potter is concerned. Some of them have been my own. That Potter lives is due more to my errors than to his triumph (pg. 6).” The marriage between Nymphadora Tonks and Remus Lupin is discussed, with Voldemort telling Bellatrix to prune her family tree. Voldemort proceeds to then murder Charity Burbage, the Muggle Studies teacher from Hogwarts, who taught her students to get along with Muggles; Voldemort would rather subjugate them. Charity pleads for help from Snape, but gets none. Draco is a bit disturbed now, seeing a teacher murdered in front of him. The Malfoys are still disgraced, and no doubt, Draco is learning that being a follower of Lord Voldemort is not as glorious as he imagined.
The film instead opens with Minister of Magic Rufus Scrimgeour giving a speech that the Wizarding World faces dark times, and also declaring that the Ministry remains strong. It is well delivered by Bill Nighy, though the close up really makes it in your face. We then actually witness Hermione wiping the memory of herself from her parents and leaving home. We barely see the Dursleys leave, then we circle back to the scene at the Malfoy Manor. Bellatrix shows bloodlust; this certainly is no longer a story for young children. While Voldemort gives his little lecture on his thoughts on Muggleborns, I couldn’t help but think that Voldemort is a walking hypocrite (not that we’re surprised). He despises Muggles and the mixture of Muggles and wizards, yet he himself is the product of that mixture. Which is why he hates it. Recall in the book Half-Blood Prince, he figured his mother was Muggle due to dying; those with magic won’t die. Then when he discovers that the opposite is true, he makes sure to go back and kill his Muggle relatives, then desecrate the grave and use his father’s bone in his resurrection potion. And most of these Death Eaters don’t know the truth.
Meanwhile, Harry is getting ready to leave Privet Drive for good. He will soon be seventeen and “of age” in the Wizarding World. The Dursleys are being moved to a new home for their own protection; once Harry leaves Privet Drive, all protections that were there because of Lily will break and make anyone still there vulnerable. Harry wonders to himself “what did you say to one another at the end of sixteen years’ solid dislike (pg. 36)?” But Dudley attempts to make peace with his cousin, even asking his father why Harry isn’t coming with them. He tells his cousin “I don’t think you’re a waste of space (pg. 40),” and they part with shaking hands. Harry takes one last look under the stairs before the Order arrives, comprised of Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Bill, Hagrid, Arthur, Mad-Eye Moody, Tonks, Remus, Fleur, Kingsley Shacklebot, and Mundungus Fletcher. Half of them will take Polyjuice Potion to look like Harry and then are assigned a protector, all in order to confuse the Death Eaters and Voldemort. It is rather humorous in the film. Harry dislikes the idea, but Hermione gets the hair anyway. They’ll fly, by various means, to various safe houses. Hagrid will take the real Harry in Sirius Black’s old bike, in an echo of how Harry first arrived at Privet Drive.
But the group is set upon as soon as they leave. Harry refuses to fight dirty; he won’t be like the Death Eaters, and this gives him away. Hedwig is killed in the fight [and we cry]; “the owl had been his companion, his one link with the magical world whenever he had been forced to return to the Dursleys (pg. 67),” and once the Death Eaters know which is the real Harry, Voldemort shows up. Harry’s wand acts of its own accord and manages to save Harry. He lands with a knocked about Hagrid at Tonks’ parents’ home, then takes a Portkey to the Burrow. Everyone anxiously waits for the others to return. George is now missing an ear, thanks to Snape. He manages to joke with Fred he is saintlike now, because he’s holey. Remus tells Harry off for not being more decisive in his casting, but Harry retorts he won’t blast someone just because they’re there, that’s Voldemort’s tactic. Word also comes that Mad-Eye Moody is dead. This makes Harry want to leave immediately; he doesn’t want anyone else dying for him, but Ron talks him round. This has always been bigger than Harry. Besides, they won’t last two days without Hermione. They also have to stay for Bill and Fleur’s wedding, and Molly has gotten wind that the trio does not intend to return to Hogwarts. They keep very quiet about the task that Dumbledore set them. Hermione is making sure they’re prepared, even bringing along some books, to which Ron cracks “I forgot we’ll be hunting down Voldemort in a mobile library (pg. 95).” She’s also modified her parents’ memories and sent them to Australia. They’ll be safe and not know that they have a daughter. When Harry tries to protest, she retorts “didn’t [he] realize that Ron and I know perfectly well what might happen if we come with you (pg. 97)?”
“The measure they had taken to protect their families made him realize, more than anything else could have done, that they really were going to come with him and that they knew exactly how dangerous that would be (pg. 99).” [Not quite, as we will see.] They make what plans they can, dodging Molly. Harry wants to visit Godric’s Hollow, mainly for sentimental reasons, feeling that it will hold some answers. Harry still retains a connection to Voldemort and gets glimpses of the Dark Lord asking about a man named Gregorovitch. Harry has no idea why. The Minister of Magic then shows up on Harry’s birthday, interrupting the festivities. The will of Albus Dumbledore is finally reviewed and he has left items for the trio. To Ron, his Deluminator. To Hermione, his copy of Tales of Beedle the Bard (which has been published, along with Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them [long before a movie was imagined]). And to Harry, the Snitch he caught in his first match, as well as the sword of Godric Gryffindor. But he can’t release the sword as it wasn’t Dumbledore’s to give away. Harry ends up in another argument with the Minster, since he won’t become a public figure for him.
Luna Lovegood and her father, Xenophilius, attend the wedding, as does Viktor Krum. I rather like the use of Irish music at the wedding; with all the red hair, we do rather suspect there is an Irish ancestor in the Weasley line. It’s Krum who recognizes the symbol that Luna’s father is wearing, and names it as Grindelwald’s sign (the Dark wizard that Dumbledore defeated several decades before Tom Riddle appeared on the scene). That clues Harry in that Gregorovitch is a wand maker; he made Viktor’s wand. Harry ends up at a table with Ron’s great-aunt Muriel, who is discussing articles that have come out about Dumbledore’s life. There was a touching article already run by a dear friend of Albus’s. But Rita Skeeter promises a book soon based on the scandals of the Dumbledore family and even mentions Godric’s Hollow. Harry starts to wonder how much he really knew about his mentor.
The wedding celebration is interrupted by news that the Ministry has fallen to the Death Eaters and the Minister of Magic is dead. Death Eaters are on their way to the Burrow. Guests start leaving and the trio quickly bands together and Disapperates. In the film, Harry does try to see Ginny, but Lupin grabs him and shouts “go!” It is vital that Harry gets away. Hermione has everything packed in a small handbag, magically expanded inside. They’re able to change and try to figure out their next move. Death Eaters manage to find them and there’s a brief tussle, but they get away and head for Grimmauld Place. Ron remarks that Harry’s the boss on this quest, though Hermione is the best at spells. And Ron’s gotten a bit bloodthirsty now, all ready to maim the Death Eaters they’ve Stunned; maybe it was one of them that killed Mad-Eye Moody. That idea is quickly shot down; it would draw too much attention. Arthur sends word that the Weasleys are safe, but not to contact them; they are all being watched.
Harry wanders the house and finds Sirius’s bedroom. It’s been searched, but he finds a letter written to Sirius from Lily that includes a picture of baby Harry riding a toy broomstick. They also spot Regulus’s bedroom and realize his name is Regulus Arcturus Black, making his initials R.A.B. and the same handwriting as the note in the fake locket. Regulus was a Death Eater as a very young man and killed. Hermione remembers another locket from their cleaning a few years ago. They question Kreacher and find out that Mundungus Fletcher stole the locket after Sirius’ death. The story spills out that Voldemort needed a house elf to drink the potion so he could place the locket in the cave in the first place, so Kreacher was offered. Then Regulus had Kreacher take him to the cave later. Regulus drank the potion and had Kreacher switch the lockets. Kreacher was to destroy the first locket, but couldn’t manage to and Regulus was killed. Kreacher was sworn to secrecy. Harry starts being kinder to Kreacher and the trio are able to enjoy some comforts in Grimmauld Place. Harry orders Kreacher to find Mundungus. In the film, Dobby helps. The tale continues, that Mundungus was caught by a Ministry lady, who looks like a toad and had to give her the locket. Toad lady? Umbridge. So the trio start planning how to sneak into the Ministry of Magic when they are the most wanted witch and wizards in the country.
Remus stops by with some news. The coup has been kept quiet from the public, but there have been some moves against Muggleborns. He asks about Dumbledore’s mission and then offers to be protection for the teens. Harry senses an ulterior motive. In truth, Tonks has announced she is pregnant and is currently staying with her parents. Remus feels like a big mistake has been made and fears that his child will be like him, a monster. Harry tells Remus off and calls him a coward. “Parents shouldn’t leave their kids – unless they’ve got to (pg. 215).” Remus leaves. This is completely left out of the film. There was a brief second when the Order arrived at Privet Drive that Tonks wanted to say something, but Moody got on with the plan.
They learn that Snape is now the headmaster of Hogwarts and several Death Eaters are now teachers. Other Death Eaters hang around outside the house, hoping to spot the teens on September 1st. No such luck. The plan comes together to get inside the Ministry. They’ll use Polyjuice Potion to disguise themselves as Ministry employees, then search for the locket around Umbridge. Of course, it does not go according to plan and they’re forced to split up. Harry finds Umbridge’s office and digs Mad-Eye Moody’s eye out of her door. Hermione is forced to be her secretary in a court room, demanding where a Muggleborn witch stole her wand. Harry sneaks into the courtroom and eventually stuns Umbridge and grabs the locket off of her. Harry reveals himself in the movie by telling Umbridge “I must not tell lies.” Totally warranted. They get the Muggleborns out, but are almost caught returning to Grimmauld Place. Hermione gets them to the woods, but Ron is Splinched and wounded. They start camping out.
Harry sees that Voldemort has found Gregorovtich, but a thief stole what he is looking for years ago. The trio moves locations and puts up protection spells as they go. They take turns wearing the locket as they mull over their next steps, and soon learn the lesson that a full stomach means good spirits and an empty one leads to bickering and gloom. Ron struggles most; expecting that Harry and Hermione will come up with plans and necessities. [This shows the truth of teenagers trying to manage an epic quest.] They manage to overhear one evening that Ted Tonks and classmate Dean Thomas are on the run as well as news from Hogwarts. Ginny, Luna, and Neville all got in trouble for trying to steal the sword of Gryffindor; Snape then decided to move the sword to a vault in Gringotts. However, the goblins who are with Ted and Dean reveal that the sword there is a fake. The goblins also feel that Harry should be out front, fighting and rallying the resistance.
The news spurs Hermione and Harry; the real sword is somewhere and being goblin-made makes it useful to destroy Horcruxes. But Ron doesn’t join in. Instead, he starts arguing with Harry (not helped by the fact that he’s wearing the locket). He figured that Harry had a plan. Harry’s been upfront with his friends about everything he knows and tells Ron if he wants to go, go. And Ron leaves. Harry keeps the locket. Hermione stays, but cries the rest of the evening. Since he passed the protective circle, Ron won’t be able to find them again.
There is a completely new scene they added for the film which sort of divides fans; Harry dances with Hermione in order to cheer her up. Some say the filmmakers were trying to hint at a pairing between Hermione and Harry. Others, including myself, simply view it as a friend trying to cheer another friend up. A little odd, but not the worst thing they’ve done in the films.
Hermione turns her attention to her copy of Tales of Beedle the Bard and notes an odd mark on different pages. The same mark that Xenophilius wore to the wedding, Grindelwald’s mark. She also thinks it might be time to go to Godric’s Hollow; it is Godric Gryffindor’s birthplace and could be a hiding place for the real sword. They come to the village on Christmas Eve and walk through the cemetery. Harry makes a point in the movie saying he won’t use Polyjuice Potion (as they do in the books) to return home. There are the graves for Dumbledore’s mother and sister, as well as an Ignotus Peverell, with the same strange mark. Then they find Harry’s parents’ headstones (we cry alongside the teens), then the cottage that Harry lived in as a baby, with a memorial signpost in front of it. There’s a strange woman beckoning to them from down the lane. Harry figures it’s Bathilda Bagshot, a celebrated wizarding historian and apparently an old friend of the Dumbledores, according to Aunt Muriel. But it’s not truly Bathilda. It’s a snake wearing her body [creepy] and attacks Harry. He now sees Voldemort’s side of the attack on Halloween night. Hermione manages to get them to escape, but Harry’s wand is broken in the process.
All of this has built up anger at Dumbledore. “He had left them to grope in the darkness, to wrestle with unknown and undreamed-of terrors, alone and unaided (pg. 351),” with nothing explained. They took a copy of Skeeter’s book on Dumbledore and find a picture of Gellert Grindelwald inside. Apparently, before his reign of terror, Grindelwald was a friend of Dumbledore’s as young men. Hermione points out that Harry’s angry at this because Dumbledore never told him himself. “Maybe I am!” Harry finally unleashes. “Look at what he asked from me, Hermione! Risk your life, Harry! And again! And again! And don’t expect me to explain everything, just trust me blindly, trust that I know what I’m doing, trust me even though I don’t trust you! Never the whole truth! Never (pg. 362)!” [Very good point.] Hermione insists that Dumbledore loved Harry; he doesn’t believe her.
They next camp out in the Forest of Dean. That evening, Harry spies a silver-white doe and decides to follow it. It leads him to a frozen pond, in which the sword of Gryffindor hides. Harry feels he needs to undress before diving in to show his daring and courage [dumb move, aside from he wouldn’t want to get his clothes soaking wet and cold]. However, he’s still wearing the locket, so once he tries to kick back to the surface, the evil thing tries to drown him. Someone pulls him out…Ron. Harry insists Ron destroy the locket. When it opens, it hisses to Ron “second best, always, eternally overshadowed.” It’s a bit weirder in the film, with shadowy figures of Harry and Hermione making out and for a second, when Ron plucks up the courage and stabs the thing, you wonder who was hit. Harry insists that Hermione is simply like a sister to him. Hermione’s not exactly leaping for joy to see Ron waltz back in; instead, she punches him. On the one hand, Ron does have an extra wand Harry can use now. Ron tells Harry that it was the Deluminator that led him to Harry and informs him that Voldemort’s name is now Taboo, because only those who oppose him would say his name. That was how the Death Eaters managed to find them that first night.
Hermione decides they should visit Luna’s father and ask about the mark he wears. It refers to the Deathly Hallows he informs them (after acting very odd and no sign of Luna). Tales holds the Tale of the Three Brothers, where three wizard brothers magically build a bridge over a river and then confront Death. Death gives them three gifts for their prowess; an unbeatable wand, a stone to recall the dead, and the final brother requests an invisibility cloak like Death’s. The eldest brother with the wand wins a duel, but is murdered in his sleep for his boasting. The second brother recalls his lost love, but since he can’t really be with her, he kills himself. The youngest stays hidden until he is an old man, then greets Death and walks away with him, the cloak passed on to his son. These three objects, legends says, if united, makes the possessor the master of Death. The three brothers were the Peverell family: Antioch, Cadmus, and Ignotus. The very grave Harry and Hermione saw in Godric’s Hollow. The tale in the film is done in quite frankly a creepy animation and shows images not safe for small children, like blood spatter and a swinging dead body.
The trio soon figure out that Luna is not at home and her father has been stalling for time for Death Eaters to arrive. They’ve been holding Luna hostage and he wanted to trade Harry. But the trio escape. Harry begins to piece together the truth of the Hallows. Gaunt bragged he was a descendant of Peverell, with the stone set in a ring; the very same one the Dumbledore destroyed as a Horcrux. They figure that the ring is in the Snitch, but it still won’t open, saying only I open at the close. And Harry’s invisibility cloak is rather remarkable; it’s been in his family for years and the charm has never worn off. And there are rumors enough of the Elder Wand. That is what Voldemort is after and he quite possibly doesn’t know about the Deathly Hallows. Could it come down to Hallows versus Horcruxes? Hermione rather put the whole story behind them.
Ron introduces them to the underground wizarding radio program Potterwatch, with some familiar hosts. They announce deaths, such as Ted Tonks and urge wizards to protect the Muggles around them. “Every human life is worth the same and worth saving (pg. 440).” Tonight, Remus contributes “The Boy Who Lived remains a symbol of everything for which we are fighting; the triumph of good, the power of innocence, the need to keep resisting (pg. 441),” and urges Harry, wherever he is, to follow his instincts. Ron learned that Remus did return to Tonks. Again, this is all left out of the film. Unfortunately, Harry slips as says ‘Voldemort’ in their discussion and they get caught by Snatchers. It’s a good choice in the movie to not have a soundtrack during this scene; it’s only the sounds of the characters running and the blasts of the spells they throw. Hermione at the last second fires a hex at Harry that makes his face swell and unrecognizable.
They’re taken to Malfoy Manor and Draco is told to take a look at them. He hesitates about identifying them, saying it could be, but not sure. The sword catches Bellatrix’s attention; it’s supposed to be in her vault. She keeps Hermione to torture and Ron yells for her as they hear her screams. Well-acted, because the audience gets shivers watching the movie. Ron and Harry are sent to the cellars where they encounter Luna, Dean, and Ollivander, along with Griphook the goblin. Harry pulls his piece of Sirius’ mirror out and catches a blue eye in it and asks for help. Dobby pops in, to the rescue. He takes the others to Shell Cottage, where Ron spent his time with Bill and Fleur after he left Harry and Hermione. Ron and Harry attack Wormtail when he enters. Since Wormtail owes Harry for saving his life four years’ prior, the silver hand Voldemort gifted him turns on Wormtail and strangles him. That bit is left out of the film.
Bellatrix has called for Voldemort, who is in the middle of questioning an old man, who doesn’t have what the Dark Lord wants; the wand was never his. Ron rushes in to save Hermione; Bellatrix has carved ‘Mudblood’ into her arm. In the film, they never get around to calling Voldemort, though Lucius was about to; he’s interrupted by Dobby dropping a chandelier on Bellatrix. Dobby argues he wasn’t trying to kill the evil witch, only maim or seriously injure. Harry grabs the sword and the goblin and Dobby magics them away to Shell Cottage. But a knife that Bellatrix threw at the last moment catches the house elf and he dies in Harry’s arms. Harry decides to dig the elf’s grave by hand. Even though his scar burns, he’s finally mastered the pain. “Just as Voldemort had not been able to possess Harry while Harry was consumed with grief for Sirius, so his thoughts could not penetrate Harry now, while he mourned Dobby. Grief, it seemed, drove Voldemort out…though Dumbledore, of course, would have said that it was love (pg. 478).” Harry buries Dobby and carves into a rock ‘Here Lies Dobby, A Free Elf,’ as a headstone.
The end of film one comes with Voldemort going to Dumbledore’s grave, opening it and taking the Elder Wand. Nice, comforting scene to end on. They repeat the scene at the beginning of Part Two, since there are about eight months between the releases.
Harry speaks to Griphook about the sword of Gryffindor and now wants to break into the Lestrange vault; there is a good chance that another Horcrux is kept there, since Bellatrix was so angry at the idea of someone in her vault. He also questions Ollivander about wand ownership [this seems convoluted to me and either creates a plot hole or badly tries to patch a plot hole, I haven’t quite decided which], and the Elder Wand. Voldemort feels he will be truly invincible if he possesses the Elder Wand; that is what he’s been looking for, going through Ollivander, then Gregorovitch, then Grindelwald. Then Dumbledore won it, hence the desecration of his tomb done by Voldemort.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione keep their plans quiet from Bill and Fleur. It’s tricky negotiating with a goblin; Griphook wants the Gryffindor sword (Bill points out that goblins believe that ownership of a crafted item reverts back to the crafter, not down the purchasers’ line). But the trio need the sword in order to destroy the rest of the Horcruxes, so Harry keeps mum on when exactly Griphook will get the sword.
Happy news arrives. Tonks has given birth to a baby boy, Teddy. Remus comes to announce it and ask Harry to be godfather. To himself, with his crazy plan closing in, Harry thinks “he seemed set on course to become just as reckless a godfather to Teddy Lupin as Sirius Black had been to him (pg. 518).” Again, left out of the film. Hermione uses Polyjuice Potion to look like Bellatrix, and they had retrieved her wand, along with Draco’s when they fled Malfoy Manor. But Gringotts is on the lookout, so Harry uses the Imperious Curse to control some goblins so they make it down to the oldest vaults, guarded by a dragon. They manage to get in, but there is some difficulty getting out. They’re successful in getting Helga Hufflepuff’s cup, but Griphook makes off with the sword and guards are alerted to intruders. The trio escape on the dragon and jump off when they can.
Voldemort is angry at the break-in, and starting to wonder if Harry knows about the Horcruxes. Preposterous. For “surely if the boy had destroyed any of his Horcruxes, he, Lord Voldemort, would have known, would have felt it? He, the greatest wizard of them all; he, the most powerful; he, the killer of Dumbledore and of how many other worthless, nameless men: How could Lord Voldemort not have known, if he, himself, most important and precious, had been attacked, mutilated (pg. 550)?” [Someone’s got an ego.] But Harry can’t know. Nevertheless, he will keep Nagini close, and his thoughts stray to Hogwarts. Harry sees all of this and now they know for certain where to go next. In the film, Hermione argues that they need a plan. Harry points out, “when have any of our plans ever actually worked? We plan, we get there, all hell breaks loose.” (He’s got a point). They Apperate into Hogsmeade, which sets off an alarm. The barman from Hog’s Head pulls them in, and the blue eyes give him away. This is Aberforth Dumbledore, Albus’s younger brother, and it’s his eye Harry saw in the mirror and who sent Dobby to them. But Aberforth tells Harry to go home, he’ll live longer that way. Abandon whatever fool’s errand his brother sent him on.
However, Harry made his choice when he dug the grave for Dobby; he will continue on the dangerous path that Albus Dumbledore set him on. The truth comes out about Ariana; the Muggle boys who tormented her for her magic made it turn wild. Their father went after the boys and was imprisoned for it, but the family kept the secret of Ariana so she wouldn’t be taken away. Their mother’s death was an accident, but that meant Albus had to stave off his great plans and take care of his family. Gellert Grindelwald just fed into Albus’s ideas of using magic to rule over Muggles, ‘for the greater good,’ though they disagreed on method. An argument broke out between the three young men and Ariana ended up in the middle of it. Grindelwald fled and Albus never forgave himself. There is a portrait above the fireplace in Hog’s Head of Ariana, which actually becomes a passageway into the school. Neville emerges and fills the trio in on what’s going on in Hogwarts while they make their way into the Room of Requirement. Neville’s bruised for standing up for what’s right and protecting others; he’s trying to give everyone hope. His gran’s finally proud of him, saying he’s his parents’ son and she even held her own against Death Eaters sent to kidnap her in order to quiet Neville.
It is rather wonderful in the movie that the theme starts up with the reveal that Harry has returned to Hogwarts (noticeably absent from the beginning of both Deathly Hallows). Dumbledore’s Army wants to help Harry. They’ve proven themselves loyal to Dumbledore, they point out when Harry protests. “We all thought that if you came back, it would mean revolution. That we were going to overthrow Snape and the Carrows (pg. 581).” Other members of the Order start pouring in, including Luna, Dean, Fred and George, and Ginny. Ginny is thrilled to see Harry, who is also pleased. Ron’s rather put out that his own sister doesn’t pay him any mind. Seamus points out in the film that Ginny has plenty of brothers, but there’s only one Harry Potter. In their discussion in the book, Ron points out that they could use help finding the Horcrux, they just don’t have to tell the others exactly what it is. Hermione chimes in, “you don’t have to do everything alone, Harry (pg. 583).” Harry decides he will trust his friends and be different than Dumbledore.
Luna takes Harry to Ravenclaw Tower, but the Carrows were already warned that someone might come looking for something from Ravenclaw. Harry reveals himself when one of them spits on McGonagall, even using the Cruciatus Curse. McGonagall supports Harry’s mission; they will secure the school while Harry searches. The plan is to get the students out. This plan does not sit well with the current headmaster and a duel breaks out between Snape and the other Heads of Houses. He flees and McGonagall declares that it is time for Slytherin House to declare their allegiance. Any who stand in the way of the Order will be dealt with accordingly. To the shock of the Weasley family, Percy arrives and shouts an apology.
It happens a bit different in the movie. Harry doesn’t make it to Ravenclaw Tower. Instead, Snape calls all the students to the Great Hall and asks that anyone with information on Harry step forward. If not, there will be dire consequences. Harry himself steps out, claiming that the headmaster has a security problem as the Order enters. He demands that Snape tells everyone how Dumbledore was actually killed; students start edging away. Snape draws his wand on Harry. Before Harry can even react, McGonagall steps in front of him and everyone hurries out of the way. Snape even hesitates for a moment. McGonagall starts firing spells [like a badass!] Snape quickly flees and McGonagall shouts out the window “coward!” A cheer erupts.
Voldemort’s voice sounds through the Great Hall, saying that if they give Harry Potter to him, they will not be harmed, indeed, they shall be rewarded. Pansy Parkinson is the one who cries out to seize Harry, but the rest of the school protects him. The Battle of Hogwarts begins.
McGonagall directs Neville and Seamus to blow up the bridge; she recalls that Seamus has a “particular proclivity for pyrotechnics.” She directs other about, pointing out that they might as well use the name ‘Voldemort’ since he’s going to try to kill them either way. She then turns and calls down the stone knights to man the boundaries, to do their duty to the school. To Molly, she remarks “I’ve always wanted to use that spell.”
Harry has to find the ghost of Ravenclaw, Rowena’s daughter, Helena. Luna has to shout at Harry in the film to listen to her. She knows about the ghost and takes Harry to her. Helena tells him how she stole the diadem from her mother and ran away. But Rowena sent a man who once loved her to bring her back, but when she refused him, he became angry and stabbed her. When he saw what he had done, he killed himself and became the Bloody Baron. Helena hid in Albania, and eventually told her tale to Tom Riddle, who flattered her. He took the diadem and hid it in Hogwarts the night of his job interview with Dumbledore. The backstory is left out of the film, though the Grey Lady knows what Tom has done to the diadem, that he’s defiled it with Dark Magic. Harry realizes where it is and it’s a place he would share with Tom, but Dumbledore, being more rule-abiding wouldn’t know: the Room of Requirement, where Harry hid the disastrous Potions book.
Meanwhile, Ron and Hermione venture down to the Chamber of Secrets to get basilisk fangs. The cup is now destroyed. Ron then suggests they need to get the house-elves out before they’re killed and that is when the big kiss between him and Hermione happens (in the film, it’s in the Chamber). Harry has to remind them “Oi! There’s a war going on here (pg. 625)!” But Draco has followed the trio with his cronies just when they find the diadem. Draco is more cautious than Crabbe (in the film, it’s Goyle. And in place of Goyle, it’s Blaise); he wants to know what Harry is looking for. Crabbe just wants to kill him. A huge magical fire erupts, killing Crabbe. The trio manage to find broomsticks and Harry won’t let Draco die. Ron’s not pleased and tells Harry if they die saving Draco, he’ll kill Harry. They stab the diadem once they’re free and kick it back into the fire before the doors shut.
They come upon Percy and Fred dueling Death Eaters, including the new Minister of Magic. Percy jokes about resigning and Fred is so pleased. A blast hits them and Fred is dead. Harry is shocked; how can there be a world without Fred Weasley in it? He’s more determined than ever; there’s only the snake left. He looks into Voldemort’s mind and finds him in the Shrieking Shack (the boat shed in the film); the Dark Lord requires Severus. Voldemort also insists to his followers that Harry will come to the Dark Lord that night. The trio argue who will go as they take in everyone fighting around them, including Trelawney. Luna and some other D.A. members help them against dementors (Aberforth in the movie) and the trio manage to make it to the Shrieking Shack and hide while Severus greets his lord. Even Severus is offering to bring Harry to Voldemort.
The problem is Voldemort feels no difference between his old wand and the Elder Wand. The issue lies with the fact that Voldemort was not the one to kill Dumbledore; that was Snape. So for the wand to work correctly for Voldemort, he must kill Snape. He sets Nagini on Snape and leaves. The teens are horrified and Harry goes to the former Potions master. He takes the memories spilling out and then the man dies; his last words in the film are for Harry to look at him and the remark “you have your mother’s eyes.” Again, Voldemort’s voice sounds across the grounds. He will have his forces retreat for an hour. Use it to bury your dead. And to Harry, “you have permitted your friends to die for you rather than face me yourself…if you have not come to me…I will enter the fray myself…and I shall punish every last man, woman, and child who has tried to conceal you from me (pg. 660).” He will be in the Forbidden Forest. This is Harry’s foible; he hates others getting hurt for him, risking their lives for him. In the Great Hall, the Weasleys are gathered around Fred. Harry also sees Remus and Tonks dead, leaving their infant son to Tonks’ mother. Harry cannot face anymore [and neither can we at this point] and turns away and goes to the headmaster’s office. He pulls out the Pensive and dumps in the memories.
We see the Prince’s Tale; how young Severus Snape met a young Lily Evans, spurned by Petunia as being a freak. But Snape wants to show Lily the wonders of magic and teach what he already knows as a half-blood. Apparently, Petunia even sent a letter to Dumbledore, asking to come to Hogwarts; Lily found it and Snape mocks Petunia, hurting during the argument. Then there’s young James and Sirius in Gryffindor, where Lily is Sorted, while Snape goes to Slytherin. Lily soon dislikes Severus’s friends; children who will go on to become Death Eaters. Severus strongly dislikes James Potter, and even though Lily doesn’t like him yet, she points out there is a difference between humor and pranks, and just being evil. After the disastrous OWLs incident, Snape apologizes to Lily, but she says he’s chosen his path, so they will part ways. Years later, Snape comes to Dumbledore, begging for Lily’s life, though he doesn’t care about the deaths of her husband and child, if only Dumbledore will help him save Lily. Dumbledore even points this out, that the man is alright with her family being killed, as long as Snape gets what he wants (this bit is left out of the film). Finally, Snape begs for Dumbledore to hide them all. Alas, only Harry is left, with Lily’s eyes. Dumbledore extracts a promise from Snape that he will protect the boy once he comes to school. Snape insists no one can know his deeds. It was Snape that Dumbledore had heal his hand and once again, has the man promise that he will kill the headmaster instead of Draco. He’s on borrowed time now anyways.
And there is one more thing that Harry cannot know until the time is right. Only then will he have the strength to follow through. The night that Voldemort went to kill the Potters, and the curse rebounded on him due to Lily’s protection, a piece of Voldemort was cast into Harry, the only other living thing in the cottage. That is why Harry is a Parslemouth. That is why there is a connection between their minds. This is indeed why Harry can feel the destruction of the other Horcruxes. And while that bit lives in Harry, Voldemort cannot truly die. So Harry must die. And Voldemort must be the one to do it. “We have protected him because it has been essential to teach him, to raise him, to let him try his strength (pg. 687),” Dumbledore argues. Snape is not pleased that “you have kept him alive so that he can die at the right moment (pg. 687)?” He shows Dumbledore that his Patronus is a doe. In the film, we see Snape cradle Lily’s body while infant Harry cries in the background. “After all this time?” Dumbledore asks. “Always.” Now Harry sees that the spell that hit George was meant for a Death Eater. He took the last page of the letter to Sirius and tore the photo so he could keep Lily. He was the one who put the sword in the woods.
Finally, Harry has the truth. He is not supposed to survive this battle. Neither would live, neither would survive. “His will to live had always been much stronger than his fear of death (pg. 692).” This walk to his destruction requires a different kind of bravery. He will do no good-byes, no explanation (his friends would only try to stop him). In the film, he does stop to tell them where he’s going and gives Hermione a hug. Ron and Hermione must be left so they can kill the snake. On his way to the forest, he meets Neville and tells him to kill the snake, just in case. He walks away from his home, this place that took in the abandoned boys of Tom, Severus, and Harry. “The long game was ended, the Snitch had been caught, it was time to leave the air (pg. 698).” With that thought, Harry pulls out the Snitch again. I open at the close. “I am about to die,” he whispers. Inside is indeed the Resurrection Stone. Turning it brings James, Lily, Remus, and Sirius. In the movie, this is the only mention of Remus’s son. They will stay with him until the very end; their presence gives Harry the courage he needs.
Hagrid has been captured by the Death Eaters and watches Harry reveal himself to Voldemort. “The Boy Who Lived. Come to die,” Voldemort remarks. There is a green light. And Harry oddly ends up in a very white, very bright King’s Cross. With a small, grotesque child. Dumbledore comes to him. Yes, the part of Voldemort’s soul that was in Harry is now gone. But Harry’s blood in Voldemort tethers him to life [this part is still confusing.] Dumbledore further explains that the Peverell brothers were real, the Deathly Hallows are real. That is why Grindelwald originally came to Godric’s Hollow. Due to what happened, Albus learned he was not to be trusted with power. Only Harry is worthy to truly unite the Hallows, for the right reason. Harry also has a choice about going back. The young man looks to the disformed creature. Dumbledore sagely advises “do not pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and above all, those who live without love (pg. 722).” And while this is all going on inside Harry’s head, that doesn’t mean it’s not real.
Harry quietly comes back to himself on the forest floor. Voldemort asks for someone to check that he is really dead. It is Narcissa Malfoy who crouches next to him. She ever so softly asks if Draco is alive and in the castle. Harry answers yes. So she announces that Harry is indeed dead. Voldemort crows that no man alive can threaten him now. He orders Hagrid to carry Harry back to the castle. A crowd gathers outside. McGonagall screams “No!” at seeing Harry (in the film, it’s Ginny who screams), followed by Ron, Hermione, and Ginny. Neville breaks free of Voldemort’s call for silence. Voldemort asks him as a pure blood to join the Death Eaters. Neville refuses. Voldemort calls down the Sorting Hat, declaring there will be no need for it now, for all students will be Slytherin. That bit is left out of the movie; instead, we get an awkward hug between Draco and Voldemort after his parents insist he leave the school. They are seen later, walking away. A commotion creates a distraction and Harry uses it to scamper away. Neville draws the sword of Gryffindor and slices the head off Nagini. The battle commences again and the house elves are led by Kreacher, fighting for his master, the defender of house elves (not in the movie). Bellatrix ends up dueling Hermione, Ginny, and Luna. Molly steps in and shouts “NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!” [one of the best lines of the series.] She dispatches Bellatrix. Voldemort turns from his duel against Kinsley, Slughorn, and McGonagall to face the woman; Harry casts a Shield Charm.
The duel between Harry and Voldemort begins. Harry taunts Voldemort that Snape was never the Dark Lord’s true servant. And goads him to be a man, try for remorse. He also points out that the Elder Wand will still not work properly for Voldemort because Snape did not truly defeat Dumbledore. It was Draco who disarmed the headmaster that night. And only a day ago, Harry disarmed Draco. Voldemort fires Avada Kedavra and Harry uses Expelliarmus. The Elder Wand flies to Harry. Tom Riddle is finally dead, killed by his own rebounding curse. Ron and Hermione are the first to reach him, followed shortly by Ginny, Neville, and Luna, then the Weasleys, Hagrid, and McGonagall.
It’s a bit different in the movie; the two hop around the school dueling each other. [At one point, I tell the screen; “Dude, you’re not Darth Vader, you can’t Force-choke him.] Harry does tell Voldemort that the Elder Wand was never Snapes, then grabs the man and tells him “Come on Tom, let’s finish this the way we started…together.” Then there’s lots of falling and black smoke. A green blast from Voldemort’s wand meets a red blast from Harry’s. Ron and Hermione are trying to kill Nagini, but the snake almost ends them. Neville, in a completely badass move, jumps in and slices the head off the snake. Voldemort and Harry fire another blast at each other, but Harry’s red beam overpowers Voldemort’s green. Voldemort begins to crumple and the Elder Wand sails over to Harry. Voldemort flakes away.
Kingsley Shacklebot is quickly named the temporary Minister of Magic. Voldemort is laid apart from the rest of the dead. When Luna realizes that the crowd is too much for Harry, she helps him slip away. He grabs Hermione and Ron. He reveals what he saw about Snape and what happened in the forest. They make their way again to the headmaster’s office. The portraits applaud Harry, but he looks to Dumbledore. He dropped the Resurrection Stone in the forest; he’s not sure where and he won’t go looking for it. He’ll keep his cloak, and he doesn’t want the Elder Wand. However, he uses it to repair his first wand. He’ll put the wand back in Dumbledore’s tomb and if Harry dies a natural death, that will be the end of the Deathly Hallows. After all, “I’ve had enough trouble for a lifetime (pg. 749).”
They don’t visit the headmaster’s office again in the film. Harry instead takes his best friends outside and explains Draco and the wand. Ron remarks that they’ll be invincible with the Elder Wand. But Harry doesn’t want it. He breaks it in two and tosses it away (and doesn’t fix his own wand). The trio stands together in front of the damaged school.
We get an epilogue, entitled Nineteen Years Later, using the same music from the end of Sorcerer’s Stone (a hit of nostalgia). Families crowd King’s Cross, including Harry’s. He’s married to Ginny and they’ve had three children: James Sirius, Albus Severus, and Lily Luna. Ron and Hermione have had two; Rose and Hugo. There are other family members there, like Teddy Lupin and Vicotrie Weasley. There’s even a grown-up Draco and his son, Scorpius. This is Albus’s first year and he quietly asks his dad about being sorted into Slytherin. Harry comforts his son that he was named for two headmasters, one of whom was Slytherin and was the bravest man Harry ever knew. However, the Sorting Hat will take into account Albus’s choice. They see their children to the train and Harry feels all is well.
Hedwig’s Theme plays over the credit and it is a bit sad to watch them go by and see the ones who are no longer with us.
One of my biggest pet peeves about this film, and the trend anymore it seems, is that dark scenes are incredibly dark, as in lighting. [We’ll cover more of this in Lord of the Rings, in a good way.] Game of Thrones was bad about this as well. Yes, a scene may take place in the dark, at night, and evil things are happening, but I can’t actually see them! All I see is a black screen and I sometimes worry that something has happened to the disc or player. Doesn’t matter what you have going on screen, any action or character movement because you’ve made sure we don’t see it. As it’s been pointed out on fansites, we’ve suspended our disbelief to watch this story, we’re okay with it being properly lit.
Also, the final book is jam-packed with information and not really in a good way. I read somewhere that her publishers had her pull information from previous books, so it all got shoved in the final book and it shows. And that may be why plot point and plot lines are well developed. As an adult, going back and re-reading these books, there are plot holes abounding. And since it’s jammed with new information, there is little tension. It stalls and you wonder if they’re ever going to achieve their goal, then everything happens at the last minute, and there’s last-minute information. Another pet peeve of mine is that Dumbledore had an entire year to help Harry out in Half-Blood Prince; he knew what was going on and how much time, and he purposefully did not completely fill Harry in. Harry already got mad at Dumbledore posthumously once this book, yet, is completely fine with the last-minute knowledge that he has been reared to be a sacrifice nearly his entire life. The only sure-fire way to finish off Voldemort is for Harry to die. And he’s supposed to be fine with that. As a dumb teen, maybe we do view it as a heroic sacrifice, and yes, heroes go into last battles with some notion that they may die, or it’s very likely. Not that their mentor has made sure everything aligns and kept them in the dark so they will willingly walk into Death. Not cool.
As a result of the info-dump, the final two movies plod along at points. And doing the final two duels, between Voldemort and Nagini, all in slow-motion, at this point does not make tension mount. To the audience, it’s ‘how much longer are they going to drag this out?’ Yes, there was enough information for two movies (which is not always the case), but the action and pacing suffered.
I am glad that the primary trio of characters survived. Super sad that Remus and Tonks were killed off (I do not support that decision; maybe it was an excuse just to kill all the Maraduers). Heart-wrenching that Fred is killed. I will admit, the mark of a better writer is that they are willing to kill off important characters (Stephanie Myers didn’t do that and her ending suffered because not everything is sunshine and roses, and honestly George R.R. Martin just kills everyone off, so it goes the other way), and these deaths should mean something. There is a cost to victory. But some here seemed unnecessary.
One thing Rowling did well was point out that there is not always a plan with these epic quests; the hero doesn’t have all the answers. This makes the story a little more plausible. She also showcases characters that are flawed. Most characters are not what they appear. I’m not sure ultimately how I feel about Ron leaving Harry and Hermione for a while, because he’s always been Harry’s best friend and most supportive, barring that incident in Goblet of Fire. He claims he knew what it meant to follow Harry, but once things got really tough, he leaves. Yet, he is able to bring back useful information. Just proves that not all characters, even good guys, are perfect. It was nice to bring Percy back and show that he’s not just a Ministry brown-noser.
I agree with Harry that Remus should not have tried to have left Tonks once she was pregnant. Not to simply offer his services to tag along with Harry with no clue what Harry is actually up to. Think these things through, sir. You married her. You made a commitment. You probably told Sirius off for being reckless, learn from that. And Tonks and Remus definitely should have made a better decision regarding their son; think ahead to the worst-case scenario. Lily and James didn’t really get a choice about leaving Harry; they tried everything to keep him safe. And Tonks and Remus rush into the final battle.
I’ll discuss more on Dumbledore, Snape, and the epilogue in the wrap-up blog that will be coming shortly.
The main characters that are added for this volume are Professor Horace Slughorn, played by Jim Broadbent (he appeared in Game of Thrones as Archmaester Ebrose, was King William in The Young Victoria film, seen briefly as Dean Charles Stanforth in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Harold Zidler in Moulin Rouge, and we’ll see him soon as Professor Kirke in The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe), and Narcissa Malfoy played by Helen McCrory (who passed away in 2021). Also, something I didn’t know before was the actor who portrayed the eleven-year-old Tom Riddle was played by Ralph Fiennes’ nephew, more based on how he resembled Ralph, not simply because he is his nephew.
The film and book both continue the trend to be progressively darker. People seem more miserable than usual. The book has Fudge visit the Muggle Prime Minister to introduce the new Wizarding Prime Minister; the chapter details other visits Fudge has made to the Muggle Prime Minister, getting progressively worse, even mentioning Sirius Black and Fudge has to own up to being mistaken about Sirius; he was innocent all along and then murdered at the Ministry of Magic. Rufus Scrimgeour (who does not actually appear in this movie) is the new Minister of Magic. The Auror, Kingsley Shacklebot is the new secretary for the Prime Minister for his protection. The wizarding world is now at war and that war is spilling into the Muggle world, such as a bridge collapse. Dementors are everywhere now and though Muggles can’t see them, their presence is felt with the dour mood and perpetual fog.
That part is left out of the movie, though they show the attacks that affect the Muggles and the overall dark clouds. The first scene actually picks up at the end of Order of the Phoenix with Dumbledore and Harry at the Ministry, with Dumbledore putting his hand on Harry’s shoulder. The Death Eaters fly into Diagon Alley and steal away Ollivander. Harry instead spends his summer at train stations and meeting young Muggle ladies. Dumbledore picks him up from one such encounter to go on a mission.
Then, we’re taken to a more rundown area of the country, with Bellatrix following her sister, Narcissa Malfoy, as they seek someone out. Severus Snape. Wormtail is currently staying with him, but Severus quickly dismisses him so he can speak to the ladies. Bellatrix does not trust him, accusing him of being too cozy with Dumbledore. Snape argues that he’s kept up pretenses for his safety and he has explained all to the Dark Lord; Dumbledore has never stopped trusting Snape and therein lies his great value to the Dark Lord. Narcissa knows she shouldn’t be seeking Severus out, but she’s fearful for Draco. Voldemort is using the boy because of his anger with Lucius. Severus assures the woman that he knows of the Dark Lord’s plans; he is willing to help. He accepts to take an Unbreakable Vow to carry out the deed if Draco fails. In the film, this occurs after the Burrow, but plays almost how it appears in the book.
There are now rumors swirling through the wizarding world that Harry Potter is the Chosen One to defeat Voldemort after the events at the Ministry. The Ministry is now actively trying to warn the wizarding population about Dark Wizards and protection against them. Harry is instructed that Dumbledore will retrieve him from Privet Drive and escort him to the Burrow, and the headmaster also asks for Harry’s assistance. Harry initially doesn’t get his hopes up, so when Dumbledore actually shows up, he has to pack in a hurry. There is some business to attend to before they leave Harry’s aunt and uncle. First, Sirius left everything to Harry, including Grimmauld Place. The way to test this is to call Kreacher and have Harry issue an order; when Kreacher obeys, they know that the former headquarters are safe. Dumbledore then speaks to the Dursleys about their treatment of Harry. “He has known nothing but neglect and often cruelty at your hands (pg. 55).” [At least Dumbledore recognizes that, but he couldn’t do anything to stop it, really?] He asks that they allow Harry to return to their home once more before he turns seventeen, which is the age he becomes an adult in the wizarding world. Most of this is left out of the film, with Dumbledore retrieving Harry from the Muggle train station.
Now to their task; Dumbledore would like Harry’s help persuading an old colleague to return to Hogwarts. The house they arrive at is trashed; it looks like there was a struggle. But Dumbledore pokes a plump chair. Turns out it was Horace Slughorn in disguise. The two wizards put the house back to right. Slughorn has been on the run from Death Eaters (and possibly Dumbledore), so he keeps moving house. Slughorn knows why Dumbledore has come to him, but he refuses. Then Dumbledore leaves Slughorn alone with Harry. The wizard admits that he was fond of Lily. He’s collected students that have powerful connections. He also comments that he knew Regulus Black and did Harry hear that the older brother, Sirius, was just killed? Harry makes the comment that the staff at Hogwarts are safer than most with Dumbledore as headmaster. Slughorn agrees to come back to Hogwarts. Mission accomplished; Dumbledore warns Harry that Slughorn will try to collect him.
On their way to the Burrow, Dumbledore comments to Harry “it was cruel that you and Sirius had such a short time together. A brutal ending to what should have been a long and happy relationship (pg. 76).” “Sirius represented much to you that had never known before (pg. 77).” Harry muses that he will miss having someone outside of Hogwarts to write to “who cared about what happened to him, almost like a parent (pg. 77).” Dumbledore also comments that Harry’s desire to take as many Death Eaters as possible with him if he dies is spoken like his mother’s and father’s son and Sirius’s godson. But, Harry can’t shut himself away. He gives Harry permission to share with Hermione and Ron the prophecy, advising him to keep his friends close. Dumbledore also asks Harry to attend private lessons with the headmaster this year.
There are changes in the Weasley house. Arthur has been promoted. Percy still has not returned home. Fleur Delacour is now engaged to Bill and is staying at the house. Ginny and Molly dislike her. Harry follows through and tells Ron and Hermione about the prophecy and is pleased they still support him. The results of their OWL exams arrive. Hermione has of course, passed everything. Harry and Ron are pretty even. Harry failed Divination and History of Magic, and he managed an Outstanding in Defense Against the Dark Arts (beating Hermione’s Exceed Expectations). But he did not get an Outstanding in Potions, so there goes his plan to become an Auror, though he is named Quidditch Captain. Again, this is all left out of the film. Harry’s dropped off at the Burrow and gets various hugs from the inhabitants, though he does visually start paying more attention to Ginny.
While the Weasleys are vising Diagon Alley, the trio run into Draco Malfoy. They then sneak out of Weasleys’ Wizarding Wheezes to follow him to Knockturn Alley, where he stops in Borgin and Burkes, but they don’t discover what he’s after. The twins do show Harry around their shop, since he was the one to supply them the gold to open their shop. They’ve even created shield line for the Ministry, based on information they learned in D.A. Harry’s obsession with Draco begins; he figures Draco has become a Death Eater like his father. Ron and Hermione try to get Harry to drop the subject.
On the train to Hogwarts, Luna and Neville ask if the D.A. will continue. Harry doesn’t really see the point, since Umbridge is gone. Girls are now fawning over Harry, but he prefers to stick with his friends and he awkwardly attends a gathering in Slughorn’s carriage. The professor is starting to gather his influential students; he’s not impressed by Neville. Ginny gets invited because he witnessed her Bat Bogey Hex. Harry then sneaks into Draco’s car to overhear him bragging about a mission given to him from the Dark Lord. And he suspects he won’t be returning to Hogwarts the next year, figuring the Dark Lord will have taken over. When they arrive in Hogsmeade, Draco stays behind and binds Harry, then stomps on his face in retaliation for his father getting arrested.
Harry is rescued by Tonks who is part of a contingent of Aurors placed at Hogsmeade for extra protection for the school. He notes that Tonks seems older and more serious and remembers that Sirius was her cousin. Snape comes along and makes a crack about the shape her Patronus takes (he just can’t help himself, can he? He insults everyone he can). Harry has “loathed Snape from their first encounter, but Snape had placed himself forever and irrevocably beyond the possibility of Harry’s forgiveness by his attitude toward Sirius (pg. 161).” Harry feels his remarks about Sirius safely hidden in the headquarters factored into Sirius rushing into the Ministry and he is perfectly satisfied to blame Snape because if there was anyone not sorry Sirius was dead, it’s Snape. This is simplified in the movie to Luna finding Harry and fixing his bloody nose. Now he looks exceptionally ordinary. There is no direct confrontation with Snape. Hilariously, Hemione smacks Ron “will…you…stop…eating,” and why isn’t he more concerned that his best friend is missing? Ginny notes that he’s covered in blood, why is he always covered in blood?
A shock the students find out is that Slughorn is the new Potions professor. Snape now teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts, the position he has most wanted. Harry hopes that he’s gone at the end of the year, like all the teachers before him (actually, he’d like his death). The trio also realizes that none of them plan to take Care of Magical Creatures anymore. When passing out the schedules, McGonagall supports Neville’s desire to take Charms rather than Transfiguration and will write a note to his grandmother that she should be “proud of the grandson she’s got, rather than the one she thinks she ought to have (pg. 174).” To Harry and Ron, she points out that they can both take Potions with their Exceed Expectations grade with Slughorn (so Harry can continue his path to being an Auror). It’s a bit funnier in the movie, with McGonagall directing traffic in the halls and tells Harry to take Ron with him to Potions because “he looks far too happy over there.”
In their first lesson of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Snape states “the Dark Arts are many, varied, ever-changing, and eternal. Fighting them is like fighting a many-headed monster…You are fighting that which is unfixed, mutating, indestructible (pg. 177).” “Defense must therefore be as flexible and inventive as the arts you seek to undo (pg. 178).” They will work on nonverbal spells, which is a question of concentration and mind power. Then we get the most excellent line of Harry’s: “there’s no need to call me ‘sir,’ Professor (pg. 180),” when Snape has Harry demonstrate. (Snape is not amused). Of course, this bit is left out of the film.
Slughorn introduces them to Amortentia, a love potion in their first lesson (is actually more of an obsession potion), alongside Felix Felicis, or liquid luck. Since they were not planning on taking Potions, Ron and Harry have to use the school’s supplies until their own arrive. Harry’s copy of the textbook has scribbles in the margins; in the film, the friends briefly wrestle to see who gets the newer book. But Harry ultimately finds the notes helpful. Hermione is not pleased, since he’s following other directions. And this makes him top of the Potions’ class. Slughorn points out that Lily was proficient at Potions, maybe that is where Harry gets it from. Back in the Gryffindor Common Room, Harry finds that the front of his book is marked “Property of the Half-Blood Prince.” Ginny points out the danger of “taking orders from something someone wrote in a book (pg. 192).”
Harry’s lessons with Dumbledore begin. It’s time he knows information about Voldemort, though some of it is the headmaster’s hunches and guesswork. Dumbledore hopes this information will help Harry survive. They look at memories others have about Voldemort. Harry finds out about Voldemort’s mother’s family, the Gaunts. They are the last direct descendants of Salazzar Slytherin and have the locket to prove it, along with a ring with the Peverell coat of arms cut into the stone. Voldemort’s mother, Merope, is interested in a handsome Muggle who lives in the main house in town, Tom Riddle. Her father and brother have been in trouble with the Ministry before; they’re a “very ancient wizarding family noted for a vein of instability and violence that flourished through the generations due to their habit of marrying their own cousins (pg. 212).” They are soon arrested and Merope is able to pursue Tom. Dumbledore figures she fed Tom a love potion, which caused a scandal in the Muggle village when he ran off with her. Eventually, Tom left Merope, after she was pregnant, and returned home. Dumbledore now has possession of the ring (and a darkened, almost dead hand). This memory was left out of the film.
In happier news, Ginny joins the Quidditch team as a Chaser and Ron manages to beat Cormac McLaggen as Keeper. Well, Harry figures out that Hermione confounded Cormac so Ron would win. She did it because the boy was bad mouthing Ron and Ginny and has a nasty temper. Harry comes across the spell Levicorpus in his Potions book and recalls James using it in the memory he saw.
Sadly, Katie Bell ends up cursed by a necklace she was to take to the castle. Harry brings up his suspicion about Draco with McGonagall. We do get the great scene with McGonagall and the trio in the film, with McGonagall remarking “why is it, when something happens, it is always you three?” Ron has been asking himself the same question for six years. [And other fandoms will occasionally steal this, like Supernatural.] Harry then has his second lesson with Dumbledore. The locket they saw at the Gaunts ends up at Borgin and Burkes. But the main lesson is Dumbledore’s memory of meeting a young Tom Riddle to inform him of his place at Hogwarts. Tom Marvolo Riddle was born at the orphanage and Merope died an hour later. No other family ever came looking and the matron takes the time to warn Dumbledore that the boy is odd; he scares the other children. Tom doesn’t trust Dumbledore at first, thinking he’s a doctor to examine him. But he perks up at the mention of magic. Already he “can make things move without touching them. I can make animals do what I want them to, without training them. I can make bad things happen to people who annoy me. I can make them hurt if I want to (pg. 271).” “I knew I was different. I knew I was special (pg. 271).” Dumbledore lights his wardrobe on fire to demonstrate his magic and then warns Tom that thievery is not tolerated at Hogwarts. And further warns him that he has “been using powers in a way that is neither taught nor tolerated at our school (pg. 273).” This was the first memory that the film showed.
Tom remarks to Dumbledore he figures his father had magic. His mother couldn’t since she died. Also, he can speak to snakes. Dumbledore admits that the talent is unusual, but not unheard of. To Harry, Dumbledore admits “Did I know that I had just met the most dangerous Dark wizard of all time? No, I had no idea that he was to grow up to be what he is (pg. 276).” Dumbledore intended to keep an eye on young Tom. His powers were surprisingly well-developed for so young, and he had remarkable control and able to use it consciously. He used it against other people, to frighten, to punish, and to control. He had obvious instincts for cruelty, secrecy, and domination, as well as contempt for anything that tied him to other people, anything that made him ordinary. “Even then, he wished to be different, separate, notorious (pg. 277).” Dumbledore also point out that Tom prefers to operate alone; he never had a friend and Dumbledore believes he never wanted one.
Drama goes on in relation to Slughorn’s Slug Club. Ron’s never been invited, but Hermione has merited an invitation due to her brains. For the Christmas party, Hermione was going to suggest she would take Ron, but since he’s so dismissive and rude, she may rethink. Ron finds his sister kissing Dean and Harry wonders at his own feelings. Does he feel protective just because she’s Ron’s younger sister? But he also wants to kiss Ginny. And what would happen if Ron and Hermione start dating? There’s a scene in the film that shows Ron definitely thinks about Hermione, and Harry is obviously given some thought to Ginny. Harry decides to turn his focus to Quidditch and Ron. Ron’s problem has always been nerves. So the morning of their first match, Hermione spies him putting something in Ron’s drink, the liquid luck. Ron drinks and feels great and they ultimately have a great game. Harry reveals that he faked puting something in the drink, but he timed it so Hermione saw it and said something and so Ron would think he had extra luck and confidence. Hermione is still annoyed with Ron and that does not improve when Ron starts kissing Lavender Brown; she sets birds on Ron. We also get a rather beautiful scene between Harry and Hermione. Hermione knows that Harry likes Ginny, she says the way he looks at the redhead. And is this what it feels like when he sees Ginny with Dean. Harry affirms and lets his friend cry on his shoulder.
Harry is “once more the best friend of two people who seemed unlikely to speak to each other again…. Determined as he was to remain friends with both Ron and Hermoine, he was spending a lot of time with his mouth shut tight (pg. 304).” And Harry’s not completely outside the couple craze that is going on in Hogwarts; there are rumors that several girls want to slip him love potions. He needs to figure out who he’s going to take to Slughorn’s party. In the film, Hermione warns Harry about Romilda Vane, and she’s only interested in Harry because she thinks he’s the Chosen One. When Harry preens a little and comments that he is the Chosen One, Hermione smacks him (as she should). She also bemoans that she didn’t think of the idea that Harry had that they should take each other. Harry promises to take someone cool. He settles on Luna and is a bit horrified when Hermione revealed she asked Cormac McLaggen, because it would annoy Ron. Draco sneaks into the party and Harry follows when Snape drags the Slytherin out so he can eavesdrop on their conversation. Draco is resisting Snape’s help and claims he had nothing to do with Katie Bell getting cursed. Snape presses for Draco to reveal his plan to the professor, but Draco refuses. Draco is still proud that he was the one who was chosen for his secret task.
Over Christmas at the Burrow, Remus cautions Harry’s concern, pointing out that Dumbledore trusts Snape, so thus, they should trust him if they trust Dumbledore. The Minster of Magic stops by, bringing Percy along. In truth, he wants to talk to Harry. Dumbledore has been stopping him. He asks the teen if he is the ‘Chosen One,’ and encourages Harry to stop by the Ministry. In reality, to show he sides with the Ministry and allow people to believe he is their hero. But Harry doesn’t approve of everything the Ministry has done and shows the Scrimgeour the scars he has of ‘I must not tell lies.’ The Ministry didn’t help when Harry needed it, so why should he be their poster boy now? Scrimgeour remarks that Harry is Dumbledore’s man through and through.
In the film, neither the Minister nor Percy show up. Remus and Tonks already appear to be a couple; in the book, this is not revealed until almost the end. The film instead has the Death Eaters, led by Bellatrix Lestrange, attack the Burrow. Harry rushes after her; she’s taunting him again with “I killed Sirius Black!” They set a fire in front of the Burrow, which stops Remus from grabbing Harry again, though Ginny manages to dart through a slim opening. Ginny and Harry find each other and hold off the Death Eaters until Arthur, Remus, and Tonks make it to them. Then a blast is aimed at the house. Everyone is out safe: Molly, the twins, and Ron.
The third lesson with Dumbledore comes after Christmas. They’re now onto Tom Riddle’s time at Hogwarts. He came across as polite, quiet, and thirsty for knowledge. He also gathered a motely group, “a mixture of the weak seeking protection, the ambitious seeking some shared glory, and the thuggish gravitating toward a leader who could show them more refined forms of cruelty (pg. 362).” These are the forerunners to the Death Eaters. Dumbledore is experiencing difficulties with people willing to reveal what they know of Tom Riddle; too scared. Dumbledore does find out that Tom was obsessed with his parentage, eventually working out that his mother was magical and meeting her brother. He points young Tom to the Riddle Manor. Tom murders his father and paternal grandparents, but magically pins the deed on his uncle and takes possession of the ring. Slughorn was also one of Tom’s professors, one that Tom got close to and posed a question to one evening, asking about rare magic: Horcruxes. But the memory has been tampered with and there is no actual information. Dumbledore now tasks Harry with getting the real memory from Slughorn. This is very important. Whatever Tom learned is something Dumbledore and Harry must know.
Harry’s first attempts with Slughorn do not do well, so he has to back off and bide his time. Hermione tries to help Harry, but the library fails her for the first time. In between, they have Apparition lessons (also left out in the film.) Harry eventually comes across Ron talking about Romilda Vane and notices a box of Chocolate Cauldrons emptied. They’d been given to Harry by Romilda and Harry surmises that they had love potion in them and Ron’s now ingested it. He goes to Slughorn for help. Slughorn makes an antidote for the love potion, then offers a toast to Ron’s birthday using mead he planned to give Dumbledore at Christmas. Ron is the first to down his glass, then collapses. Slughorn hesitates. Harry rushes to find a bezoar and shoves it down his friend’s throat. Ron is admitted to the Hospital Wing for poisoning. Hermione sits beside his bed, upset. Ron murmurs her name. Though she notes that this is the second attack that hasn’t been fatal and hasn’t reached the person it was intended for. Arthur however comments that it was a “lucky day for the Weasleys when Ron decided to sit in your compartment on the Hogwarts Express, Harry (pg. 404);” he’s saved half the family it seems. In the film, Lavender comes to see Ron right after the episode and calls Hermione out for being there since they haven’t spoken in weeks. She hears Ron murmur Hermione’s name and runs out crying. Dumbledore takes it all in and Snape looks like he’d rather be anywhere else.
Unfortunately, with Ron out of commission for a bit, that allows Cormac McLaggen to join the Quidditch team and completely annoy everyone. He’s too busy advising everyone else how they should be playing to play his own position. With a Beater’s bat, he manages to crack Harry’s skull. In the Hospital Wing, Harry remarks to Madam Pomfrey, “I want to find McLaggen and kill him,” to which the witch responds “I’m afraid that would come under the heading of ‘overexertion’ (pg. 416).” [I’ve always loved that line, such sass.] Harry figures out to set Kreacher and Dobby to follow Draco, since he hasn’t gotten far looking for him on the map. On the bright side, Hermione and Ron are friends again.
Dumbledore’s summary on Tom Riddle continues. After leaving school, he got a simple job at Borgin and Burkes, contrary to everyone’s expectations. Though he initially wanted to stay on and teach at Hogwarts, he was denied. Dumbledore theorizes that Tom is more attached to the school than to a person. This quietly makes Harry uncomfortable; “Hogwarts was where he had been happiest; the first and only place he had felt at home (pg. 431).” He doesn’t want to share that with his greatest enemy. Tom views Hogwarts as a stronghold of ancient magic and he would be able to wield great power and influence over young witches and wizards. Dumbledore did not want Voldemort back in the school especially in a position of power, and Tom’s requested position was Defense Against the Dark Arts.
But he excelled at Borgin and Burkes. Young Tom was unusually gifted at persuading people to part with their treasures. One person in particular was a very rich, very old witch named Hepzibah Smith. She showed him her greatest treasures (out of a house full of them): a golden cup that belonged to Helga Hufflepuff, of which she is a distant descendant, and a golden locket she had once bought from Burke from Slytherin. Hepzibah died two days later, the death pinned on her house elf. Her family eventually discovered the cup and locket and missing, but by then, Riddle had moved on from Borgin and Burkes. “And that was the last that was seen or heard of Tom Riddle for a very long time (pg. 439).” Dumbledore notes that this time Tom killed for gain, not revenge, and he’s acquiring objects that are steeped in Hogwarts history.
The next memory they view is again Dumbledore’s, from ten year later. It’s a different Tom that enters Dumbledore’s office, no longer handsome, but not snakelike yet, a bit distorted. And he no longer goes by Tom, but Dumbledore refuses to use his new title. Tom wants to return and teach; he’s seen and done much since he left school. “I could show and tell your students things they can gain from no other wizard (pg. 443).” Dumbledore’s not sure about that. Tom’s response is “Greatness inspires envy, envy engenders spite, spite spawns lies (pg. 443)” [and doesn’t that sound a bit like Sith mentality?] Tom claims to “have pushed the boundaries of magic further, perhaps, than they have ever been pushed (pg. 443).” Nor does Tom agree with Dumbledore that love is great. Dumbledore denies his request, citing that he doesn’t believe Tom actually wants to teach, he just wants back in Hogwarts. Tom won’t say. Dumbledore will tell Harry his other ideas once he’s retrieved Slughorn’s memory. But for now, suffice to say, after denying Tom Riddle the teaching post of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Dumbledore hasn’t been able to keep that teacher for longer than a year. Again, this is all left out of the film.
Dobby reports to Harry that Draco is breaking no rules, but keen to avoid detection and has been visiting the seventh floor often. Harry figures it’s the Room of Requirement, but he can’t manage to get in while Draco is inside, or for it to show him what Draco is up to (left out of the film for simplicity’s sake). He also finds the spell Sectumsempra written in his book, with the note ‘for enemies.’ Harry then gets word from Hagrid that Aragog has died and Hagrid asks him to come down for the funeral. Ron and Hermione stress that Harry needs to get the memory from Slughorn. So they figure Harry should use Felix Felicis (he hesitates because he’s been secretly wanting to use it in order to get an opportunity to kiss Ginny, without Ron killing him). When he takes it, he feels an urge to go to Hagrid’s. On the way, he manages to come across Slughorn and invites him along. (Slughorn wants the venom from the giant spider for profit.) The film has Hagrid commenting that spiders are seriously misunderstood creatures; people are unnerved by the eyes. Harry mimics the pincers, which is a bit funny, when I can stand to watch the scene because I’d rather not see a giant spider, alive or dead *shiver.* After the funeral, Hagrid and Slughorn get drunk. Hagrid drifts to sleep, leaving Slughorn to speak to Harry. The subject of Harry’s parent’s death had already come up, so Harry admits that Lily could have lived if she had let Voldemort kill Harry. “But you won’t help her son. She gave me her life, but you won’t give me a memory. I am the Chosen One. I have to kill him. I need that memory (pg. 489-490).” He presses further, that Slughorn should be brave, like his mother. Doesn’t Slughorn want to get rid of the wizard who killed Lily Evans? Slughorn finally gives in, though he is not proud of the memory.
Harry rushes to Dumbledore with the memory. Turns out that Horcruxes are very Dark stuff, Slughorn cautions young Tom Riddle. But the teen wheedles the information out. A Horcrux is “an object in which one has concealed part of their soul (pg. 497),” so that if one is attacked, they cannot die for part of their soul remains earthbound and undamaged. He also warns that splitting one’s soul is a violation against nature, it is an act of supreme evil: murder. But Tom pushes that wouldn’t seven be best, since it is the most powerful magical number? Slughorn is shocked. But Dumbledore is not. This is the final puzzle piece. His first clue was the diary that Harry destroyed in the Chamber of Secrets. The ring that Marvolo Gaunt wore and that Tom claimed is another. It is the one that Dumbledore retrieved and cursed his hand. He also figures that Tom was searching for items from the four founders of Hogwarts, like Slytherin’s locket and Hufflepuff’s cup. However, the only known relic of Godric Gryffindor is safe (the sword). Dumbledore also theorizes that Voldemort’s snake, Nagini is another one; the Dark Lord keeps the snake very close. And that Voldemort was most likely planning to make a Horcrux the night he went to kill Harry.
Dumbledore believes he is close to finding another Horcrux. Harry wants to join him. The headmaster acquiesces, Harry has earned the right. They then fall into a discussion about the prophecy, since it mentions a power that the Dark Lord knows not and Dumbledore’s insistence that it is love. Dumbledore persists. Yes, Harry can love, “which, given everything that has happened to you, is a great and remarkable thing. You are still too young to understand how unusual you are, Harry (pg. 509).” And despite Harry’s privileged insight into Voldemort’s world, he has never been seduced by the Dark Arts. And yes, Harry will try to kill Voldemort “because you, yourself, will never rest until you’ve tried (pg. 511)!” Take into account all the terrible deeds that Voldemort has done. Harry thinks. “I’d want him finished. And I’d want to do it (pg. 512).” Voldemort created his own worst enemy, yet Harry could choose to turn away, but Voldemort will continue to hunt him and thus, one will kill the other. Of course, this rather important discussion and clarification is all left out of the film, though there is a brilliant bit where Dumbledore comments to Harry that he must once again, ask too much of him. And the next scene opens with Severus telling the headmaster that he asks too much of him.
Harry later finds Draco in the bathroom, crying to Moaning Myrtle. Hexes get thrown and Draco begins to say Crucio, but Harry shoots Sectumsempra. He’s surprised when it magically cuts Draco several times, causing the other boy to collapse. Snape happens to be nearby and manages to save Draco. Harry is ordered to stay. Harry manages to say he didn’t mean for it to happen, he didn’t know what the spell did. Snape remarks “who would have thought you knew such Dark Magic? Who taught you that spell (pg. 524)?” With Legilimancy Snape sees the image of Harry’s potion book. He demands all of Harry’s schoolbooks. Harry rushes to hide his potion book, using Ron’s instead. He runs to the Room of Requirement and finds an astonishing number of things (like a broken Vanishing Cabinet and a tarnished tiara), and puts the Half-Blood Prince’s book there. Snape still gives Harry detention for every Saturday until the end of term, meaning Harry will miss the final Quidditch match.
This occurs a bit differently in the movie. It takes place before Aragog’s funeral. The bathroom bit is fairly accurate to the book, but Ginny helps Harry hide the book in the Room of Requirement, then gives him a gentle kiss.
News spreads and Harry faces a lecture from McGonagall. He’s lucky he wasn’t expelled. Hermione mentions that the book always gave her a funny feeling. Harry argues it wasn’t. He’s defending what he did, he wishes he hadn’t done it, he would honestly never use a spell like that, not even on Malfoy, but he still plans to get the book back. Ginny sticks up for Harry and reminds them that Malfoy was going to use an Unforgivable Curse on Harry. For detention, Snape has Harry copy the Marauder’s ‘criminal files.’
After one detention, Harry finds a party going on in the Gryffindor Common Room; the team won the Quidditch Cup. Ginny throws her arms around Harry. “And without thinking, without planning it, without worrying about the fact that fifty people were watching, Harry kissed her. After several long moments-or it might have been half an hour-or possibly several sunlit days-they broke apart (pg. 533).” [I do love how that is written.] Hermione’s happy for them. Ron gives them an if-you-must look. Harry’s pleased to have conversations occur around him about something that is making him happier than he can remember, rather than Dark Magic. There’s a funny conversation about what kind of tattoo Harry has. Ginny claims a Hungarian Horntail. When Ron pipes up, she says a pygmy puff. Hermione still mulls over the question of the Half-Blood Prince and when she brings up Eileen Prince, Harry says the person writing didn’t feel like a girl. Why, cause girls aren’t clever, Hermione retorts. Harry corrects her, “how can I have hung round with you for five years and not think girls are clever (pg. 538)?” (He also stood up for her with Slughorn when he first met him, saying that one of his best friends is a Muggleborn and best of their year.)
Harry later comes across Trelawney, when she can’t get into the Room of Requirement. She heard someone very happy, and Harry’s concerned and suggests going to Dumbledore. In a roundabout fashion, Harry finds out that Snape was the one who overheard Trelawney give Dumbledore the prophecy that set Voldemort to Harry and his family. When Harry gets to Dumbledore, the headmaster is ready to retrieve the next Horcrux. Harry is ready to jump right in, despite the danger. “Boiling with anger at Snape, his desire to do something desperate and risky had increased tenfold in the last few minutes (pg. 544).” Harry owns up to Dumbledore, who tells Harry that Snape was very remorseful when he discovered what he’d done. Harry doesn’t agree. But Dumbledore will still take Harry with him on one condition, he must obey any command at once, if it is to save himself and leave the headmaster. Harry has a few minutes to tell Ron and Hermione, and he asks them to watch Draco and Snape, get the D.A. involved if they can. Again, all of this is left out of the film, replaced instead by Dumbledore commenting on how Harry has grown.
They go to the cave where Tom Riddle used to torment other orphans. Dumbledore remarks that magic always leaves traces. Inside the cave is a lake, but Dumbledore pulls up a boat [the dark water and boat is something that has a connection to Tolkien, though I can’t quite recall how. I know it showed up in a very well-written story, but I don’t recall otherwise.] They reach a small island in the center, with a bowl of liquid Dumbledore says he has to drink. Harry’s job is to ensure Dumbledore continues drinking the potion, even if Dumbledore begs otherwise. Harry offers to be the one, but the headmaster claims he is “much older, much cleverer, and much less valuable (pg. 570).” They succeed, but when Dumbledore asks for more water at the end, Harry has to get it from the lake, which draws bodies to attack him [again, very Tolkien]. Dumbledore conjures fire and gets them back to the boat with the locket in hand. Harry vows when they land in Hogsmeade that he’ll take care of Dumbledore. “I’m not worried, Harry. I am with you (pg. 578).”
But they spot the Dark Mark above the castle and race to Hogwarts. Harry worries he is responsible again for the death of a friend. Dumbledore orders Harry to get Snape and not stop for anyone, but Draco enters before Harry can leave. Harry is frozen and still beneath his Invisibility Cloak. Draco disarms Dumbledore. He admits there are Death Eaters in the school; they came through the Vanishing Cabinet that he fixed. The mate is in Borgin and Burkes. Dumbledore knows that Draco has been tasked with killing him and his first two attempts were to send a cursed necklace via Katie Bell, and poisoned mead through Slughorn. Dumbledore also admits that Snape has been keeping an eye on Draco per the headmaster’s orders. And yes, while there are Death Eaters in the school, so is the Order of the Phoenix. Dumbledore doesn’t feel that Draco will kill him. Draco feels he’s out of options, the Dark Lord will kill him and his family if he fails. Dumbledore offers help for his family. They’ll make it look like they died and spirit them away.
Death Eaters enter and urge Draco to finish the job. Snape joins them. Dumbledore pleads with Severus. Harry sees “there was revulsion and hatred etched in the harsh lines of his [Snape’s] face (pg. 595).” Snape uses the Killing Curse and Dumbledore falls off the Astronomy Tower, then Snape pulls Draco along. Harry’s freed and starts fighting the Death Eaters. All that’s in his mind is to get to Dumbledore and catch Snape. He runs through the Order fighting the Death Eaters. He catches up with Snape at Hagrid’s hut (which Snape lights on fire with Fang inside it) and calls the man a coward. Snape shouts at Harry, then sneeringly offers him “blocked again and again and again until you learn to keep your mouth shut and your mind closed, Potter (pg. 603)!” Harry’s in a rage; he doesn’t care if he lives or dies. He tries Sectumsempra, but repelled by Snape, as is Levicorpus. “You dare you my own spells against me, Potter? It was I who invented them-I, the Half-Blood Prince! And you’d turn my inventions on me like your filthy father, would you (pg. 604)?” Harry shouts at the man, “kill me like you killed him, you coward” and feels no fear, only rage and contempt. “DON’T CALL ME COWARD!” Snape roars back. Buckbeak attacks Snape for attacking Harry. Hagrid manages to save Fang, but Snape and Draco are gone.
This happens a little differently in the film. Dumbledore and Harry arrive directly back to the tower and there is no major battle inside Hogwarts (that will be saved for later). Snape is not as unhinged in the film going against Harry [once again, thanks to the brilliant performance by Alan Rickman.] He does see Harry below Dumbledore before he joins his Death Eater friends. Bellatrix is happy to cause destruction and she casts the Dark Mark after Dumbledore is dead. And it’s she who lights Hagrid’s hut on fire. And there is a beautiful scene at the base of the Astronomy Tower once Ginny comes to comfort Harry. McGonagall is the first to raise her wand, lit only at the tip. Slowly, the rest of the school follows suit and the light breaks apart the dark cloud. Fans later mimic this scene in remembrance of the victims of the Orlando nightclub attack, as well as for Alan Rickman and Michael Gambon’s passing at the Wizarding World attraction in Orlando, Florida.
There is a crowd growing at the Astronomy Tower. “Harry tried to absorb the enormous and incomprehensible truth: that never again would Dumbledore speak to him, never again could he help…(pg. 609).” He discovers that the locket they retrieved does not have the S on the front that the one from the memory had and there is a piece of parchment inside claiming that someone else has already traded out the locket, with the initials R.A.B. It’s Ginny who takes Harry away. They go to the Hospital Wing, where Bill is recovering from being attacked by Fenrir Greyback. Fleur arrives and puts Molly in her place about the wedding; she is beautiful enough for the both of them. That relationship begins mending. Tonks points out to Lupin that Fleur still loves Bill despite the scars. Lupin claims it’s different between them, he’s too old, too poor, too dangerous. Everyone else tells him he’s being ridiculous. Dumbledore would want more love and happiness in the world. Harry tells them what happened on top the tower and listens to Fawkes’ phoenix lament. Neville and Luna were the only ones from the D.A. who helped.
Slughorn will take over as the Head of Slytherin House. McGonagall asks Harry what his mission was with Dumbledore, but Harry won’t tell; Dumbledore didn’t want him to. Hogwarts is to be Dumbledore’s final resting place. The funeral takes place before the students return home. Harry’s a bit numb in the following days. Gone is his normal curiosity to solve a mystery. There is just the task of finding each Horcrux and figuring out how to destroy them. He rattles off the list in his head like a mantra. Hermione uncovers that Eileen Prince was Snape’s mother. She married a Muggle, making Snape similar to Voldemort with a pureblood mother and Muggle father, and an interest in the Dark Arts, then making a new name. And Harry remembers that Draco was lowering his wand when the Death Eaters entered, the fear he had; he doesn’t believe that Draco would have killed Dumbledore. “He despised Malfoy still for his infatuation with the Dark Arts, but now the tiniest drop of pity mingled with his dislike (pg. 640).”
At the funeral Harry mulls that everyone who has stood in front of him, determined to protect him, are all dead. “He could not let anybody else stand between him and Voldemort; he must abandon forever the illusion he ought to have lost at the age of one, that the shelter of a parent’s arms meant that nothing could hurt him (pg. 645).” He’s more alone that ever before. Then he tells Ginny they can’t be involved. She knows it’s a stupid, noble reason and doesn’t care. She’s known this would happen, that Harry must hunt down Voldemort, or else he’ll never be happy. The Minister of Magic corners Harry after the funeral, but Harry again refuses his offer and refuses to reveal Dumbledore’s secrets. He repeats what he said back in his second year: “He [Dumbledore] will only be gone from the school when none here are loyal to him (pg. 649).”
Harry’s come to the decision that he won’t be returning to Hogwarts the next year, even if it opens. He’ll go to the Dursleys’ as he’s supposed to, then to Godric Hollow. Next, find the Horcruxes and kill Voldemort. Ron says he and Hermione will be with him. Hermione reiterates that they’ve had time to turn back if they wanted. Ron finishes, “we’re with you whatever happens (pg. 651),” though there will be Bill and Fleur’s wedding first.
The film again streamlines the plot from the book, but they cut a lot of Voldemort’s backstory, making the character more flat. And there’s something lost to Harry’s characterization in the film as well. We, the readers and fans, love sarcastic Harry. And while Harry is not as outwardly angry as in previous years, he still carries it inside. And the budding relationship with Ginny was a bit odd in the film. I mean, Bonnie Wright did well with what she was given and shows Ginny as very supportive of Harry so it makes the relationship plausible, but it’s also short-lived. Tom Felton portrays Draco brilliantly, allowing us to pity a boy we were content to utterly dislike. He’s confident at the beginning of the film and resists Snape’s questions and help. But the stress clearly gets to him and by the end we can tell that he doesn’t want to go through with the plan, but doesn’t see a way out.
Dame Maggie Smith completed filming this movie while undergoing treatment for breast cancer [and I swear I read somewhere that Daniel Radcliffe acted as her assistant at times]. I will admit, I cried the first time I read the ending of the book and I was completely shocked that Rowling would kill such an important character. And I still tear up in the movie, particularly now that Michael Gambon has passed. The wands’ scene at the end gets me every time. Overall, not my favorite part of the series. The book is a lot of exposition, which is important, but that’s probably why it was cut from the film.
Next Time: We finish the series with the last book and the two-part movie, Deathly Hallows. There will be a wrap-up post afterwards and then a possible break so I can work on some other writing projects for a bit, then diving back into some more of my favorites with the How to Train Your Dragon franchise.
Imelda Staunton (she has recently played Elizabeth II in The Crown, Maud Bagshaw in the Downton Abbey films, one of the fairies in the Maleficent films, and years ago was the nurse in Shakespeare in Love) joins the cast as Dolores Umbridge, and Helena Bonham Carter (she was Elizabeth II’s sister, Princess Margaret in The Crown, Queen Elizabeth [that would be Elizabeth II’s mother, known as the Queen Mother when her daughter took the throne] in The King’s Speech, the mother, Eudoria Holmes in the Enola Holmes films, the Fairy Godmother in the live-action Cinderella, Madame Thénardier in the Les Misérables film from 2012; she is also a favorite in Tim Burton’s films [Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland to name a few], she was Morgan le Fey/Queen Mab in the 1998 Merlin movie, and one of her first movies was Lady Jane where she was Lady Jane Grey, the nine-day queen of England) as Bellatrix Lestrange, along with Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood.
This was another book that I purchased as soon as it came out. However, that summer, I was on vacation with a friend, and we stopped at a Wal-Mart shortly after midnight and there was a pallet full of the books. And then I was told off because I was reading the book in the car instead of taking in the scenery (in my defense, each mile looked about the same, so the book was far more interesting).
Harry is back at Privet Drive for the summer (note the progressively darker tinted openings in the films) and tries to keep up on the news as best he can, in case anything strange happens, though he has to hide because the Dursleys find it odd. He’s upset at the lack of information; Ron and Hermione can’t say anything in their letters. It’s past his birthday and no one has come to retrieve him. He’s chafing with the knowledge “hadn’t he proved himself capable of handling much more than they? Hadn’t it been he who had entered that graveyard and watched Cedric being murdered and been tied to that tombstone and nearly killed… (pg. 8)?” Even Sirius tells Harry in his letters “Be careful and don’t do anything rash… (pg. 9).” Overall, he’s frustrated and angry and has unsettling dreams about long corridors. So, aching for a fight, he takes the chance to poke fun at Dudley when his cousin is away from his gang. Dudley turns it back on Harry and calls him out for his nightmares, which has Harry drawing his wand. Which he needs because dementors turn up, and he’s forced to save Dudley.
Luckily, old Mrs. Figg witnessed it and turns out, she’s a Squib (non-magical child born to magical parents) and knows Dumbledore. But owls arrive at Privet Drive, first expelling Harry for using magic, but then he finds out Dumbledore goes to argue his case, so instead there will be a hearing to determine the consequences. But Harry almost wants to go on the run to avoid the Ministry. When he has to explain to the Dursleys what has been going on and the fact that Voldemort, the wizard that murdered his parents, is back, Vernon tries to throw him out. Petunia gets an owl that warns her “Remember my last, Petunia!” So she relents and says they have to keep him; the neighbors would question, but he’s confined to his room again. The only part shown in the film is one letter from the Ministry.
Harry also gets owls from Arthur Weasley and Sirius ordering him stay in the house. Harry’s not pleased with the lack of information (in the film, we get a shot of a photograph of James and Lily, which is nice to see). Four days later, when the Dursleys are out for the evening, Moody, Lupin, and several others, such as Nymphadora Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt come for Harry. Moody funnily calls Harry out for keeping his wand in his back pocket, so when Tonks helps Harry with his trunk, she checks “both buttocks still on?” They fly to London and Harry enters Number 12 Grimmauld Place; the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. The house magically appears between numbers 11 and 13 and Mrs. Weasley is the one to greet the crew. She sends the adults in to the meeting, while Harry is sent upstairs to wait with Ron and Hermione. Hermione babbles that Dumbledore kept them from writing anything of import to Harry. This doesn’t help Harry’s mood and he shouts; “every bitter and resentful thought that Harry had had in the past month was pouring out of him; his frustration at the lack of news, the hurt that they had all been together without him, his fury at being followed and not told about it: All the feelings he was half-ashamed of finally burst their boundaries (pgs. 65-66).” [Which is understandable and I totally agree Harry should feel this way; it’s just, it gets repeated over and over throughout the book, that part annoys me.]
Harry calms down and his friends are able to explain that the Order is a secret society made up of people who fought Voldemort the last time, and a few who are now old enough to join; but only those witches and wizards who are out of school. Ron fills in Harry on his family; Bill (who he met the previous year), is part of the Order and dating Fleur Delacour; Charlie is also part of the Order, but remained in Romania; Percy had an argument with Arthur and left the house, deciding to stand with the Ministry. The paper continues to run stories discrediting both Dumbledore and Harry, turning them into people no one will believe, which hampers some of the Order’s work.
When the meeting ends, Harry is able to greet his godfather [and we adore the hug they share], and find out that Grimmauld Place is Sirius’ parents’ house. He offered the house to Dumbledore for headquarters; “about the only useful thing I’ve been able to do (pg. 79).” Sirius admits that he is stuck inside because the Ministry is still after him; “There’s not much I can do for the Order of the Phoenix…or so Dumbledore feels (pg. 82).” He does offer that Harry can ask questions; he’s got a right to know. In the film, we hear Sirius arguing for action as Harry enters the house. Molly argues, and apparently Dumbledore agrees, that they are not to tell Harry more than he needs to know. Sirius argues back that it’s his decision as Harry’s godfather; he’s not a child. Molly counters that Harry is not an adult either, he’s not James. The way Sirius talks, he’s got his best friend back and Sirius has been known to act rashly, which is why Dumbledore has reminded him to stay home. Lupin jumps in and states that it is better for Harry to get the facts, not some garbled version (because he knows the teens are trying to listen in. And in the film, Crookshanks hilariously ate an Extendable Ear, to which one of the twins said “I hate your cat, Hermione”). Molly continues that Dumbledore must have his reasons to keep Harry in the dark, and Molly is someone who has Harry’s best interest at heart.
Sirius can’t let that lie and tells Molly, “he’s not your son.” “He’s as good as, who else has he got?” Molly counters. He has Sirius, his godfather quickly claims. Molly retorts, “it’s been rather difficult for you to look after him whole you’ve been locked up in Azkaban, hasn’t it?” Luckily, Lupin jumps back in and settles both adults; Molly is not the only person who cares about Harry and makes his friend sit down. Then he says “Harry ought to be allowed a say in his. He’s old enough to decide for himself (pg. 90).” Harry jumps for the opportunity for information. Mentally, he’s touched that Molly Weasley considers him as good as a son, but also sides with Sirius, that he’s not a child.
While Harry may be underage, he’s not a normal child. He is the one that Voldemort is out to kill; he’s the one who has met the villain face-to-face more than once. A lot of the events that must be going on affect Harry’s life. He should be aware, because being blind to it will not save him. And Sirius should be allowed the opportunity to live up to being named godfather. And yes, it’s very admirable that Molly Weasley wants to look after Harry and she treats him as her own son and Harry has needed that. But as Remus points out, she is not the only one who cares about Harry and she can’t make decisions for him.
We find out alongside Harry that there have not been suspicious deaths, yet. Voldemort doesn’t want to draw attention to himself at this point. His comeback was messed up by Harry surviving and getting word back to Dumbledore. Of course, he’s working behind the scenes and attempting to build an army, which is why the Order is also recruiting new members. They’re running into interference with the Ministry because Fudge is determined to not believe that Voldemort is back; it’s a bad mark on his political reign. Instead, he’s gotten paranoid that Dumbledore actually wants to rule and is out for the Minster’s job. There is something else; something that Voldemort is after that he didn’t have last time, a possible weapon. Molly puts an end to the discussion at that point.
Harry and the other teens spend the rest of the summer cleaning the house. The house resists being cleaned. They find a locket in a cabinet that Kreacher, the house elf, steals so they can’t throw it away. The writing desk has a boggart inside. Fred and George are secretly working on sweets for their joke shop, that will make students ill so they can miss class. They come across a tapestry with the family tree of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, whose motto is Toujours Pur. Sirius was blasted off when he ran away from home at the age of 16. He went to the Potters. Sirius had a younger brother, Regulus, who bought into the whole pureblood regime and joined the Death Eaters, and then was killed. “Anytime the family produced someone halfway decent, they were disowned (pg. 113).” Tonks’ mother, Andromeda, was a favorite cousin of Sirius. She was removed from the tapestry because she married a Muggle-born. Andromeda’s two sisters are Bellatrix Lestrange and Narcissa Malfoy; meaning that Sirius is related to Draco Malfoy. Sirius points out that most of the pure-blood wizarding families are interrelated, though “if ever a family was a bunch of blood traitors, it’s the Weasleys (pg. 113).” Sirius is not proud of his family; he doesn’t like being back in the house. “I never thought I’d be stuck in this house again (pg. 114).” And Harry understands. He felt the same way being stuck in Privet Drive. He brings up the notion that if he would get expelled from Hogwarts for using magic against the dementors, could he come back and live with Sirius. A lot of this is left out of the film, though the tapestry bit is moved to a later point.
Arthur takes Harry to the Ministry of Magic for his hearing, using the visitor’s entrance, which is a telephone box where they dial 62442 [which spells out MAGIC]. When they get there, they get word that the time and location of his hearing has been changed. Harry is brought before a Wizengamot session, highly unusual (and a departure from Fudge’s previous joviality; just two years prior, he swept the matter under the rug that Harry blew up his aunt). Luckly, Dumbledore arrived at the Ministry extremely early [this was undoubtedly all a plot to catch Harry off his guard and give them another reason to rule against him; and Dumbledore probably understood that and made sure to be early to counteract] and acts as witness for the defense. Fudge talks over Harry, who only just gets out that he only used magic because of the dementors. We meet the Minister’s senior undersecretary, Dolores Umbridge. Harry is cleared of all charges, but Fudge is still not convinced. Dumbledore never looks at or speaks to Harry.
Back at Grimmauld Place, prefect badges come for Hermione and Ron. Molly is pleased and claims “that’s everyone in the family!” George points out, “What are Fred and I, next-door neighbors?” [This is left out of the movie, thought I wish they had kept that plot point in just for that line.] As a reward, Molly and Arthur get Ron a new broom. Harry is briefly jealous, but talks himself out of it; he won’t ruin this for Ron, this that he has beaten Harry at something. He’s cheered by finding out that James wasn’t a prefect either; that was Remus. Moody brings around a photo of the original Order of the Phoenix, showing Harry his parents as well as Frank and Alice Longbottom. After dinner, Harry comes across Molly crying at the boggart from the writing desk. It shows her a dead Ron, then Bill, Arthur, the twins, Percy, and finally Harry. Lupin is able to calm her down and points out that should the worst happen, the order will of course take care of her children, does she think they’d let them starve?
Sirius as Padfoot accompanies Harry to King’s Cross, which cheers Harry up. He rides with Ginny and Neville, and he meets Luna Lovegood, who is a bit odd, and does not hit it off with Hermione. Unfortunately, he also finds out that Malfoy is a Slytherin prefect. The blonde’s comment is “you see, I, unlike you, have been made a prefect, which means that I, unlike you, have the power to hand out punishment.” Harry’s comeback is “yeah, but you, unlike me, are a git, so get out and leave us alone (pg. 194).” [Another great bit that was left out of the film.]
At Hogwarts, Harry is taken aback to discover that the carriages do not actually pull themselves; they’re drawn by dark, scaly almost-horse winged creatures. Except his friends don’t see them. Luna does and assures him he’s not going mad. He doesn’t necessarily believe her. His mood does not improve when he discovers that Hagrid is not there, or that Umbridge will be the new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. The Sorting Hat attempts to warn the school “Hogwarts is in danger/From external, deadly foes/And we must unite inside her/Or we’ll crumble from within (pg. 207).” Umbridge them makes a speech that “progress for the sake of progress must be discouraged. Let us preserve what ought to be preserved, perfect what can be perfected, and prune practices that out to be prohibited.” And encourages the school to move forward with a new era of openness. Hermione (correctly) interprets the speech that the Ministry is interfering at Hogwarts. The evening does not end well when Harry discovers that classmate, Seamus Finnegan almost did not return because he and his mother believe what the paper is saying about Harry and Dumbledore. An argument starts between the two boys, and Ron sides with Harry, as well as Neville.
Fred and George continue to work on their joke shop and start thinking about life outside Hogwarts, and point out that the fifth years will get career advice this year alongside their OWL exams. Anger continues to flare in Harry and he takes his temper out on Hermione and Ron. Their first class with Umbridge does not go well, discovering that they will not be practicing any magic. The Ministry has deemed that a theoretical knowledge will get them through exams, which is what school is all about. When it’s brought up that they would need magic outside of school and proper knowledge, Umbridge declares that Voldemort’s return is a lie and gives Harry detention. “So, according to you, Cedric Diggory dropped dead of his own accord (pg. 245)!”
Umbridge sends Harry to McGonagall. “Have a biscuit, Potter,” the Scotswoman tells Harry when the teenager explains what happened. Then she warns him to be careful; he knows to whom Umbridge reports. It’s not about truth or lies, it about keeping his head down and temper under control. And at least he listens to Hermione about the Ministry’s interference (sadly, this was kept out of the movie).
At detention, Umbridge tells Harry it is his punishment for spreading evil, nasty attention-seeking stories. “You know deep down you deserve to be punished” [and that is a horrible thing to ever say to someone…I’m guessing in the wizarding world that no one questioned her teaching qualifications…obviously not since she’s a spy for Fudge.] He’s to write lines, and he’ll be using a special quill of Umbridge’s, that doesn’t require ink. No, it uses his blood and while he writes “I must not tell lies,” it carves into the back of his hand. Harry refuses to make a noise throughout his punishment and initially refuses to tell even Ron or Hermione. When they find out, he also refuses to tell Dumbledore. McGonagall finds out in the film and calls Umbridge out for her medieval methods, to which Umbridge attempts to claim McGonagall is disloyal. Umbridge may actually be a teacher that Harry hates even more than Snape. Percy sends Ron a letter to cut ties with Harry and instead, follow Umbridge. That’s because Umbridge is named by the Minister the new High Inquisitor of Hogwarts, giving the Ministry unprecedented level of control at Hogwarts and Umbridge powers to “inspect” teachers. If they’re not up to her snuff, she and the Ministry can appoint new teachers. There are still members of the Wizengamot who support Dumbledore and oppose the decrees, though the paper also tries to discredit them.
Sirius manages to make a fire call to Harry, responding to a note that Harry sent; he told his godfather “I feel more alone than ever” and knows Sirius will understand [and your heart breaks a little]. Sirius has heard about Umbridge through Remus; she dislikes half-breeds and pushes legislation through against werewolves. Though Sirius points out that the “world isn’t split into good people and Death Eaters (pg. 302).” And Fudge continues to be paranoid about Dumbledore. The reason why the students won’t actually learn defensive spells is he’s afraid to have them “trained in combat;” he’s afraid that Dumbledore is building his own army to attack the Ministry. When Sirius suggests that he comes to visit Harry at Hogsmeade, Harry warns him away; the Malfoys possibly recognized Sirius as Padfoot at King’s Cross and Harry doesn’t want his godfather chucked back in Azkaban. Unfortunately, his godfather’s parting words are “you’re less like your father than I thought. The risk would’ve been what made it fun for James (pg. 305).” Luckily, those parting words are left out of the film, because it’s not fair to compare the son to the father. At that time and age, James could be reckless; Harry’s not in a position to be reckless. Instead, his parting words to the teens in the film are “looks like you’re on your own,” which does not bode well.
The first inspection the trio witness is Umbridge with Professor Trelawney. While they know Trelawney is a fake, it’s a bit hard to watch Umbridge demand a prediction. Then Umbridge inspects McGonagall, which does not go the way Umbridge expects. We cheer alongside the students as Minerva tells the toad “I wonder, how you expect to gain an idea of my usual teaching methods if you continue to interrupt me? You see, I do not generally permit people to talk when I am talking (pg. 320).” Seriously, why did the filmmakers cut out the awesome McGonagall scenes? This would have been great on camera. Though they do pair Umbridge’s scenes where she exerts control throughout the school with chipper music, to make everything a little off-kilter.
It’s Hermione who brings up the idea of learning Defense Against the Dark Arts themselves. But they need a proper teacher, who’s actually fought the Dark Arts – like Harry. Harry insists his continued existence is based on luck; he didn’t know what he was doing half the time and never planned it. “The whole time you’re sure you know there’s nothing between you and dying except your own – your own brain or guts or whatever – like you can think straight when you know you’re about a second from being murdered, or tortured, or watching your friends die – they’ve never taught us that in their classes, what it’s like to deal with things like that (pg. 328).” This is why it should be Harry, Hermione insists. She gathers some other students and they meet at Hog’s Head during the next Hogsmeade weekend. There are a few more than Harry expected and some of them start by asking questions about what really happened with Cedric. Harry refuses to address that. The meeting settles down and Hermione demands that those who sign their names to the list agree not to tell anybody else. Gotta love the line in the movie where Hermione says, “it’s sort of exciting, isn’t it, breaking the rules?” This from the girl who told Ron and Harry off first year about “another idea to get us killed, or worse, expelled.” Which is why Ron replies, “who are you and what have you done with Hermione Granger?”
There are some passing comments about Harry’s interest in Cho, as well as Ginny dating another Gryffindor. In other news, Ron tried out and became the new Keeper for the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He’s not terribly good when his confidence falters.
Shortly after the meeting, a new educational decree is put out that student groups are disbanded and have to be given permission by Umbridge to reform. McGonagall goes above her head when Umbridge almost refuses to let the Gryffindor team continue. Sirius manages another fire call and passes along that the Order knows about the student group. Molly prefers if they disband, but Sirius is all for it. Learning to defend themselves is a good idea.
Malfoy continues to make digs at Harry, advising there is a “special ward for people whose brains have been addled by magic.” It doesn’t bother Harry because he’s too busy pulling Neville away from Malfoy. We and Harry know that Neville’s parents were tortured to insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange and now reside in St. Mungo’s (again, left out of the film). Umbridge next inspects Snape and points out that he first applied for the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts and was unsuccessful. “Obviously.” [And Alan Rickman had such a talent to put so much nuance in one word.]
The secret defense meeting finds a meeting place in the Room of Requirement, which Harry finds out about from Dobby. Dobby does not appear in the film, most likely to keep the storyline streamlined. It’s Neville who comes across the room. One can only enter if they have a real need and the room is always equipped with the seeker’s need. Harry’s comment is “it’s like Hogwarts wants us to fight back.” They name themselves “Dumbledore’s Army,” because that’s what the Ministry is afraid of.” And Hermione figures out how to charm Galleons to transmit the next meeting date and time (which is a bit of advanced magic). Harry starts off with teaching them Expelliarmus first; it saved his life against Voldemort the previous year. As the other students begin to progress, it buoys Harry’s spirit (he still has issues with anger and temper flaring).
Gryffindor plays Slytherin in Quidditch and Malfoy has taught the Slytherins a ditty: “Weasley is our King” to get in Ron’s head. Harry manages to catch the Snitch early to win the game, so Malfoy insults the Weasleys and Lily Potter, so Harry and George pounce on the ponce. Umbridge, the little toad, puts a lifetime Quidditch ban on Harry, Fred, and George (because Fred would have hit the boy as well if the others weren’t holding him back); and of course, Malfoy gets off scot-free. She got Fudge to set a new educational decree after McGonagall went over her head. [I get a little angry about this because it is completely unjust, but there are entitled people who are like this, who have to have their way and figure out how to get it…and this is why we hate Umbridge.]
A little hope shines through: Hagrid is back. But injured. He admits to the trio that he was sent to parley with the giants. It did not go as well as he hoped, but he’s quiet as to why it took him so long to return or why he’s injured. They try to warn him about Umbridge and Hermione even begs for Hagrid to do boring lessons so he can’t get thrown out, but Hagrid bats them away. His first lesson is about thestrals, the strange creatures Harry can now see that pull the carriages. And the reason he can now see them is that only people who have seen death can see them. Umbridge comes to inspect the lesson and is purposefully horrid, making enough comments out loud that she views him as inferior and won’t listen to a good word about him, selecting the Slytherins to make horrible comments. [Grrr].
On a better note, Neville is improving in D.A. and Cho manages to kiss Harry, though she’s been crying about Cedric. Hermione interprets her feelings for the boys, commenting that Cho spends half her time anymore crying. When Ron comments that one person can’t feel all those emotions or they’ll burst, Hermione retorts “just because you’ve got the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn’t mean we all have (pg. 459)” [and I love that line.] Harry dreams about Cho, but it changes to a snake attacking Arthur Weasley. Ron runs for McGonagall, who takes Harry to Dumbledore. The headmaster sends other portraits to make sure Arthur is found and sends Harry and the Weasleys to Grimmauld Place. When Dumbledore looks at Harry, a feeling of hatred so powerful comes over Harry, he almost wants to bite Dumbledore like the snake. When Harry is ignored, the anger flares and he shouts “Look at me!” and demands “what’s happening to me?”
Arthur lives and Molly takes the children, joined by Hermione, to St. Mungo’s the next day to visit. The kids also overhear the adults talk about Voldemort possibly possessing Harry. So Harry pulls away from the others, and starts thinking he’ll need to leave the wizarding world in order to protect his friends. They finally track him down and Ginny points out she was once possessed by Voldemort and what Harry is going through is not an actual possession. They try to get across to Harry that he’s not alone. Sirius is also pleased to have guests for the holiday. On another visit to St. Mungo’s Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny come across Lockhart, who’s still missing memories due to his spell backfiring. They also find out about Neville’s parents, seeing him visit them. This is the first time, at the end of the holiday, that Harry doesn’t want to return to Hogwarts. If not for D.A., he’d beg to stay with Sirius.
And his mood doesn’t improve when Snape pays a visit to Grimmauld Place before they return to Hogwarts, informing Sirius and Harry that Dumbledore has asked Snape to give Harry lessons in Occlumency, a magical defense of the mind against external penetration. Sirius warns his old nemesis that if he gets word that Snape is using the lessons to give Harry a hard time, the Potions master will answer to him. Of course, Snape retorts with a crack about James and calls Sirius a coward [which would not help Sirius’ mental health.] When the teens finally leave, “Harry had an unpleasant constricted sensation in his chest; he did not want to say good-bye to Sirius. He had a bad feeling about this parting; he did not know when they would next see each other (pg. 523).” Sirius passes Harry a gift as he leaves, to use if he needed him. Harry vows to himself not to use it; he would not lure Sirius from a place of safety.
In his lessons with Snape, Harry finds out that the curse that left the scar on his head forged a connection with Voldemort. And he’s learning Occlumency so that the Dark Lord won’t use the connection going the other way. He’s gotten a view from inside the evil lord’s head, and hints of his feelings. Though Snape doesn’t actually tell Harry how to repel him with his brain. The man only tells Harry to clear his mind, let go of all emotion, master himself, and control your anger, discipline your mind. Those are not actual instructions. Harry’s forced to relieve bad memories, though he works out that the corridor he keeps dreaming about is in the Department of Mysteries. He also senses happiness from Voldemort. That’s because several Death Eaters made a mass breakout from Azkaban, including Bellatrix. Of course, the paper blames Sirius, but other students are starting to question which story is right.
Harry’s lessons with Occlumency are moved to right after Dumbledore’s office in the film, so Sirius can’t defend Harry against Snape. Dumbledore claims that it can’t wait, or else everyone will be vulnerable. And he still explains nothing to Harry, which frustrates the teen more. Snape explains that Voldemort is skilled in the art of breaking into someone’s mind, unhinging it, creating visions, and ultimately torturing his victims to madness. And still, his only notes to Harry to perform Occlumency are concentrate and focus.
We do see Harry at Grimmauld Place for Christmas; Arthur offers the teen a toast, for “without whom, I would not be here.” Harry spends some time with his godfather and it’s at this point in the movie that they come across the Black family tapestry. It’s now that Harry finds out this was Sirius’ childhood home. Sirius admits he hated his parents for their pureblood mania. His mother blasted him off the tree when he ran away from home at sixteen. He went to James’ home; he was always welcomed at the Potters. “I see him so much in you, Harry. You are so very much alike.” [This comes across better than some passages in the book, because it’s said with warmth, thanks to Gary Oldman, and with a longing that James isn’t around for Harry to see his similarities. Sirius is also trying to cheer up his godson, not just wallow in missing an old friend.]
Harry, in turn, admits that in his dream, he was the snake. What if the reason for this connection to Voldemort means Harry is becoming more like the Dark Lord? “I just feel so angry, all the time. And what if, after everything I’ve been through, something’s gone wrong inside me? What if I’m becoming bad?” (At least Harry admitted it to someone). Sirius comforts his godson, “you’re not a bad person. You’re a very good person, who bad things have happened to.” “Besides, the world isn’t split into good people and Death Eaters; we’ve all got light and dark inside of us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That’s who we really are.” As they leave, Sirius tells Harry, “when all of this is over, we’ll be a proper family, you’ll see.” He pulls his godson in for a hug (and paired with the melancholy music, our hearts break a bit again, especially if you’ve read the book).
More decrees come out, forbidding teachers to say anything to students that’s not related to their direct subject. The breakout intensifies Umbridge’s furious desire to bring every aspect of life at Hogwarts under her personal control. She puts Trelawney and Hagrid on probation and sits in on all their classes. Umbridge is slowly depriving Harry of everything that made his life at Hogwarts worth living. He gets his revenge with D.A. Neville is again the one to show the most improvement, fueled by the knowledge that the one who tortured his parents is now free. Though Harry’s lessons with Occlumency continue to go poorly.
Harry manages to ask Cho out for a date. It ends up falling apart because Harry is supposed to meet up with Hermione later and doesn’t know quite how to say it to Cho without hurting her feelings. Cho also only wants to talk about Cedric. When Harry shows up for his meeting with Hermione, he finds her with Rita Skeeter and Luna Lovegood. Harry is to give Rita an interview about what happened the previous summer, which will be printed in the Quibbler, the magazine that Luna’s father owns. The interview goes well and Harry receives letters from readers. Some still think he’s mad, but some are now turned to the truth. Umbridge finds out and bans Harry from further Hogsmeade trips, as well as taking points and giving Harry more detention. She puts through the decree that anyone caught reading the Quibbler will be expelled. As Hermione points out, “if she could have done one thing to make absolutely sure that every single person in this school will read your interview, it was banning it (pg. 582)!”
More people are swayed in their belief, students hide the magazine from Umbridge, teachers support Harry how they can. Trelawney pronounces that Harry will not suffer an early death. Cho apologizes to Harry, as well as Seamus.
Umbridge ultimately fires Trelawney and tries to send her from the castle. McGonagall of all people is the one to come forward to comfort Sybill. Dumbledore arrives and while the High Inquisitor has the right to dismiss any of the teachers, she does not have the power to send them from the castle; that power still resides with the headmaster. And he’s already found another Divination teacher, because the decree stated that the Ministry can put in a replacement only if the headmaster is unable to do so. His new professor is the centaur, Firenze.
His lessons differ from Trelawney’s. The wisdom of centaurs is impersonal and impartial. The observe the heavens for “here is written, for those who can see, the fortune of our races (pg. 602).” [Centaurs hold the ability to view the heavens and see the future in mythology; they do so in C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia.] “His priority did not seem to be to teach them what he knew, but rather to impress upon them that nothing, not even centaurs’ knowledge, was foolproof (pg. 604).” Firenze does not appear in the film.
D.A. starts working on Patronuses, but Dobby comes to warn them that Umbridge is coming. Everyone scatters and runs, but Harry is caught by Malfoy. Umbridge takes him to Dumbledore’s office, where Fudge, McGonagall, Percy, and Shacklebolt are already waiting. Harry doesn’t play along and tells her that no, he doesn’t know why he’s been brought in. Then Umbridge brings forward their informant, Cho’s friend. Except she’s got pimples across her face spelling out “Sneak;” that’d be the effect of Hermione’s hex. She told Umbridge about the meeting, but won’t say anything else. Umbridge had her own informant at Hog’s Head the day the group was formed, though McGonagall points out that her informant was never prosecuted for his other crimes, funny how “justice” works. When Umbridge starts shaking the girl to get answers, Dumbledore steps in, for he won’t allow her to manhandle his students. The list of names is brought forward, under the banner of “Dumbledore’s Army.” This is simplified in the movie to show that Cho was doused with Veritiserum to give them up.
Dumbledore “confesses” to the crime, that he’s been plotting against Fudge. However, he will not come quietly. “I have absolutely no intention of being sent to Azkaban. I could break out, of course – but what a waste of time, and frankly, I can think of a whole host of things I would rather be doing (pg. 620).” He warns one of the other men that if they try to take him by force, he will have to hurt them. He also won’t let Minerva help, Hogwarts needs her. Minerva shoves the two students to the floor as Dumbledore creates his escape. He took out the other adults, even the Order member so that it wouldn’t look suspicious. He won’t go into hiding, but “Fudge will soon wish he’d never dislodged me from Hogwarts.” The headmaster won’t let Harry apologize, though he insists that Harry studies Occlumency; it’s more important than ever that Harry closes his mind to dreams. He disappears into a phoenix flame in the film, and it’s remarked by Kingsley that “he’s got style.”
Umbridge is instated as the new headmistress and creates the Inquisitorial Squad, which has more power than prefects. [More like her minions and that can only spell trouble.] Fred and George start plotting; they no longer care about getting into trouble. Under Dumbledore, they knew what line to toe. Now, with Dumbledore gone, they “reckon a bit of mayhem is exactly what our dear new Head deserves (pg. 627).” Umbridge also brings Harry into her office (pink and full of kitten plates), and offers him a drink in order to find out what he knows about Dumbledore. And some of the knowledge and paranoia of Moody has stuck in Harry’s head for he realizes not to accept a drink handed to him by a known enemy and only pretends to sip his tea. Her interrogation session is interrupted by enchanted fireworks, which spread through the school all afternoon. None of the teachers offer to help, constantly calling Umbridge for assistance. Gryffindor tower, including Hermione, congratulate the twins. The fireworks are part of their new joke shop.
During Harry’s next Occlumency lesson, Snape has to leave for a moment and Harry listens to the reckless and daring side of his brain and examines Snape’s Pensieve. He’s dropped into Snape’s worst memory. Harry sees his father, the same age as himself, Sirius, and Remus, all taking the OWLs. When the exam finishes, everyone heads outside. Snape sits by himself and the Marauders sit together for a while, James showing off catching a Snitch. When they get bored, James and Sirius cast spells on Snape, bullying him. Lily steps in; “what’s he done to you?” “Well, it’s more the fact that he exists.” James asks Lily out, but she refuses. Snape hexes James, then calls Lily a Mudblood for trying to help. She snaps at Snape and tells James off. Then Harry is dragged out by Snape and thrown from his rooms.
In the film, Harry sees the memory when he manages to fight back against Snape. Snape has already taunted Harry that he’s just like his father, lazy, arrogant, and weak. Harry protests that he’s not weak. Snape tells him to prove it, “control your emotions, discipline your mind.” (Which is, admittedly, a tiny bit more instruction, but he doesn’t nothing to actually help Harry achieve the results.) When Harry asks for a break, Snape now makes a dig at Sirius, calling him and Harry “two of a kind, sentimental children, forever whining about how bitterly your lives have been [they technically have points]. Well, it may have escaped your notice, but life isn’t fair. Your blessed father knew that. In fact, he frequently saw to it that…” Harry cuts off the professor, “my father was a great man.” “Your father was a swine.” Harry gets into Snape’s mind and sees his worst memory, of James and Sirius taunting Snape. Rickman’s Snape quietly informs Harry, “your lessons are at an end.” So, it’s not as horrible as in the book. And Harry never gets a chance to ask about what he saw.
Harry’s horrified; from what he saw, “his father had been every bit as arrogant as Snape had always told him (pg. 650).” This contradicts what everyone has said about his parents. “For five years the thought of this father had been a source of comfort, of inspiration. Whenever someone had told him he was like James he had glowed with pride inside. And now…now he felt cold and miserable at the thought of him (pgs. 653-654).” Harry later admits to Ginny that he wishes he could talk to Sirius. Ginny’s up for it. Growing up with the twins, “anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve (pg. 655).”
First, Harry has Career Advice with McGonagall, sat in on by Umbridge. Harry admits he’s interested in being an Auror. McGonagall informs him he’d need top grades. When Umbridge attempts to interrupt McGonagall, our favorite professor remarks “he has achieved high marks in all Defense Against the Dark Arts tests set by a competent teacher (pg. 664).” Umbridge brings up that Harry has a criminal record and he’d never be accepted under the current administration. McGonagall retorts that there may well be a new Minister of Magic by the time Harry graduates and declares she will tutor Harry to achieve his goals. Again, this is all left out of the film, and again, it would have been wonderful to see McGonagall go against Umbridge.
Harry has everything set with Fred and George to create a diversion so he can talk to Sirius through Umbridge’s fire. The plan succeeds and Harry gets Remus and Sirius and explains what he saw. Sirius explains that Snape had always liked the Dark Arts and James very much hated the Dark Arts. He admits there were arrogant little berks. “Of course he was a bit of an idiot! We were all idiots (pg. 670)!” Lily started dating James their seventh years, once James had deflated his head a bit. “Look, your father was the best friend I ever had, and he was a good person. A lot of people are idiots at the age of fifteen. He grew out of it (pg. 671).” Both insist that Harry needs to continue to learn Occlumency.
When Harry leaves Umbridge’s office, he finds that the twins are caught for turning a school corridor into a swamp. “George, I think we’ve outgrown full time education (pg. 674).” They summon their brooms and fly out of Hogwarts, declaring their new joke shop will open in Diagon Alley, along with special discounts to students who vow to get rid of Umbridge. They ask Peeves to give her hell and the poltergeist follows suit. The other teachers won’t stop the students, or Peeves. Harry admits to Ron and Hermione that he gave the twins the prize money from the tournament so they won’t get in trouble with their mother for worrying about illegal activities. Once again, simplified for the film, where they set off the fireworks during an OWL exam and then fly off. Right after, Harry collapses with his next vision.
In the book, Hagrid comes along and Hermione and Harry away from the Quidditch cup to show them that he has his giant half-brother hidden in the forest, Grawp. We get the funny bit in the movie where Hermione tells Grawp, after he’s grabbed her, “put me down, now,” very firmly. And Grawp obeys. Hagrid wants them and Ron to come and keep him company in case Hagrid gets sacked and sent away. They come back to find that Gryffindor has won the cup. Then preparation begins in earnest for the fifth year OWL exams. When Ron finishes the Divination exam, he remarks to Harry “from now on, I don’t care if my tea leaves spell die, Ron, die – I’m just chucking them in the bin where they belong (pg. 718)” [this always makes me laugh.] Umbridge and her cronies go after Hagrid during the Astronomy test. McGonagall tries to intervene, but she’s caught with several spells and sent to St. Mungo’s. Hagrid runs off into the forest. Harry falls asleep during the History of Magic exam and has another dream. Voldemort has Sirius and is torturing him for information.
When he tells Hermione and Ron, Hermione tries to point out that Harry has a saving-people-thing and that Voldemort knows Harry, and is probably trying to trick him. But Harry can’t let go that Sirius may be in danger and will do anything to save him; in the film he protests to Hermione that Sirius is the only family he has left. Ginny and Luna come to help. Hermione urges Harry to verify if Sirius is still at home. Harry manages to get into Umbridge’s office again, but only Kreacher answers the fire call and declares that his master is never coming back from the Department of Mysteries. Umbridge doesn’t fall for the diversion again and catches Harry and his cohorts, including Neville. She sends for Snape and demands more Veritiserum, but she’s used the last trying to interrogate Harry earlier. Harry had forgotten there was one last Order member in Hogwarts, and shouts after Snape “He’d got Padfoot at the place where it’s hidden!” Snape of course, plays dumb. Umbridge is willing to use the Cruciatus Curse on Harry, despite it being illegal. What Fudge doesn’t know, won’t hurt. He didn’t know she was the one to set the dementors on Harry in order to discredit him in the summer. To save Harry, Hermione breaks down that she’ll tell Umbridge; Harry was trying to contact Dumbledore to let him know that the weapon is ready. She convinces the headmistress to follow her and Harry into the forest, alone, to get it. They’re set on by angry centaurs, who drag Umbridge away. She admits in the film, “you know, I really hate children,” and demands “I will have order!” (we see where her priorities lie). When the centuars turn on Harry and Hermione, Grawp stumbles along and saves them.
They meet up with Luna, Ron, Ginny, and Neville, who demand to come along with Harry to rescue Sirius. They’re all in D.A. together and all fighting Voldemort. Ron points out that maybe Harry doesn’t have to do this all by himself; Harry had earlier mentioned maybe it would be better for him to go about this war against Voldemort alone. Luna suggests they fly thestrals to the Ministry. When they make it to the spot in Harry’s dream, neither Voldemort nor Sirius are there. Instead, they find a glass orb with Harry’s name on it. Lucius Malfoy appears and asks Harry to hand over the prophecy. More Death Eaters appear, including Bellatrix. Lucius warns them that they can’t attack and risk breaking the prophecy. Harry “just wanted to get them all out of this alive, make sure that none of his friends paid a terrible price for his stupidity (pg. 783).” Lucius attempts another tactic, asking Harry if he had ever wondered why his parents were killed, why he bears a scar on his forehead.
It doesn’t work; the teens instead start smashing shelves and running. They sustain injuries, but fight off the Death Eaters as best they can. In the movie, they stay relatively whole and together until they reach the archway. Neville tries to face off with Bellatrix. The Death Eaters corner the teens and hold them hostage for Lucius to order Harry to give him the prophecy. Harry does so to save his friends, then pauses. Lucius turns around to see what Harry’s looking at. Sirius stands there and orders his cousin-by-marriage, “get away from my godson,” and punches the git in the face. [Huzzah!] The rest of the Order shows up: Remus, Moody, Tonks, and Kingsley. Spells start flying. Sirius tells Harry to get out; “you’ve done beautifully. Now, let me take it from here.” In the mayhem, the prophecy is smashed (in the film, Harry already heard it when he first picked it up). The film shows Harry stays alongside his godfather, helping him take on the Death Eaters. The rest of the teens stay down. Sirius does some wonderful work against Lucius Malfoy. Of course, in the film, they have Sirius make the comment “nice one, James!” when Harry disarms Lucius. As that duel finished, Bellatrix pops in and yells “Avada Kedavara!” Sirius slowly stumbles back into the veil and floats away. The sound drops away as Remus grabs Harry, who’s calling for his godfather.
In the book, it’s a duel between Sirius and Bellatrix. A red light hits Sirius in the chest, his laughter has not quite died as he falls back into a veil. Bellatrix gives a triumphant scream. Remus holds Harry back; some part of Harry realized that Sirius had never kept him waiting. “Sirius had risked everything, always, to see Harry, to help him (pg. 808),” the only possibly explanation was that he could not come back.
Harry takes off after Bellatrix. She runs, taunting “I killed Sirius Black!” He tries Crucio, but it barely stops her. Voldemort speaks into Harry’s head that he has to mean it, but doesn’t she deserve it? She killed Sirius. When Harry turns around, the dark wizard bats him away. Dumbledore steps out of a fire and warns Voldemort that authorities are on their way. Voldemort’s reply is that he’ll be gone and Dumbledore dead. Dumbledore pushes Harry out of the way and Bellatrix disappears into a fire. Then the duel begins between the two wizards. Dumbledore tells Voldemort his “failure to understand that there are things much worse than death has always been your greatest weakness (pg. 814).” Harry’s Harry wants the pain to end, death is nothing compared to it and he’ll be with Sirius again.
At one point, Voldemort shatters the glass in the lobby of the Ministry, but Dumbledore turns it into sand. Voldemort disappears. But he’s not gone. Instead, Harry collapses to the ground; Voldemort is possessing him. He shows Harry the deaths he’s experienced. In the book, it is remarked that his scar begins to burn and then “they were fused together, bound by pain, and there was no escape (pg. 816).” Voldemort, through Harry, tells Dumbledore to kill the boy. Dumbledore tells the teen, “it is not how you are alike; it is how you are not.” Harry sees his friends and remembers the good times, the hugs and laughter. He remarks to Voldemort that the dark lord is the weak one. He will never know love, or friendship, and he feels sorry for him. He smashes the mirror Voldemort used to try to show them together. As he remembers Sirius again, Voldemort exits. But his parting words are, “you are a fool, Harry Potter. And you will lose everything.” The authorities arrive, led by Minister Fudge, and Voldemort escapes. All Fudge can say is “he’s back.”
Dumbledore sends Harry back to Hogwarts and promises the Minister half an hour of his time. Fudge is also to remove Umbridge from the school and leave Hagrid alone. Harry sits alone in the quiet of Dumbledore’s office (which Umbridge was never able to get into). He blames himself; if he had not been stupid enough to fall for Voldemort’s trick. “There was a terrible hollow inside him he did not want to feel or examine, a dark hole where Sirius had been, where Sirius had vanished (pg. 821).” Dumbledore returns and informs Harry that everyone will recover and attempts to soothe the teen: “the fact that you can feel pain like this is your greatest strength (pg. 823),” and there is no shame for it. It is part of being human. Then Harry doesn’t want to be human. He rages and throws the spindly little objects in the headmaster’s office. Dumbledore’s voice breaks through, “you care so much you feel as though you will bleed to death with the pain of it (pg. 824).”
However, Dumbledore will not let Harry out of his office until he has had a chance to speak. It is Dumbledore’s fault that Sirius died. “Sirius was a brave, clever, and energetic man, and such men are not usually content to sit at home in hiding while they believe others to be in danger (pg. 825).” Harry should have never believed that it was necessary to go to the Department of Mysteries. If Dumbledore had been open with Harry, he would have known Voldemort would try to lure him. “That blame lies with me, and with me alone (pg. 826).” Dumbledore owes Harry an explanation; he made mistakes. Dumbledore thought by avoiding Harry, it would make Voldemort less likely to attempt to possess Harry; he was protecting the boy. It was Kreacher, who seized the chance when Sirius ordered him out at one point to go to Narcissa Malfoy, the last Black he had any respect for. The house elf couldn’t betray the Order, but told Narcissa “that the person Sirius cared most about in the world was [Harry] (pg. 831).” The one person Harry would go to any lengths to rescue was Sirius. Dumbledore points out that Sirius should have been nicer to Kreacher, but alas, the elf was a reminder of the home that Sirius hated.
Dumbledore was trying to keep Sirius alive. “People don’t like being locked up!” Harry angrily retorts; the headmaster did it to Harry all summer. Dumbledore urges Harry for patience once more, he will tell the teen the truth. He knew he was condemning the boy to ten dark and difficult years, he would have to suffer, but the blood protection left to him by his mother was his strongest shield. Through the years, Dumbledore’s flaw was that he cared too much; he cared more for Harry’s happiness than knowing the truth, more for his peace of mind that for a plan. The weapon the Order spoke about, was the prophecy; the knowledge of how to destroy Harry.
Dumbledore knows the prophecy despite it being smashed; he was the one who heard it originally, said by Trelawney: “The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies…and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not…and wither must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives (pg. 841).”
The other possible boy it meant is Neville Longbottom, but Dumbledore points out that when Voldemort chose the boy he thought most likely to be a danger, he chose a half-blood (like himself). However, Voldemort had incomplete information. While the prophecy was overheard, the eavesdropper was caught and pulled away after only the first half of the prophecy; the Dark Lord never head the part about the boy would have “power the Dark Lord knows not.” Thus, he cannot “bear to reside in a body so full of the force he detests (pg. 844).” The fact still remains that one will have to kill the other in the end. He has nothing else to be saying about that subject at the moment. In parting, he tells Harry that he did not make him a prefect, since he had enough responsibility to be going on with.
A lot of the explanation is cut out. Kreacher is not mentioned, but then he’s barely in the movie anyway, and the movie portrays Sirius better overall. Admittedly, the way Rowling wrote about Harry’s grief is poignant. The fact remains that Dumbledore should have said something to Harry long before the events of this year, as he himself admits. And the ‘trying to protect you because I care too much,’ is not a suitable reason. All this year did to Harry was make him feel isolated. He didn’t know what was going on and didn’t feel like he could talk to anyone. One of the people who had answers withheld them and the person Harry felt like he could talk to, he had to be careful and also protect. This is when we start distrusting Dumbledore.
The following morning, Fudge releases a statement, confirming the return of Lord Voldemort. Harry visits his friends recovering in the Hospital Wing. Umbridge is also there, in shock, but she startles when she hears the sound of hooves clip-clopping. When Harry can’t stand being around his friends any longer, he starts to go see Hagrid. He’s stopped by Draco, angry that his father is in Azkaban. Harry pulls his wand and is caught by Snape. McGonagall returns to Hogwarts and awards Harry, Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna points for alerting the world to the return of You-Know-Who. This allows Snape to take a few points from Harry. Harry is still put out with Snape. But a visit with Hagrid doesn’t improve his mood, when Hagrid tries to comfort him by saying that Sirius would have wanted to go out with battle. So Harry leaves; he knows his desire to talk about Sirius varies with his mood. He avoids the end-of-year feast and runs into Luna. She’s searching for her missing items, which people steal and hide.
Harry is pleasantly surprised at King’s Cross station to find Moody, Tonks, and Remus waiting for him. They want to have a chat with his aunt and uncle before letting Harry go home with them. They have something to say about how he’s treated. Moody threatens Vernon, “if we get any hint that Potter’s been mistreated in any way, you’ll have us to answer to (pg. 869).” And yes, Vernon is the sort of man Moody can threaten and intimidate. They’ll send someone along if they haven’t heard from Harry three days in a row. Molly also promises Harry they will have him away as soon as possible. A little hope to end the year.
There’s a hopeful scene at the end of the film, with Harry talking to his friends. “Even though we have a fight ahead of us, we have one thing Voldemort doesn’t have. Something worth fighting for.”
This is not one of my favorites in the series. I’m not fond of teenage drama, particularly second-hand, and that pops up in this book. I agree with the community that Umbridge is horrid, and I hate that Rowling killed off Sirius. Like, come on! You introduce him two books ago, he’s barely in the last one, and then you kill him off! He was one of the few adults that Harry trusted and saw Harry as himself (and we are going to ignore the filmmakers’ decision for Sirius to mistake Harry for James for a minute). Ok, as a writer, I can understand killing a beloved character and fallout for the main character. But I don’t have to like it.
Apparently, Daniel Radcliffe was the one to suggest looking a bit like Professor Lupin while he was teaching Dumbledore’s Army. (Also, Stephen King has said that the character of Dolores Umbridge was the ‘greatest make-believe villain to come along since Hannibal Lecter.’) First movie of the series to not utilize any of Britain’s castles and cathedrals for filming locations; all of the interior Hogwarts scenes were filmed on studio sets.
And I will admit that I’m a little fascinated by Bellatrix Lestrange; she’s related to a beloved good character but is the polar opposite: crazy and evil. And I have dressed up as her for Halloween (and I would love to be able to fit back into that costume that my mother made for me)
This films brings further recognizable names to the cast; David Tennant (the Tenth Doctor, voices Scrooge McDuck in the updated DuckTales cartoon, and voices Spitelout [Snotlout’s father] in the How to Train Your Dragon series and currently stars opposite Michael Sheen in Good Omens [no, I have not watched it yet]) as Barty Crouch Jr, Robert Pattinson (before he starred as Edward Cullen in Twilight) as Cedric Diggory, Brenan Gleeson [he’s father to Domhnall Gleeson, who we will see in later films as Bill Weasley] as Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody, Miranda Richardson (she’s appeared in Young Victoria, was the queen in the first Prince and Me movie, Madam Giry in Phantom of the Opera and Queen Mab/Lady of the Lake in Merlin [with Sam Neill and Helena Bonham Carter]) as Rita Skeeter, and Ralph Fiennes (the new M in James Bond, the Duke in The Duchess, and voiced Rameses in Prince of Egypt) as Lord Voldemort.
This is one of the first books that I awaited the midnight release of the novel; I believe my mother pre-ordered it. We drove to the bookstore to get it and when we got home, I spent the next day and a half reading it. And was good for nothing else. When the movie came out, it also had a midnight release that I attended with one of my best friends. The story opens on the Riddle House, which is very creepy, partly due to something strange and horrible that happened fifty years prior, when the maid found the three Riddles dead. Now, they were unpopular and rude, and their son, Tom was the worst. But there wasn’t a mark on their bodies, so the police couldn’t convict anyone, namely the gardener, Frank Bryce, of the crime. Now, Frank ventures up to the house in the middle of the night, seeing lights on. He comes across intruders, who speak of “Wormtail,” “Quidditch World Cup,” and “Muggles.” Wormtail is arguing that something can be “done without Harry Potter.” His Lord responds, “I have my reasons for using the boy…and I will use no other. I have waited thirteen years. A few more months will make no difference. As for the protection surrounding the boy, I believe my plan will be effective (pg. 10).” “One more death and our path to Harry Potter is clear (pg.10).” A gigantic snake slithers into the room, which in the movie also contains Barty Crouch Jr, and Lord Voldemort is informed that Frank is outside the door. He calls the old Muggle in and soon the man is dead. “Two hundred miles away, the boy called Harry Potter woke with a start (pg. 15).”
We know that this is Voldemort and Wormtail planning Harry’s death and when Harry wakes his scar is burning. He’s understandably a bit upset and ponders who can speak to. The Dursleys are out. He debates if he should mention it to his friends, but dismisses the idea. He needs someone like a parent; “an adult wizard whose advice he could ask without feeling stupid, someone who cared about him, who had experience with Dark Magic (pg. 22).” The answer is simple and obvious: Sirius. He can be forgiven for not instantly thinking of his godfather, since he didn’t even know he existed until two months prior and is still on the run. Which made it “doubly hard to return to the Dursleys knowing that he had so nearly escaped them for ever (pg. 23).”
Don’t ask why, but I remembered that Harry hid snacks in his room in the book, after Dudley got placed on a diet, and all of Harry’s friends send food to ensure he didn’t starve. Harry is then invited by the Weasleys to attend the Quidditch World Cup. Molly sent a well-intention letter through the Muggle post, but the Dursleys did not appreciate the extra stamps or her familiar tone. Ron sends a note with his owl, and Harry manages to convince the Dursleys to allow him to attend. It was a battle for Vernon, between his two most fundamental instincts, to make Harry happy, which he has struggled against for thirteen years, and getting rid of Harry two weeks early and he hates having Harry in the house (pg. 31). Mentioning Sirius helps sway them. Arthur arrives, via the fireplace (which the Dursleys boarded up after the mass of acceptance letters arrived four years previously), with Ron and the twins. The very brief visit does not end well when Dudley tries one of the magical treats that the twins dropped, on purpose. This is all left out of the movie; Harry wakes at the Burrow
At the Burrow, Harry meets the eldest two Weasley boys; Bill and Charlie. Bill works for Gringotts, but looks extremely cool, and Charlie works in Romania with dragons (they do not appear in the movie). The twins are working on Weasleys Wizarding Wheezes, a joke shop, though Molly does not approve. The Wizarding World receives some worldbuilding [which I take note of as an aspiring fantasy author] and we learn about Portkeys, Apparation, and other wizarding families, along with formally meeting Amos and Cedric Diggory. The Weasleys, along with Harry and Hermione, sleep in a tent that is larger on the inside. In the film, Harry remarks, “I love magic.” They are guests of the minister in his box, along with the Malfoys, and meet Winky, Barty Crouch’s house-elf. Percy works for Mr. Crouch at the Ministry. And Harry watches his first professional Quidditch match; Ireland, vs Bulgaria, with their star Seeker, Viktor Krum. Fred and George’s bet is correct, that Ireland wins the match, but Krum catches the Snitch. The Ireland has superior Chasers and run the score up, so Krum catches the Snitch before they’re completely embarrassed. Ron is impressed by Krum. In the film, they are not in the box, but rather the top level of the stadium, nor do they meet Winky. She’s cut completely from the film, as is Ludo Bagman (which honestly makes sense; he’s a side plot that doesn’t add much to the main plot).
The evening festivities are interrupted by screams and people fleeing with Death Eaters, followers of Voldemort, show up and Muggle bait, and cause mayhem. Arthur goes to help the Ministry and sends the kids into the forest. Harry, Ron, and Hermione get cut off from the rest and Harry loses his wand. In the film, Harry stumbles and gets knocked out in the chaos of people fleeing. Later, they hear a spell cast and a skull appears in the sky. The Ministry arrives quickly and discovers the trio at the scene, but they can’t find who cast it. Then, they come across Winky. Hermione is appalled when Crouch dismisses the elf. Arhtur fills Harry in on the meaning of what went on. The sign in the sky was the Dark Mark, and it was cast wherever Voldemort and his followers killed and it spread terror throughout the wizarding community.
The younger kids are sent back to Hogwarts. Hermione learns that the largest number of house elves in any dwelling in Britain work at Hogwarts, so she starts a campaign to get them wages and such, ignoring that the elves seem happy with their lot. Dumbledore introduces a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Alastor Moody, better known as “Mad-Eye” Moody, and announces that Hogwarts will host the Triwizard Tournament. It is a friendly competition between the three largest European schools of wizardry; Hogwarts, Beauxbatons, and Durmstrang (which have already been mentioned in the story by other characters; further worldbuilding). It is also a way to establish ties between young witches and wizards of different nations; each school will have a champion chosen to compete. The delegations will arrive at Halloween. The prize is the Triwizard Cup, glory for the school, and a thousand Galleons. This year, they are putting in place an age restriction; one must be seventeen in order to compete. The twins are upset; they’re only a few months away from their birthday.
Moody makes an impression on Hogwarts. He turns Malfoy into a ferret for attacking Harry, to later be told off by Professor McGonagall that teachers are not supposed to use Transfiguration as punishment. Then he shows the fourth-year students the three Unforgivable Curses, which the Ministry of Magic would disapprove of. The first is the Imperius Curse, which allows a wizard or witch total control of their victim. The second is the Cruciatous Curse, or pain curse. Neville is shown to react badly to seeing this in the movie, Hermione calls out to Professor Moody to stop it. And the third is the killing curse, “Avada Kedavara.” Only one person is known to have survived the last curse, Harry. Moody promotes constant vigilance. Ron remarks in the movie that Moody is brilliant; a bit demented and terrifying to be in the same room as him. Their conversation trails off when they come across Neville. Moody comes along and leads the other boy to his office.
Harry gets a response from Sirius; he’s flying north immediately. This news is the latest in a series of strange rumors, and Dumbledore is reading signs. Harry worries his godfather will be caught. He tries to tell Sirius not to come, but Sirius persists. Harry discovers in Defenses Against the Dark Arts class that he can throw off the Imperius Curse.
Durmstrang and their headmaster, Igor Karkaroff arrives in a ship on the Black Lake and Beauxbatons arrives in a flying carriage with their headmistress, Madame Olympe Maxime. There is a welcoming feast and the tournament is explained further. There will be three tasks that test the champions’ magical prowess, their daring, powers of deduction, and ability to cope with danger. The Goblet of Fire is brought out; it will be the impartial selector. Students are warned again that entering into the tournament is a binding magical contract. Fred and George attempt to beat Dumbledore’s age line, and get beards for their troubles.
In the film, the schools are shown arriving at the start of the semester, not a couple months in. Beauxbatons is shown as all-female and Durmstrang is shown as all-male (I do like the music that plays behind their entrance), and they show off a bit of magic with their entrances.
Ultimately, Viktor Krum is chosen as the Durmstrang champion, Fleur Delacour from Beauxbatons, and Cedric Diggory from Hogwarts. However, the Goblet of Fire spits out another name: Harry Potter. He tries to hide in the film when his name is called, but Hermione pushes him forward. And everyone calls out the difference between the book and the movie with how Dumbledore asks Harry if he put his name in the Goblet of Fire. In the book, it is stated he does so calmly. In the movie, he’s more aggressive, but honestly, it’s not as crazy as we remember it. It’s shown to be born of worry and he’s also trying to get to Harry before the other headmasters arrive. Harry’s pushed back into some items; but the scene doesn’t jar us out of watching to story progress. Harry did not put his name in the Goblet of Fire, he did not ask anyone else to put his name in and in both cases, Dumbledore readily believes him. But Crouch persists that it is a binding contract; Harry will have to compete. It is Moody in the film that points out whoever is behind it managed to hoodwink a very powerful magical artifact. Harry and the other champions learn that they will not be told what the first task will entail. It is to test their daring and courage in the face of the unknown. They will be armed only with their wand and they are not permitted to ask or accept any help.
There is an added scene in the film with McGonagall, Snape, and Moody in Dumbledore’s office. Minerva tells Dumbledore “don’t let Potter compete.” First the Dark Mark, now this. But Dumbledore abides by Crouch’s rules. Minerva shoots back, when has that ever stopped Dumbledore before? Snape agrees that this can be no mere coincidence, but they should let events unfold for the time being. McGonagall disapproves of offering Harry as bait; he’s a boy, not a piece of meat. Albus agrees with Severus, then asks Alastor to keep an eye on Harry.
The school turns on Harry, thinking he just wanted glory and to steal the spotlight from Cedric. Worse, Ron doesn’t even believe Harry. This is a major fight between the friends. Harry doesn’t want enteral glory. (And the movie audience is a bit shocked, at least the younger members of the audience, to hear Ron tell Harry to “Piss off.”) Luckily, Hermione stands beside Harry and urges him to write Sirius. Malfoy and Harry get into an argument and cast spells at each other, hitting Goyle and Hermione. Hermione has to go to the hospital wing to have her teeth put to right (this bit does not appear in the film).
We’re introduced to Rita Skeeter as a reporter for the Daily Prophet at the Weighing of the Wands, and she dedicates most of her article to made-up stuff about Harry, courtesy of her Quick Quotes Quill, which does nothing to endear him to his schoolmates. This must all stem from his traumatic past and may be a cry for attention, or a death wish. In the film, when Harry remarks that they are sitting in a broom cupboard, Rita bites back that he should feel right at home [ok, low blow lady.] Hagrid wants to meet up with Harry one evening, though in the film, this message passes through Ron to Hermione to Harry, amidst other people; it’s very confusing, and Hermione does not like being treated as an owl just because the boys refuse to speak to each other. Hagrid brings Madame Maxime along, Harry hidden under his cloak…and shows them dragons that have been brought in for the first task, still insisting they are misunderstood creatures. Harry races back to meet with Sirius in the fireplace of the Gryffindor Tower. He’s interrupted by Ron and they have another argument. Harry also decides to pull Cedric aside and tell him about the dragons.
It’s here in the film that Draco approaches Harry, saying his father and he have a bet on Harry not lasting long in the tournament. Harry retorts “I don’t give a damn what your father thinks. He’s vile and cruel, and you’re just pathetic.” When Draco pulls his wand, Moody turns him into a ferret, and yes, it’s hilarious. McGonagall doesn’t approve; “What are you doing?” “Teaching.” “Is that a student?” “Technically, it’s a ferret.” She returns Draco to his usual self. Draco pulls out the line “my father will hear about this!” but that doesn’t faze Moody. McGonagall steps in again and reprimands Moody for using Transfiguration. Harry and everyone else laughs, even Cedric and his buddies. Moody pulls Harry aside and advises him to play to his strengths in the competition, and use a simple spell to get what he needs. (In the film, he more directly pulls the answer from Harry to fly.) Harry turns to Hermione to teach him the Summoning Charm.
Harry summons his Firebolt to fly against the Hungarian Horntail and capture a golden egg (Hermione shouts “your wand, Harry! Your wand!” In the movie). There’s more to the flight in the movie, with the Hungarian Horntail breaking free from its chain and taking the confrontation to the rooftops of the castle. Harry takes a tumble near one of the bridges and the dragon falls, but he manages to make it back to the ring and get the egg. Ron finally comes around that someone must have put Harry’s name in the Goblet. The boys make up, and the rest of the school, after seeing what Harry had to face, finally side with Harry. Our protagonist is happy with Ron be his side, having survived the first task and he’s got three whole months before the second. When he goes to solve the clue in the egg, he finds out that it screeches.
On a fun side note, Hermione finds her way into the kitchen and shows Harry that Dobby is now working at Hogwarts. He’s a free elf and has Dumbledore paying him one Galleon a week and he has a one day off a month, and he’s happy. Unlike Winky, who misses Mr. Crouch. Again, none of this appears in the film.
McGonagall next announces the Yule Ball, where everyone can socialize with their foreign guests. Dress robes will be required and the champions and their partners are to open the ball with dancing. She even instructs the Gryffindors in the movies, stating that the Yule Ball is an evening of “well-mannered frivolity.” “The House of Godric Gryffindor has commanded the respect of the wizard world for nearly ten centuries. I will not have you, in the course of a single evening, besmirching that name by behaving like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons.” (Maggie Smith is great!) She calls Ron up to demonstrate and he’s nervous about putting his hand on her waist. Neville is the first lad to step forward to learn and we see him practicing later.
Harry and Ron struggle to ask a girl to the ball, bemoaning that they travel in packs. Though Harry gets asked by a few and is shocked and nervously says no. In the film, he remarks he’d rather face the dragon again. There’s also an incredible scene with Alan Rickman in the movie, taking place in study hall, where the boys are remarking their lack of dates. Snape picks on duo, ignoring the fact that others are talking, smacking Ron and Harry over the head with a notebook, then forcing their heads down. Actually, he’d really like to ask out Cho Chang, but hasn’t plucked up the courage. When he finally manages to talk to Cho, he finds out that she’s already doing with Cedric (which changes Harry’s opinion on his schoolmate a little). She’s very kind in the film, admitting that she is truthfully sorry she can’t go with Harry since she’s already agreed to someone else; she doesn’t who at this point in the film. Ron attempts to ask Fleur Delacour and finds out that Neville tried to ask out Hermione, but she’s already going with someone, though Ron does not believe it. He even asks Hermione and is told the same thing. “Just because it’s taken you three years to notice Ron, doesn’t mean no one else has spotted I’m a girl (pg. 400)!” And Ron still doesn’t believe her. Ginny ends up going with Neville, so Harry finds Parvati Patil, who arranges for her twin sister, Padma, to go with Ron. Harry feels that the ball is more trouble than it’s worth.
The night of the Yule Ball, Roger Davis accompanies Fleur, Cedric takes Cho, and Krum takes Hermione. Ron is not pleased. Hermione looks lovely in her gown (yes, it’s pink compared to blue in the film, but still pretty. I had my hair arranged like hers from prom.) Harry and Ron are rude and ignore their dates, who gleefully hang out with Beauxbatons boys. Neville impresses everyone with his waltzing. Harry is not great (admittedly, Daniel only had a few days to rehearse that bit compared to everyone else, but Harry isn’t supposed to be good anyway). And there is rock’n’roll in the wizarding world with Do the Hippogriff. In the book, the two boys wander outside and notice Karkaroff speaking to Snape, and Hagrid speaking to Madame Maxime and overhear him mention he’s a half-giant. The night ends with another argument between Ron and Hermione: “next time there’s a ball, ask me before someone else does and not as a last resort (pg.432)!” Hermione had been enjoying a nice evening with Krum, and now Ron has spoiled everything. She’s left crying on the stairs in the movie. Harry’s night doesn’t end well either, with another dream about the graveyard.
When classes start back up, another Skeeter article runs, revealing Hagrid as a half-giant and calling him out for his dangerous classes. Next time he sees Skeeter, he shouts at her, and Hermione manages to get riled up. Hermione’s worried about Harry and the next task, remarking that the “tasks are designed to test you, in the most brutal way, they’re almost cruel.”
Cedric repays Harry’s tip on the dragon by suggesting he take a bath with his egg in the prefect’s bathroom. Harry finally sets his pride aside and does so, only to be interrupted by Moaning Myrtle. Who does suggest he put the egg in the water, and flirt with him. He finally hears the clue and figures out that the voices that cannot be heard above ground means merepeople: “Come seek us where our voices sound. We cannot sing above the ground. An hour long you’ll have to look. To recover what we took.” On his way back to his dorm, Harry stumbles across Moody and Snape. Moody manages to help Harry, though discovers the map and asks to borrow it. Harry then has to find a way to breathe underwater. Dobby comes through at the last minute with gillyweed. Again, since Dobby is cut out of the film, Neville is brought in to help Harry. Each champion must retrieve someone from the bottom of the Black Lake within an hour. Ron is Harry’s hostage, Hermione is Krum’s, Cho for Cedric, and Fleur’s little sister. Harry actually is the first to get to the hostages and wants to make sure everyone is rescued. Krum, who partially transfigured into a shark, and Cedric, who used a Bubblehead Charm, arrive and leave. When Fleur does not, Harry grabs the young girl and kicks to the surface with both hostages. The judges score him well for his actions. Harry earns the respect of Fleur for saving her sister, and even Ron gets a kiss since he helped. The third task will take place at the end of June.
Another Skeeter article runs; this time calling Hermione out for being associated with both Harry and Viktor Krum. Sirius has arrived in Hogsmeade and is hiding out. Harry, Ron, and Hermione go to visit him. Sirius tells Harry he is fulfilling his duty as godfather and keeping an eye on him. He passes himself off as a loveable stray, Snuffles. He’s not fond of Crouch and says “if you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals (pg. 525).” Crouch was the one who sent Sirius to Azkaban without a trial. He fought violence with violence and authorized the use of Unforgivable Curses against suspects. “I would say he became as ruthless and cruel as many on the Dark Side (pg. 527).” Crouch’s rise to fame was derailed when his son, Barty Crouch Jr, was found with Death Eaters. He sent his son to Azkaban, where the boy died. They already know Karkaroff was a Death Eater; as for Snape, he was part of a group of Slytherins who turned out to be Death Eaters, though Sirius never heard of Snape being accused. Sadly, this face-to-face meeting was cut from the film. The only time that Sirius actually appears is as a face in the fireplace.
It’s a good thing there won’t be a Quidditch Cup this year, because they’ve taken over the field to grow a maze for the third task, which will be filled with obstacles for the champions. As the champions walk back to the castle, Krum pulls Harry aside to ask about Hermione. Harry is quick to assure the Bulgarian that he and Hermione are only friends. Then they’re set on by Crouch, who is very confused, managing to get across that he needs to see Dumbledore, something about Voldemort and Harry is his fault. When Harry gets back, Krum has been attacked and Moody has to go searching for Crouch. This happens a bit differently in the movie, but the same result. Harry now dreams of Voldemort and Wormtail in Divination class. He decides it’s time to go to Dumbledore, where he’s instructed to wait in Dumbledore’s office. He spies a stone basin with silver light. He prods the surface with his wand (magic has taught him that much at least), and falls into a memory, where the younger Dumbledore can’t hear him. There’s a trial, where Karkaroff names other Death Eaters, including Snape, whom Dumbledore has already testified turn spy for the Light Side. None of the other names do any good. Four more Death Eaters are led in, charged with torturing Frank and Alice Longbottom (Neville’s parents). One is Crouch’s son, whom shouts for his father, but he’s sent to Azkaban.
The trials are condensed into one in the film, with Karkaroff naming Barty Crouch Jr as a Death Eater. The young man is in attendance and is taken into custody. He’s already showing his madness here, yelling at his father, with a telltale flicker of his tongue.
Dumbledore pulls Harry out and they talk about the memories, warning “curiosity is not a crime, Harry. But you should exercise caution.” Harry explains that his scar has been hurting and Dumbledore theorizes that it hurts when Voldemort is near or feeling particularly hateful. The two are connected by the curse that failed. Leaving, Harry thinks that “it all came back to Voldemort…he was the one who had torn those families apart, who had ruined all these lives (pg. 607).” In the film, Harry asks Dumbledore whether his dreams are really happening. The old wizard’s response is to tell the teen, it is unwise to linger on them and best to cast them aside (not helpful).
In preparation for the third task, the trio practice hexes (even with McGonagall’s permission after she gets tired of walking in on them). Sirius sends along guidance; his primary concern is keeping Harry safe. Voldemort can’t touch him while under Dumbledore’s protection.
The champions are informed that professors will be patrolling the outside of the maze (with a fun little Hogwarts March tune), should any run into difficulty and wish to be recues, they are to send up red sparks. Once in the maze, the lack of obstacles unnerves Harry. He manages to save Cedric from Krum, then runs into a sphinx [which I was disappointed was not in the movie. And the phrasing makes me wonder if it was influenced at all by Tolkien’s cave scene]. Harry saves Cedric from a spider [luckily not in the film; I am not fond of spiders. Instead, the walls of the maze are more alive and will try to crush the champions], though Cedric is closer to the Cup. Cedric argues that Harry should take the Cup; he’s saved him twice in the maze. Harry compromises; they should both take it; it’ll still be a Hogwarts win.
The boys find out upon touching the Cup that it’s a Portkey and they’re brought to a graveyard. Harry’s scar explodes with pain; “it was agony such as he had never felt in all his life (pg. 637).” A voice calls out “kill the spare” and Cedric dies in a flash of green. Harry is tied to Tom Riddle’s headstone by Wormtail. There’s also a cauldron, in to which Wormtail dumps a diminutive form. Then he incants, “bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son! Flesh of the servant, willingly given, you will revive your master. Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe.” The flesh of the servant in Wormtail’s hand, and the blood of the enemy is taken from Harry.
A man emerges with a “face that had haunted his [Harry’s] nightmares for three years. Whiter than a skull, with wide, livid scarlet eyes and a nose that was flat as a snake’s with slits for nostrils…Lord Voldemort had risen again (pg. 643).” [Ralph’s blue eyes are used in the film so his performance would not be impeded, and it was felt that the blue eyes actually made Voldemort creepier.] Voldemort touches Wormtail’s tattoo of the Dark Mark and Harry’s scar erupts in pain again. Death Eaters arrive. Voldemort ponders aloud how many will be brave enough to return. How many will be foolish enough to stay away. To his followers, he asks why none of them tried to seek their Lord out. Perhaps they believed that Dumbledore’s power was greater. He wants thirteen years’ worth of repayment from them. He rewards Wormtail with a silver hand. He points to an empty spot, where three Death Eaters are missing; one who is too cowardly to return; he will pay. One has left forever and will thus be killed, and one is his most faithful servant and has already reentered service to his lord.
With Harry’s blood in his body, it now negates the protection Lily’s sacrifice had on Harry. Voldemort can touch him now. Again, Harry’s scar feels like it will split in pain. Voldemort mocks those who believed this boy ever truly defeated him. “I, who have gone further than anybody along the path that leads to immortality. You know my goal – to conquer death. And now, I was tested, and it appeared that one or more of my experiments had worked…for I had not been killed (pg. 653).” In his resurrection ritual, he wanted Harry’s blood, the “blood of the one who had stripped me of power thirteen years ago…for the lingering protection his mother once gave him would then reside in my veins too (pg. 657).” Harry was better protected than even he knows. But Voldemort’s faithful servant entered Harry into the Triwizard Tournament.
Now he uses Crucio on Harry. Further pain than Harry’s ever felt. Voldemort continues speaking; Harry escaped the first time by luck and now the Dark Lord will prove his power by killing Harry. He will be allowed to fight, so no doubt will be left on who is stronger. “Bow to death, Harry,” he commands. “Harry did not bow. He was not going to let Voldemort play with him before killing him…he was not going to give him that satisfaction (pg.660).”
The speech is changed a little in movie, but it’s just as good: “I’m going to kill you, Harry Potter. I’m going to destroy you. After tonight, noe one will ever again question my powers. After tonight, if they speak of you, they’ll speak only of how you begged for death. And I, being a merciful Lord, obliged.” “I want you to look at me when I kill you! I want to see the light leave your eyes!”
“And now you face me, like a man…straight-backed and proud, the way your father died (pg. 660),” Voldemort taunts Harry. He shoots Crucio and Imperio at Harry, but the teen doges the next spell, with reflexes born of Quidditch training. Harry finally shoots Expelliarmus against Voldemort’s Avada Kedavara. Their red and green beams meet and connects. Harry instinctively knows he mustn’t break the connection. A bead of light floats between the two wands and Harry manages to force to Voldemort’s. Cedric’s form emerges from the wand, then an old man, finally Lily and James Potter. They can give Harry some time in order to get to the Portkey, and Cedric asks Harry to take his body back. At their command, Harry breaks away and runs, summoning the Cup to him, and grabs Cedric.
[I almost hate to admit it, but I like the…it’s not quite banter, because there’s no humor, but Voldemort is well written in this spot. Yes, he’s mocking Harry and he’s treating Harry like a teenager; he refers to him as a boy occasionally, but the dialogue would also work against an adult.]
When he lands in front of the maze at Hogwarts, he manages to inform Dumbledore that Voldemort is back, though he won’t let go of Cedric. Dumbledore manages to pick Harry up, there is screaming erupting in the stands, and sobs. People talk over each other and Harry is rather out of it. In the movie, it’s more heart-rending. Harry’s sobbing while he tells Dumbledore “he’s back, Voldemort’s back,” and he couldn’t leave Cedric, not there. Dumbledore calms Harry, “you’re both home.” Fleur screams when she sees Cedric’s dead and Fudge tells McGonagall and Snape to keep the crowd back. Snape even steps to Dumbledore’s side. Amos makes his way to the front and sobs when he sees it’s his son, his boy. Arthur Weasley is behind him and Ron and Hermione start to make their way forward to see Harry. And Harry hasn’t stopped crying.
Moody takes Harry back to the castle and Harry starts explaining. Moody knows there’s a Death Eater at Hogwarts and they put Harry’s name in the Goblet, though it wasn’t Karkaroff. He fled. Then, in his office, Moody admits that he was the one who did it and asks Harry if Voldemort forgave the Death Eaters who didn’t try to find the Dark Lord. It was Moody who cast the Dark Mark at the Quidditch World Cup and he hates the Death Eaters who walked free; he wants them punished and tortured. During the Tournament, Moody frightened off every person who might hurt or prevent Harry from winning, though he had to be careful not to tip his hand. He grouses he had to contend with Harry’s stupidity, such as planting the book on underwater plants with Longbottom early in the year. Harry has a “steak of pride and independence that might have ruined it all (pg. 677).” In the maze, Moody stunned Fleur and put the Imperius Curse on Krum to finish off Cedric.
None of this is making sense to Harry. Moody continues; the Dark Lord will reward him when he kills Harry. He will be honored beyond all other Death Eaters, Voldemort’s closest supporter, closer than a son. He and the Dark Lord have much in common; disappointing fathers that they were named for, and they both had to kill their fathers to ensure the rise of the Dark Order. At this point, Moody is stunned by Dumbledore, alongside Snape and McGonagall. Harry now understands why Dumbledore is the only wizard Voldemort fears. He looks more terrible than ever, with cold fury in every line of his ancient face. “A sense of power radiated from Dumbledore as though he were giving off burning heat (pg. 679).”
Dumbledore has Harry stay, so he will understand, which is the first step to acceptance, “and only with acceptance can there be recovery (pg.680).” Harry “needs to know who has put him through the ordeal he has suffered tonight, and why (pg. 680).” [This is when we still like and trust Dumbledore.] This man before Harry is not Alastor Moody; Harry has never known the real Moody. The real Moody “would not have removed you from my sight after what happened tonight (pg. 680).” [It’s good to know that there are good adults who would have looked after Harry in a traumatic situation.] With that action, Dumbledore knew something was wrong and followed ‘Moody.’ The headmaster has Snape use his truth potion (Veritaserum) on the man; he also sends McGonagall to fetch a black dock from Hagrid’s and take it to the headmaster’s office. In the film, the cut on Harry’s arm almost echoes the Dark Mark, though opposite arms, best seen when Dumbledore compares it to Crouch Jr’s tattoo.
Dumbledore continues his investigation; in the seventh compartment of the trunk is the real Alastor Moody. The flask that the man has been carrying is filled with Polyjuice Potion; it’s a well-known fact that the real Alastor only drinks from his flask. The imposter is really Barty Crouch Jr. His mother saved him from Azkaban and died in his place, but his father kept him hidden away at home, concealed and controlled, with only Winky to care for him. The secret got out to Bertha Jorkins, a Ministry employee, whom Crouch Sr put under a Memory Charm. When she wandered across Voldemort’s path, he broke that Charm, got his information, then killed her [this whole bit was left out of the movie; again, it would have dragged the story to put in all the side plots]. Crouch Jr was actually at the Quidditch World Cup, in the box with Harry and the Weasleys, under an Invisibility Cloak alongside Winky. He’d been growing stronger, fighting his father’s magical control, and saw the opportunity to steal a wizard’s wand – Harry’s. When Crouch Jr heard the Death Eaters, the ones who had escaped Azkaban, he used the stolen wand to cast the Dark Mark. When the Ministry sent stunners into the woods, he was caught and finding Winky at the scene, his father knew what happened. Voldemort comes to the Crouch home, frees Jr and puts Sr under the Imperius Curse. That is why Percy Weasley took on many of Crouch Sr’s responsibilities [also not seen in the movie]. Voldemort tasks Barty Crouch Jr as his servant at Hogwarts, impersonating Alastor Moody. When Harry met Crouch Sr acting oddly, it was after the old man had escaped; Crouch Jr had been hiding out, and killed his father while Harry went for help, then circled back around as Moody and pretended to look for Crouch Sr. It was also Crouch Jr who turned the Triwizard Cup into a Portkey.
Testimony over, Dumbledore takes Harry to his office, where Sirius is waiting. Harry would rather not think about the memories he has of this night. Dumbledore understands Harry’s feelings and if it would help to put them off in an enchanted sleep, he would do it. But “numbing the pain for a while will make it worse when you finally feel it (pg. 695).” Harry has already been brave beyond Dumbledore’s expectation; the old man is asking for a little more courage from the teen. Harry recounts the events in the graveyard. For a moment, when he mentions that his mother’s blood protection is over, Harry thinks he sees “a gleam of something like triumph in Dumbledore’s eyes (pg. 696).” Dumbledore explains that when Harry’s and Voldemort’s wands connected, it was Priori Incantatem, along with the fact that their wands share a core, a tailfeather from Fawkes. When a wand meets its brother, it will not work properly against each other when forced to battle. One will force the other wand to regurgitate spells in reverse order.
Now, Dumbledore will take Harry to the hospital wing to get some peaceful sleep; Sirius may stay with him as Padfoot. “You have shown bravery equal to those who died fighting Voldemort at the height of his powers. You have shouldered a grown wizard’s burden and found yourself equal to it (pg. 699).” Waiting for him in the hospital wing are the Weasleys and Hermione. Dumbledore informs them not to ask Harry any questions that night. Later, Harry is woken to angry voices. Fudge refuses to believe that Voldemort is back and took care of Crouch Jr before he could testify again. Fudge no longer believes Harry’s word, listening to Skeeter’s gossip that he’s mentally disturbed. He fears the news will start a panic that will destabilize everything. Dumbledore argues for the Minister to see sense; “you are blinded…by the love of the office you hold, Cornelius! You place too much importance, and you always have done, on the so-called purity of blood! You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be (pg. 708)!” [And this is why we liked Rowling, until recently.] If Fudge will take steps now, he will be remembered as brave and the greatest Minister of Magic. “Fail to act – and history will remember you as the man who stepped aside and allowed Voldemort a second chance to destroy the world we have tried to rebuild (pg. 708)!”
In response, Fudge calls Dumbledore man and insane. This is a parting of ways. Snape even shows his Dark Mark, that it’s grown darker all year, but Fudge refuses to see reason. He leaves. Dumbledore asks Molly and Arthur for help. Then he has Sirius resume his normal form and face Snape. He will ask for a lack of open hostility between the two rivals; they are on the same side. He tasks Sirius to gather Lupin and the old crowd. Harry already misses his godfather’s presence by his side. Snape in turn, is ready for what Dumbledore will asks. He leaves. Left alone with the Weasleys, Molly offers Harry a hug. And the poor boy has no memory of being hugged like by a mother.
This is all left out of the film, sadly.
When Harry awakes again, he meets with Cedric’s parents, who do not blame Harry. Harry tries offering them the winnings, but they won’t take it. Harry doesn’t want it. There is a memorial service for Cedric. “Cedric Diggory was…exceptionally hard-working, infinitely fair-minded, and most importantly, a fierce, fierce friend.” Dumbledore announces that Cedric was murdered by Voldemort; the Ministry of Magic does not want him to tell, but that would be an insult to Cedric’s memory. He advocates, “in light of Lord Voldemort’s return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort’s gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust (ph. 723).”
The movie puts it: “while we may come from different places and speak in different tongues, our hearts beat as one” [which the world would do well to remember]. “In light of recent events, the bonds of friendship we made this year will be more important than ever.” Remember that, and Cedric Diggory will not have died in vain. And remember the young man that was brave, kind, honest, and true to the very end. After the service, Dumbledore visits Harry in his dorm. “O put you in terrible danger this year, Harry. I’m sorry” [it’s nice he apologized.] Harry does ask about seeing his parents, but Dumbledore doesn’t bring up the shared wand cores. Instead, Dumbledore says “dark and difficult times lay ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy. But remember this. You have friends here. You are not alone.”
Krum asks Hermione to write to him. Fleur and her sister kiss Ron farewell. Ron asks “do you ever think we’ll just have a quiet year at Hogwarts?” Both Hermione and Harry answer no. “Oh well, what’s life without a few dragons?”
There’s some good news on the train ride home. Rita Skeeter won’t be writing any more terrible articles for a while; Hermione figured out how she had been able to get private information. She’s an unregistered Animagus; a beetle. Hermione managed to catch her the night in the hospital wing and is keeping her in a jar. Malfoy and his cronies try to start a fight, but the twins join the trio in hexing the Slytherins, then tossing them in another compartment. Harry gives the twins his winnings as they exit the train, telling them to use it for their joke shop. Oh, and maybe get Ron some new dress robes. This is also left out of the film.
I have to admit, this book and movie were better than I remember them being. There are some excellently written passages, and the movie dialogue is just as good. Yes, the book drags on and the movie rightly cut side plots that didn’t really aid the main plot. I mean, I don’t like the teen drama, but I also didn’t like teen drama when I was a teenager. The plot has matured, alongside the characters. Events and happenings are getting darker.
I will say, there is a fanfiction story that I highly recommend that is an alternate universe following the end of Prisoner of Azkaban and follows the plotline of Goblet of Fire. It’s A Marauder’s Plan by CatsAreCool. It is one of the best written Harry Potter fanfictions I’ve read, and my favorite thing is Sirius is in it way more. So, I definitely recommend you read it (it’s one of those that you wish was actual canon).
Harry and his friends are back for another year at Hogwarts. Our main cast is still young and are joined by Mark Williams (he’s Rory Willaims’ father in Doctor Who, made other appearances in BBC shows, as well as Billy in Stardust, Wabash in Shakespeare in Love, and Horace in the live action 101 Dalmatians) as Mr. Arthur Weasley, Jason Isaacs (he voiced the Inquisitor in Star Wars Rebels and Zhao in Avatar: The Last Airbender) as Mr. Lucius Malfoy, and the voice of Toby Jones (most recently he was Basil Shaw in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, Arnim Zola in the MCU, and voiced Owl in Christopher Robin. He was Culverton Smith in an episode of Sherlock, appeared in the Hunger Games movies, Doctor Who, Amazing Grace, and Snow White and the Huntsman, as well as the royal page in Ever After) as Dobby. Kenneth Branagh (he is now Hercule Poirot in the recent Agatha Christie movies [which he also directed]: A Haunting in Venice, Death on the Nile, and Murder on the Orient Express. He was Cherevin in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit with Chris Pine [he also directed], and is very famous for his acting and directing work in productions of Shakespeare, notably Hamlet and Henry V. We’ve also noted he’s directed the live action Cinderella film and the first Thor film of the MCU) is Gilderoy Lockhart and Miriam Margoyles (she was in an episode of Merlin, and was the voice of the Matchmaker in Disney’s animated Mulan, as well as the grandmother in Balto) is Professor Sprout.
A trend we will see throughout the series is that Harry starts each new adventure back at the Dursleys for summer break, missing Hogwarts. This year, so far he has not heard from any of his friends; his school things are locked away. The Dursleys are preparing for a dinner party and Harry is to “be in my bedroom, making no noise, pretending I’m not there (pg. 6).” Except, he has an unexpected guest in his bedroom, a creature he finds out is a house-elf, named Dobby, who warns Harry not to return to Hogwarts, there is a “plat to make most terrible things happen (pg. 16).” Harry insists he will return to the magic school. It comes out that Dobby has been stopping his mail and he won’t return the letters until Harry promises he won’t go back. The house-elf takes off running and floats dessert over the guests’ heads, getting Harry in trouble, both with the Ministry of Magic and the Dursleys; “Dobby must do it, for Harry Potter’s own good.” Vernon takes great delight in putting bars on the window of Harry’s room, ranting he’ll never go back to school or see his friends again.
Harry is luckily rescued by Ron, Fred, and George Weasley in their father’s flying car and we all get to witness our first magical home, where the dishes wash themselves and knitting needles turn out work by themselves. Molly is furious with her son, “beds empty, no note, car gone!” but pleased to see Harry. We meet Arthur Weasley when he returns home from work at the Ministry, the Office of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts; he only berates his sons when his wife glares at him. He turns to Harry and eagerly asks “what is the function of a rubber duck?” Dumbledore even sends Harry’s school list to the Burrow. Harry accompanies the Weasley family to Diagon Alley for school supplies. He’s introduced to Floo Powder as a method of travel; he ends up in Knockturn Alley and luckily Hagrid shows up to lead him where he wants to go. He, the Weasleys, and Hermione run into Draco Malfoy and his father, Lucius, in the bookstore, where they also meet their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart. There’s a scuffle between Lucius and Arthur, then Harry spends the rest of the summer at the Burrow, referring to it as the happiest in his life.
They take Arthur’s car to the train station, but are running late, so Ron and Harry will be the last through. Except, when they try to get on to the platform, the barrier is sealed. They reason they’ll wait by the car, then Ron suggests they fly the car to Hogwarts. There’s an Invisibility Booster, so they shouldn’t be seen, but it malfunctions. The film shows a more exciting ride, though the big finish is landing on the Whomping Willow at the school and the car getting pummeled. It ejects the two boys and their things, then drives off into the Forbidden Forest. Snape gets ahold of them first and informs them they were seen, and put the whole Magical World at risk of being discovered. If it was up to him, they’d both be on the train home that evening. However, their fate lies with Professor McGonagall. They won’t be expelled, yet, but their actions were very serious, so they will both serve detention.
Their first lesson as second years is Herbology, where they repot Mandrakes, which look like babies in the roots, and they scream very loudly. Neville faints at the sound. Harry also meets an eager first year, Colin Creevy, who is fascinated with Wizarding photographs and wants some of Harry. Which leads to Lockhart finding out and attempting to give Harry advice about fame; Harry would rather run away. Lockhart introduces his class: “be warned! It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizard kind! You may find yourselves facing your worst fears in this room. Know only that no harm can befall you whilst I am here. All I ask is that you remain calm (pg. 101).” Then he sets loose Cornish Pixies and is ineffective and capturing them again, leaving Harry, Ron, and Hermione to finish the job.
Harry runs into Draco again on the way to Quidditch practice and finds out that Draco is the new Seeker for Slytherin, and his father donated new brooms to the team. Hermione remarks that all the players on Gryffindor got in on pure talent; no one had to buy their way onto the team. Draco retorts the no one asked for the opinion of a filthy Mudblood. Ron tries to stand up for Hermione and tells Draco to eat slugs, but his wand was damaged by the Willow and the spell backfires on Ron, causing him to belch up slugs. Harry is informed what a Mudblood means (dirty blood, magical child of Muggle parentage), then has to spend his detention with Lockhart.
As the hours wain on, he hears a strange voice. But Lockhart doesn’t. Harry hears it again as he heads to the common room and follows it to discover a pool of water and Mrs. Norris hanging on the wall with the ominous phrase “The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir, beware” on the wall. (In the book, this is preceded by Nearly Headless Nick’s Deathday party, but that was omitted in the film). Harry is discovered at the scene, and Filch wants to condemn him, but Snape actually points out that Harry might just be in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, what brought him there? Harry does not admit that he heard a strange voice (Snape instead tries to get Harry off the Quidditch team in the book, but McGonagall sees through that).
Hermione speaks up in class (Transfiguration with McGonagall in the film, History of Magic with Professor Binns in the book) to ask about the Chamber of Secrets. The students learn a little more about the Founding of Hogwarts by Rowena Ravenclaw, Helga Hufflepuff, Salazar Slytherin, and Godric Gryffindor. Slytherin wanted to be more selective on who was taught at school, keeping it to pureblood families. The rest of the Founders disagreed and so legend states that Slytherin built a secret chamber and housed a monster that could rid the school of non-pureblood students. (Mrs. Norris’ owner, Argus Filch, is shown to be a Squib, a non-magical child of magical parents). The trio of course decide to investigate and reason that Malfoy is the Heir of Slytherin, with his family history in Slytherin and stance on purebloods. Hermione figures the best way to question him would be to use Polyjuice Potion, so they could transform into other Slytherin students and find out. The film doesn’t show that they have to get Most Potente Potions from the Restricted Section; they trick Lockhart into signing a permission form (Hermione is one of the students who is in awe of Lockhart).
Harry faces Draco on the Quidditch field first, Wood telling him “get to that Snitch before Malfoy, or die trying (pg. 167).” Well, during the game, a Bludger goes rogue and only follows Harry. Draco calls out “training for the ballet, Potter?” while Harry tries to dodge the heavy ball. Then it’s a race between the two of them to catch the Snitch. The Bludger finds it mark and breaks Harry’s arm, but he manages to catch the Snith. Then Lockhart runs over to help Harry and instead of mending his broken bones, makes them disappear. Harry ends up in the Hospital Wing to regrow his bones. Dobby the house-elf appears again and Harry finds out it was the elf who stopped the barrier and set the Bludger to attack him. We do manage to feel bad alongside Harry when we find out how Dobby is treated, but their conversation is cut short by teachers arriving with a frozen Colin Creevey. Dumbledore is sure now that the Chamber is indeed open. But the question is who, not how. In the film, he admits to McGonagall that the students are in danger and Hogwarts is no longer safe. [But he doesn’t send them home yet.]
So, the Headmaster allows Lockhart to start a Dueling Club for the school and Snape somehow becomes Lockhart opponent [how did that happen? Did he volunteer? Was he asked? By whom?]. The opponents trade salutes like in a saber duel and Snape manages to teach the students a useful spell: Expelliarmus, and make a fool of Lockhart at the same time. Lockhart nominates Harry as the next student and Snape brings up Draco Malfoy. “Scared, Potter?” “You wish.” They attempt more than disarming and Draco fires a snake at Harry. But before the professors can banish it, Harry speaks to it and orders it away from another student. However, everyone is in shock and a little afraid (look at Snape’s expression in the movie; he was certainly not expecting that and probably brings up a whole host of questions). Ron questions Harry about the ability and reveals that Harry can speak another language: Parsletongue. It was an ability Slytherin himself prized. So now everyone is going to think Harry is the Heir of Slytherin, and many students do. The Weasley twins try to make a joke of it, but it wears on Harry. And as Hermione points out, Harry doesn’t know that much about his family in order to dispute it. Then, another student is attacked, through Nearly Headless Nick. Dumbledore finally asks Harry if there is anything he’d like to share with the older wizard. Harry keeps quiet, especially after questioning the Sorting Hat and finding out the Hat still thinks Slytherin would have been a good fit. He also meets Dumbledore’s phoenix, Fawkes, in the Headmaster’s office. [I notice a similarity between Fawkes’ theme and the love theme from Attack of the Clones, both written by John Williams and both films came out in 2002. That is also why a lot of the themes from the first film were reused in this film.]
There are some deleted scenes from the film that show the other students; mainly Hufflepuff, discuss Harry as the Heir of Slytherin. One surmises that maybe Voldemort went to kill Harry because he didn’t want another Dark Wizard competing against him. There’s also a beautiful scenic shot of Harry and Hedwig, sitting away from the castle and looking back at it. Harry asks his companion, “who am I, Hedwig? What am I?”
The Polyjuice Potion is ready at Christmas; Ron and Harry manage to transform into Crabbe and Goyle, but Hermione can’t join them. They find their way to Slytherin’s Common Room and talk to Draco. Luckily, Crabbe and Goyle are already a little dim, so Draco readily tells them again, he doesn’t know who the Heir is; his father won’t tell him. But the last time, someone died. Ron and Harry report back to Hermione and find out that the hair she used was cat hair. She goes to the Hospital Wing to get transformed back. Harry also finds a book thrown through Myrtle; when he examines it, it’s blank, but it belonged to a T.M. Riddle. Ron recognizes the name from an award he had to polish, from fifty years ago. They had discovered the last Chamber of Secrets attacks were fifty years ago. Harry examines the diary further and attempts writing in it: it writes back. Tom shows Harry his memory of catching the culprit; Hagrid. But Harry refuses to believe Hagrid is truly at fault. Before he can get more information, his room is trashed and the diary is gone.
Harry hears the voices again on the way to a Quidditch match and Hermione heads to the library; “because that’s what Hermione does, when in doubt, go to the library (pg. 255).” The match is canceled and McGonagall informs Ron and Harry that it was Hermione and another girl who were attacked, holding a mirror. New rules are set in place and everyone is under a curfew. Harry drags his dad’s Invisibility Cloak out again and he and Ron sneak down to Hagrid’s. But they’re not the only ones to show up. Dumbledore and Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic show up to arrest Hagrid, even though Dumbledore vouches for him. Then Lucius Malfoy shows up with a letter from the school governors to suspend Dumbledore. Fudge even protests, but Dumbledore goes peacefully and says in parting “I will only truly have left this school when none here are loyal to me. You will also find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it (pg. 264).” Hagrid drops the loud hint that answers lie with following the spiders.
Ron’s not keen on following the spiders into the Forbidden Forest. And they run into a test of huge spiders [I refuse to watch the scenes in the movie; they creep me out]. But they find out, while this was the pet Hagrid kept in the school, it is not the monster from the Chamber. Hagrid was innocent. They still try to eat Harry and Ron, luckily, the old car comes to their rescue and drives them out of the forest. The two boys also deduce, that if the girl who died was found in the bathroom, it may be Moaning Myrtle. Their next clue comes from a piece of paper grasped in Hermione’s hand, a page detailing a basilisk; the King of Serpents “of the many fearsome beasts and monsters that roam our land, there is none more curious or more deadly (pg. 290).” Spiders flee from it and the cry of a rooster is fatal, which is why Hagrid has been finding the roosters dead. Hermione also wrote “pipes” on the page. Harry figures it out; it’s a snake, so that’s why only he is hearing it. It’s slithering through the pipes in the school and no one has died from its gaze because they only saw reflections.
Before they can act on their knowledge, the school goes into lockdown. They hide in the teachers’ lounge and discover that Ginny Weasley was taken into the Chamber. The other professors dispense with Lockhart, claiming he can use his experience he’s written about to rescue the girl (of course, not believing anything of the sort). Ron and Harry still go to him with their information and find him packing. They force him to Myrtle’s bathroom, where Harry asks about how she died. One of the sinks has a carved snake on the faucet and Harry uses Parsletongue to open the Chamber of Secrets. The boys force Lockhart down. The man faints at the sight of a snake skin, then tries to wipe their memories. That’s his actual expertise; he wrote about what other people did and took the credit, but wiped their memories so they couldn’t blab, all so he could become famous. And he’ll do the same again. Except, he took Ron’s wand and the spell backfires and also causes a cave in. Harry goes on alone.
He finds an unconscious Ginny and a very solid looking Tom Riddle, out of the diary. He reveals that Ginny had been writing in the diary all year, pouring her soul out to an invisible stranger. Which is exactly what he wanted; he has grown stronger while Ginny has grown weaker and soon, he’ll be alive again and Ginny will be dead. He also very much wants to talk to Harry; “how is it that you – a skinny boy with no extraordinary magical talent – manage to defeat the greatest wizard of all time (pg. 313)?” Harry wants to know why Tom is interested in Voldemort, he’s after his time. Voldemort is Tom’s past, present, and future. The letters in Tom Marvolo Riddle rearranged create I am Lord Voldemort. Tom refused to keep the name of his filthy Muggle father, when the blood of Salazar Slytherin runs in his veins. Dumbledore suspected him in school, so he locked his memories away in the dairy so someone later could finish his work. Harry corrects Tom that Dumbledore is the greatest wizard of all time. A strange tune comes to them and Fawkes appears, bringing the Sorting Hat. Tom is prepared to kill Harry, though notes there are similarities between them; both half-blood, both orphans, both Parslemouths, and they even look a bit alike. Still, Harry has to die. He calls forth the basilisk. Harry goes running, but Fawkes attacks the serpent, blinding it, which allows Harry to now see where the snake is. He begs the Hat for help, and pulls out a sword. When the basilisk strikes, Harry stabs it through it’s mouth, but he gets a fang in the arm. Before Harry can succumb to the wound, Fawkes sheds a few tears. Phoenix tears have healing properties. Harry decides to stab the diary with the fang in order to stop Tom. The memory disappears and Ginny wakes. Harry gets everyone together and Fawkes flies them out to McGonagall’s office.
Arthur and Molly Weasley are waiting for Ginny. Arthur tells her off; she should know better than to “trust anything that can think for itself if you can’t see where it keeps its brain (pg. 329)” [and that is Arthur Weasley’s best line]. Dumbledore insists that Ginny will face no punishment; older and wiser wizards have been hoodwinked by Voldemort. Ron is sent with a letter to get Hagrid back. Dumbledore also explains that Tom Riddle disappeared after school and travelled far and wide. He “sank so deeply into the Dark Arts, consorted with the very worst of our kind, that when he resurfaced as Lord Voldemort, he was barely recognizable. Hardly anyone connected Lord Voldemort with the clever, handsome boy (pg. 329).” Dumbledore thanks Harry for the loyalty he showed the Headmaster; that was why Fawkes came. Harry brings up the similarities Tom pointed out between the two boys. Dumbledore admits that there are similarities, but it is their choices that “show what we truly are, far more than abilities (pg. 333).” Also, Voldemort managed to transfer some of his powers to Harry the night he attempted to kill him. Though only a true Gryffindor could have pulled Godric Gryffindor’s sword from the Sorting Hat.
Lucius Malfoy shows up, with Dobby in tow, demanding why Dumbledore returned. The older wizard explains that the other governors wrote to him, asking him back, when they found out Arthur Weasley’s daughter was taken. Seems Lucius threatened to curse their families if they didn’t dismiss Dumbledore in the first place. Harry figures out that Lucius slipped Ginny the diary the day they ran into each other in Flourish and Blotts. Harry can’t prove it and Lucius warns him he’ll meet the same sticky end as his parents. “Let us hope Mr. Potter will always be around to save the day.” “Don’t worry, I will be.” He runs after Lucius to return the diary and when the man tosses the disgusting book to Dobby, he doesn’t realize it has one of Harry’s socks in it. He’s presented Dobby with clothes; Dobby is free! Lucius tries to attack Harry [possibly starting the Killing Curse], pulling his wand from his cane (like nobles used to with their swords…totally cool!) but Dobby protects Harry Potter. Harry is grateful, but asks the elf to never try to save his life again.
Everyone who was Petrified is revived. Hermione rushes to give Harry a hug, then awkwardly shakes hands with Ron. School exams are cancelled as a treat. And Hagrid returns to Hogwarts, stopping to thank the trio. Harry stands and tells the man, “there’s no Hogwarts without you, Hagrid.” [And I shed a tear watching this, remembering that Robbie Coltrane is no longer with us.] He hugs the man and Dumbledore is the next to stand and begins clapping [and that actor is no longer with us, either; he passed away before the film premiered]. McGonagall is the next to join in and soon most of the Great Hall is applauding Hagrid (accompanied with the sweeping theme from the ending of the first film).
Dreamer in the Mirror 