So, I have finished Reign, which has kept me from several other projects (such as Season Four of Race to the Edge), but mainly because it’s lead me to writing my longest story yet and the greatest interest I’ve had in writing something in years.
So here are some of my thoughts and reactions to the show:
First, what many people argue and what kept me from watching it for several years (the show is older than I originally thought; but I wasn’t really watching CW as a channel when it was on), is the historical inaccuracy. They’re right. A great many liberties are taken. There’s an age lift (though they might be portraying them at the correct age, but since the actors are older, I tend to read it as the characters are older…and considering some of the scenes shown, the network should believe the characters are older). I’m personally fine with the age lift.
The costumes…I tried watching the show once about a year ago and couldn’t get past the first episode because the dresses were so wrong. I’ve since read that the budget was tight the first season, so they literally used prom dresses…we can tell. The men’s costumes are fairly typical for a historical series, lots of leather, but female viewers tend to like that (guilty). Costumes did get better as the series went. I do rather like some of Lola’s dresses. Catherine has some gorgeous dresses and Mary’s get better in season four.
In addition to historical inaccuracy, they forget about geography some times. They never actually name what castle the French court is residing in; I think the fandom has named it Fontainebleau. It’s often commented to be about two or three days from Paris. Fine. Then, in season four, the writers claim that men can make it from Edinburgh in Scotland to London in England in a single night. Even more, they can get there, kidnap someone, and return to Edinburgh by morning. Then return him the same day. Nope. Not possible. (And we are expected it’s supposed to be a single night because Elizabeth is not more concerned, nor sent search parties after the man.)
As for characters, Francis and Sebastian quickly became my favorite. I quickly loved their brotherly relationship; they’re close despite one being legitimate and the other illegitimate (they will certainly make it into my brothers in fiction essay). And Bash never truly wants to usurp Francis’s place. (As noted below, I disliked the love triangles.) They’re best when they’re working together and supporting each other. That hug at the end of Season 1! Loved by all!
I have mixed feelings about Catherine. The actress did a superb job, because you root for her, even though she does absolutely terrible things. Her love for her children triumphs over all. As with many other relationships in this show; I like it when the characters work together. She’s a nicer character when she supports Mary. Still does horrible things because she thinks it’s helping, but they often come back to bite her.
Clarissa is not my favorite character and it’s more the working in the shadows. I’m not sure how she’s motivated; I don’t think you can trust her. Mary seems to, but that’s not a smart idea; don’t trust someone you don’t know or can’t see. Of course, she tries to hurt her younger brothers after gaining their trust. I also don’t always trust Nostradamus. He has good intentions, but relying so heavily on visions and prophecies brings chaos. I certainly don’t trust Diane, especially when she’s trying to get Bash legitimized.
There are times I like Mary; she’s a strong queen and someone who doesn’t take what is thrown at her lying down. However, she also makes some dumb choices. I am not fond of any of the love triangles that pop up throughout this show. Mary can’t seem to make up her mind on whom she wants to love. She and Francis work well together, when they actually decide to work together. I would have been happy to watch just their love story; and once Francis was crowned, there’s plenty of political drama that they did not need to add personal drama. King and queen can disagree about how they want things done and that’s suspense.
An argument I have between Mary and Francis; Mary doesn’t like that Francis wants to put the needs of France first. However, she does the same thing for Scotland. Honey, you can’t have it both ways. You’re each the sovereign of a different country, so your priorities are going to differ. As with Bash, Francis makes a great team with Mary when they settle down, but the show is determined to throw hurdles in their way constantly. The scene in the field where Francis proposes is utterly romantic. Several of their scenes get hot and heavy. And then it all goes to pot shortly after that.
The plotline with Lola and Francis comes out of nowhere and is a monumentally dumb idea. They both know things are out of whack at the moment, but let’s do this thing that has potential consequences. And now they have to deal with those consequences.
The first episode feels off from the rest of the show at times. They had Bash give odd looks to the camera that made one wonder if he was plotting something as well. That luckily went away. I was utterly taken by the show by the fourth episode, when Bash came back wounded (don’t ask). I was intrigued by the pagan plotline and think they could have done more with it, but the show had too many storylines they were trying to juggle. (However, gives me lots of ideas for stories of my own.)
Henry going mad was an interesting plotline because it brings added danger to everyone. He tries to kill Bash, more than once. He oddly ends up working well with Catherine, which is nice, but still odd because we don’t know what’s going on. And there are dead girls to contend with. He’s so consumed with glory and gaining control of England. Then he wants to kill Francis, his heir, and marry Mary. So Catherine and Mary want to put an end to him. Franics argues, until he realizes how dangerous his father is and takes the responsibility himself and rides against his father.
I have mixed feelings about the pairing of Bash and Kenna. They seem good for each other, because Bash comes to care for her, even though he’s also focused on defeating the Darkness. Some of their scenes are steamy. And Kenna encourages Bash that he is enough, just himself; he doesn’t always have to prove himself. Having Pascal around humanizes her, because she’s typically selfish. Then…that plotline gets destroyed in the second season.
I never trust Narcisse, even when he tries to do something good. I almost want the relationship between him and Lola to work out, because maybe she’ll bring the good out in him. Nope. Still is a complete jerk. Yet, he oddly pairs with Catherine well. Except they can’t trust each other enough to go far.
The triangle with Louis of Conde was unneeded. A love triangle almost destroyed Francis and Mary before, so what do they do? Bring in another one. I mean, at first, I thought he was a nice guy, helping out his cousin. But then I want to hit him as the season goes on.
The rape scene and plotline in the second season was unnecessary. Yes, it brings drama, but all it does it throw Mary towards Louis. She already has the mindset that if Francis won’t do what she wants, she’ll go to Louis to get it. Not a good idea. The only decent thing out of that scene was Catherine’s support of Mary. I don’t know if it could have been avoided if Francis had told Mary the truth about his father’s death earlier; he was on the cusp of it at the end of season one when Mary sent him to Lola. And he was on the cusp of it when he broke her heart by telling her he was upset she wasn’t pregnant.
I expected Mary’s pregnancy to Francis to last longer than one episode. Even though I knew, historically, Mary and Francis never had children, I was still happy that Mary was pregnant. And to have her miscarry so suddenly and so soon after it’s introduced was a bit heartbreaking. Catherine’s response was a bit funny, barging into their room with things for Mary.
Claude was genuinely affectionate with Francis and I wish we saw more of that. And not the weird previous relationship between her and Bash. However, her storyline with her mother was interesting, and played into the ghosts Catherine started seeing, same as Henry. Once Claude settled down from trying to make Bash uncomfortable, they worked well together uncovering the truth of her sisters’ death. And Diane’s back, and still making a mess of things. Am I surprised that Catherine took the opportunity to kill her? No. I do like that we start seeing Bash and Catherine work together and be nice to each other. (Diane’s death will surely become a problem later.)
Louis has a brother Antoine, who also needs hit. The whole issue with their oldest brother being killed, they think by Bash, is never fully solved. They think it’s Bash. Bash admits it may have been him, but I’m not wholly convinced. Antoine also tries to break up Bash’s marriage. So it’s not wholly Kenna’s fault, but she’s still fairly selfish and is more concerned with nice things. She also did not trust Bash enough at the end to be honest with him and instead tries to trick him. Like, she had to have known it wouldn’t work well. I had wanted the marriage to go well for Bash, for his sake. For something happy and good in his life.
Which leaves the door open for Delphine. Who I also don’t trust. I am grateful for her powers when she saves Bash; which that scene was a total shock and I just sat silently for a few minutes when it went to commercial (and wished my mother would stop talking. I have not recovered emotionally yet, leave me be). But she strongly claims she is not a witch. Honey, you can mystically heal people; yes it has a price, but magic often does. You have visions. You can bind yourself to someone, which was just a bit creepy. I have no problem with you being a witch, just, admit it. Don’t be frightened of it, but take advantage of the power. You can’t have it both ways. Is she a better match for Bash than Kenna? Maybe. That plotline needed better developed just the two of them. But Bash is so often investigating things for Francis.
Odd as it sounds, Catherine kidnapping Lola and John and making Francis think John is dead goes a long way in bringing Mary and Francis back together. Mary doesn’t attempt to take to Louis’ side and is instantly by her husband’s side and quite willing to help in whatever way she can. Thankfully, John is safe, and Narcisse finds Lola and her child. Though I do think the reveal that Franics is still not wholly well goes far in Francis’s desire to easily reconcile with Mary. And a pairing between Catherine and Elizabeth I is not for anyone.
Catherine gets her comeuppance for that in the beginning of season three, easily getting captured and taken back to France to be thrown in the dungeon. But Francis’s lingering illness makes that beginning of the season heartbreaking. Charles has certainly grown up in the few intervening years and then grows up with the events of the season. Hurrah for Narcisse doing the decent thing and helping Charles and Claude. Now he has Francis’s permission to pursue Lola.
I like that England began to play more of a role in the politics and drama of the series. There are still some historical inaccuracies, but Elizabeth I did have a very well-known affair with Robert Dudley. (I don’t think it resulted in a child, miscarried or not.)
That dance in episode three is utterly beautiful and utterly heartbreaking. The tune is Stay with Me, which suits the mood, and is so pretty played on violin. The choreography is perfection. I wish we had more scenes like that throughout the show.
Delphine saving Francis, even at the possible expense of Marie de Guise, gives us a spot of hope. We’re happy; Bash has a love interest, Francis and Mary can plan a future. Even Greer is happy with her new career, and having favor at court again. Francis plans to whisk Mary away to Paris for a romantic getaway, then they stop to be a happy couple. And it’s utterly ruined by the attack. Even though I knew it was coming, I cried when Francis died. The heartbreak that everyone plays; gosh, look at Bash’s face, and having to carry his brother away. Placing the sword and crown on his casket. Mary kissing the casket farewell, after her screams. Not a dry eye at the end of that episode. Then a few episodes later for Catherine and Bash to bring his casket back in order to clear Catherine’s name. The audience knows that Catherine would never kill Francis. And Catherine telling Mary not to look. We’re not so happy with Narcisse after that.
Now Mary has to marry again, for the sake of her crown and country. Most of the French court is still nice to her, even Catherine. A pox on Narcisse for trying to force her out. Don Carlos is kind for a moment, then manipulative. I didn’t initially trust Gideon Blackburn, but he turns out so kind, and Mary is so sweet to his daughter. Mary even saves Elizabeth’s life from a Vatican plot and gives Robert Dudley back to Elizabeth, even at the expense of sending Gideon. Mary just needs a hug at the end.
It’s a tangled mess when Catherine takes a lover who turns out to be a killer, but being blackmailed into nonaction. Her actions against Claude are terrible, but at least Charles is behind Claude (and Claude using what she learned from Leith was great). Christophe was creepy from the moment he came on screen. He attacks Delphine and later kills her. I may not have trusted Delphine, but I didn’t want her dead; poor Bash. Then he has to confront her killer. And then confront Catherine. Gosh, the heartbreak for him. He’s already confessed he still has feelings for Mary, and will follow her to Scotland to continue to be in her service and protect her.
They’re shipwrecked on the shores of Scotland and Narcisse is not impressed and leaves Mary as soon as he honorably can. Bash is almost killed, but we get to meet the Druids. (Though that bit with the snakes was…gross and a bit weird.) And find out that Bash may have a connection to them as well. Mary gets revenge for Francis by killing the clan leader (John Barrowman, who is Scottish and is Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who). Except, now she has to deal with John Knox, who dislikes female monarchs (not something I knew about the man) and even tries to get James to disband the monarchy.
James Stuart is probably portrayed nicer than he was in life. I was fine that; I’m familiar with the actor from Good Witch and several other Hallmark movies where he tends to play royalty. Actually, the number of Hallmark men who are in this show is just shy of absurd. Torrance Coombs (Bash) is in Royally Ever After, Jonathan Keltz (Leith) is in Once Upon a Prince. Will Kemp (Darnley) is in three movies with Lacey Chabert: Love, Romance, & Chocolate, The Christmas Waltz, and The Dancing Detective: A Deadly Tango, amongst others. Steven Lund (Luc Narcisse) is in three of the Heart Around the Table movies [fairly new, and Torrance Coombs is the male lead in the fourth] and at least three other Hallmark Christmas movies.
It’s Knox who arranges word to get to Lola that Mary wants Elizabeth assassinated. Mary gave no such word, but Knox doesn’t care; he just wants both women off their thrones and Protestant men put in their places. Lola is caught and her friendship with the queen does not save her from being executed. Narcisse was there, hoping to rescue his wife, and is forced to watch her beheading. Mary is devastated. Her only companion left is Greer, who returns to Scotland after Lola’s death. She brings her young daughter (from a fling with a privateer. Her husband is rescued from prison, but ultimately finds other companionship.)
I was terribly sad when Bash left. I understand the actor left to pursue another show, but story wise it seems so odd for him to travel all the way to Scotland to be by Mary’s side, then leave her. I mean, at least, they try to explain it with him pursuing his own supernatural talents. Then, he’s mentioned in the fourth season that he’s had a vision, which he passes on to David Rizzio that Mary may have love, or an heir that will unite Scotland and England, but not both. David oddly comments that it’s Bash’s spirit that leads him to Mary. Uh, does that mean Bash is already dead?
This news just affirms that Mary will marry Darnley, who has a claim to the English throne himself. Elizabeth fears this and even allows Gideon to return to Mary and propose marriage. Again, they’re so sweet together and happy. But Mary is afraid that the match will make her a prisoner in England. So she breaks Gideon’s heart. In England, Gideon ends up close to Elizabeth and the queen is kind to his daughter, particularly her last few days before she passes.
I want to smack Darnley on a constant basis. He’s arrogant and flippant and a jerk. He’s only concerned with his position and not helping Mary as the current monarch. He has a few charming moments, which is how Mary is able to conceive a child, but then the man goes along with a plot to rid the court of Bothwell, whom Mary has grown close to (admittedly, the man is handsome, and a right spot kinder than Darnley). When the council can’t get their hands on Bothwell, they stab Rizzio in front of a pregnant Mary (that is historically accurate). Mary does help Darnley escape the castle because she figures the other members won’t stand behind him long. Then, the man, after several pledges to protect her, leaves his pregnant wife in the woods, alone.
Meanwhile, in France, Catherine’s eldest daughter, Leeza (actually Elizabeth, but goes by a nickname so as not to be confused with Elizabeth Tudor) visits from Spain. Yet, she wants Spain to have more influence in France and since Charles has been traumatized by an attack from the Red Knights, he’s not a strong king. He gets better, with a bit of help from Claude’s new husband, Luc Narcisse. Luc is actually a decent guy, unlike his father. He tries to be understanding of Claude’s state of mind after Leith was killed. Though, Leith returns, briefly. He survived, but can’t stand that Claude is now married, so he leaves, hoping they all might find new happiness. (Nothing can be straightforward, can it?)
Catherine is not happy that Leeza is home, or what changes she tries to make. Catherine is trying to keep hold of the regency, though that too slips from her grasp. Leeza eventually leaves, but also has instructions that Charles’ younger brother, Henry (who oddly looks older than Charles now), should take the throne. That pits the two brothers against each other. Further complicated by Charles’ female companion, Nicole. Nicole is fairly kind, but wants more out of life than her humble beginnings. She pursues Narcisse, who goes along with the affair so she’ll help control Charles. Then, Henry arrives and is interested in Nicole, who is interested in return. Then…Charles wants to marry her.
Catherine arranges for her death so the boys will unite against Spain. Which involves making a deal with a witch…you know, for someone who spouts that France must remain Catholic, Cathreine sure makes use of magic a lot. That whole deal, and Narcisse’s involvement just becomes last episode weirdness. We finally see Catherine’s other daughter, Margot. They almost seemed to be setting up another season, but the show definitely ended.
Narcisse briefly returns to Scotland to exact his revenge on those responsible for Lola’s death. He castrates Knox, especially angry that Mary is not able to legally capture him for his wrongdoing. He also arranges for Gideon Blackburn to die in Elizabeth’s arms, so the queen will know the loss of love. Elizabeth is still not keen on marrying, so she makes use of Francis Drake (that is partially historically accurate; they mess with timelines again). Then she has to prepare for the Spanish Armada.
Mary continues to have problems in Scotland; she almost dies in childbirth, but Bothwell calls her back. That tender scene with Bothwell, Mary, and her newborn son is sweet. And interrupted by Darnley doing something stupid. A little later, what do we expect from the man who abandoned his pregnant wife in the woods? He leaves his newborn son in the woods, on the word of the vision of his dead lover. Darnley was killed and history points to Bothwell, possibly with Mary’s knowledge. Just, not only a few days after her son’s birth. Hurrah for seeing her brother again, for about ten minutes. Mary asks for Elizabeth’s help and the time skip of two decades shows that that did not end well. Yes, Mary was prisoner in England for many years before she was ultimately executed.
I do love the final scene, reuniting Mary and Francis. Since this show portrays their love story, as up and down as they wrote it, I was happy to see Francis again. Maybe their time in the afterlife will be better. There’s a montage of bits through the seasons while Mary smiles to be back with her love.
In general, I liked the show. I have to suspend my knowledge of history for a bit. But the characters are compelling. And I wanted to know how the twists and turns worked out. I agree with a comment I read that the show might have done better if they had tossed the historical connection out and just placed it all in a fantasy universe. Will I watch it again? Yes.
There are some YouTube mixes that I keep going back to, that mainly deal with the brotherly relationship between Bash and Francis; they do tend to be a bit bittersweet, considering how their stories end.
Say Something by Ariana moreau
See You Again by LongMayYouReign
Brother (Kodaline) by Julia Defávari is wonderful. The music has been used in other videos for other brotherly relationships [which leads to more videos and all influence the essay I will someday write]
Hey Brother by Dragon Wishes is also in that category. [Side note: there’s an excellent version of this song done by D’Artagnan]
Some of the fanfiction stories I keep going back to:
The Favourite Son by Beserk
I really like It takes a boy to live but it takes a man to pretend he was there by lorarawr
I’ve Got You, Brother by MarieBloom is rather nice
My Brother’s Keeper by OUATLovr is good as well, there are more chapters in the version on fanfiction.net. The author has several other stories for Reign as well.
I have read several of MissWhitneyBex’s stories, which are modern takes and they’ve honestly given me ideas for modern takes on my story, but I usually end up wanting to hit her characters for being making consistently stupid choices.
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.
First, another apology for the delay in posting Season Three of Race to the Edge. It will actually be posted imminently. However, as stated in the last Random Fandom Update, I’ve been distracted by Reign. About halfway through the series at this point (I’m aware of most of the highlights.) However, it sparked a massive amount of inspiration and creativity with certain elements. Love several of the characters and some of the fantasy elements play well with ideas in my head. And thus is born the longest piece of fiction I have ever written (actually, longest anything I’ve written). At the time of this posting it is 37,000 words. Making it officially novella length. And it’s not complete. It’s shaping up to be the sequel to the book that I should be working on, which itself is the fourth in a series. – I cannot explain how my brain works, I just go with it. It’s a continuing saga.
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.
As with some other fandoms, I came a little late to this one. I vaguely recall the commercials advertising this film first coming to theatres and ignored them. Then, I was bored on a break from college and decided to give it a shot…and instantly fell in love. And, really, should we be surprised? It involves dragons (fantasy) and Vikings (history). I also utterly fell in love with the soundtrack. I can listen to it on repeat for weeks. [There will be a separate post about the soundtracks for all three movies.]
I have actually already notated this movie [and not sure where the notecards presently are], because I have started an essay on this film following the hero’s path as laid out by Jospeh Campbell. Still need to finish the essay…
The film is actually based on a series of children’s books by Cressida Cowell, inspired by her summers spent on an uninhabited island in Scotland. I have not read the books and considering that the films have deviated from the books and how desperately I love the movies, I don’t think I will go back and read the books at this time. The movie features the voices of Jay Baruchel (he was in Sorcerer’s Apprentice with Nicholas Cage) as Hiccup, America Ferrera (known now for Ugly Betty and the Barbie movie [neither of which I’ve watched, but I have seen her speech from the Barbie movie] as Astrid, Gerard Butler (starred in 300 and Phantom of the Opera [see my post on that movie for my opinion]) as Stoick, and Craig Ferguson (the late night comedian of Scottish descent, who also voiced Lord MacIntosh in Brave) as Gobber. The cast is rounded out with Jonah Hill as Snotlout, Christopher Mintz-Plasse (he makes a brief appearance in Pitch Perfect, as well as other comedy movies that I am not going to watch) as Fishlegs, and David Tennant (the beloved Tenth Doctor, Barty Crouch Jr in Harry Potter, Crowley in Good Omens, he voices Scrooge McDuck in the new DuckTales cartoon, and other countless roles) as Spitelout [Snotlout’s father]. This also means that the Viking adults are Scottish [Vikings did settle in Scotland and some clans could trace their ancestry to the Norse] and the teens are American.
Toothless actually makes an appearance in the DreamWorks intro; if you look closely, the shape of a Night Fury blocks out some stars for a second. Then Hiccup starts narrating that “This is Berk…” We learn that their pests are not like other places; they have dragons, who are in the middle of raiding their village. This is why the Viking tribe has been on Berk for generations, but every house is new. “We’re Vikings, we have stubbornness issues.” Hiccup rushes outside to help, but keeps getting told by the villagers to get back inside. Even the chief, Stoick the Vast picks up the scrawny teenager and orders him away from the action. Gobber, the village blacksmith, takes the lad to the forge, where Hiccup is his apprentice. Again, the teen is desperate to go out and attempt to kill a dragon so his life will get better, just like the other teens: Snotlout, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, Fishlegs, and Astrid (note the romantic swell in the music when Hiccup sees her in front of a fireball). As Gobber puts it, the lad has already made an impression, in all the wrong places. Hiccup uses mechanical inventions to make up for what he lacks in typical Viking toughness, but they end up backfiring. Gobber tells his apprentice, “you need to stop all this.” “You just gestured to all of me,” Hiccup bemoans. He’s then ordered to stay put while Gobber helps the village.
Once Gobber leaves, Hiccup sneaks out the back with his bola catapult and starts searching for the elusive Night Fury to shoot down. Hiccup is actually able to track the outline of the dragon in the fireball that the dragon sets off, pulls the trigger, and actually hits his target! But the only one to see him is a Monstrous Nightmare. Stoick has to rescue him from the large dragon, and once the beast has used up his shot limit, takes it on barehanded. But Hiccup has already caused enough damage and the chief is not impressed. Oh, and Stoick happens to also be Hiccup’s father. Gobber once again takes hold of the lad and leads him back to his house so the other Vikings can clean up. Hiccup is aware that he is a disappointment to his father (mimicked in a hilarious accent); all Hiccup wants to be is one of the Vikings.
Stoick plans to take several other adults to search for the dragon’s nest, to put an end to the raids once and for all. When they hesitate about joining their chief, he states that those who stay behind will have to look after Hiccup; then everyone joins in. Stoick asks his friend Gobber to remain behind and start training the teenagers. Gobber also insists that Stoick finally give in and allow Hiccup to train as well. Stoick points out that since the boy could crawl, he’s been different. Gobber comes back with the fact that Stoick can’t stop the boy, only prepare him. Hiccup’s probably already out there now, into mischief.
And in fact, Hiccup is out there, searching for the downed Night Fury. (Notice that the boy is left-handed.) What’s more, he finds the dark dragon. With his little dagger, he’s ready to kill the dragon and present its heart to his father, finally earning respect and acclaim. But the dragon’s green eyes pin on Hiccup for a minute, before closing and accepting its fate. After that, Hiccup can’t go through with it. He cuts the ropes that have entangled the Night Fury. The beast quickly pins him, once again glaring at the small lad. With a roar, he scares him, then takes off.
At home that evening, Stoick informs Hiccup that he is leading another expedition and Hiccup will finally get his wish to be put in dragon training. Only now, Hiccup knows for sure that he can’t kill a dragon. Stoick doesn’t listen to Hiccup, insisting that his son “walk like us, talk like us, and think like us (meaning the other Vikings). No more of this.” “You just gestured to all of me.” Stoick wheedles a deal out of his son and leaves.
Hiccup is not terribly enthused to enter training and the other teens aren’t enthused to have him, but Gobber attempts to put knowledge in their head. The twins, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, are a few yaks shy of a herd; Snotlout is boastful and keeps trying to impress Astrid; Fishlegs is knowledgeable, but frightened; and Astrid just wants to complete training and join the fight. She even points this out to Hiccup; it is time he decides what side he’s on. But now Hiccup starts thinking. Gobber told them that dragons always go for the kill. So, why didn’t the Night Fury? Hiccup goes searching for the dragon again and finds him in a cove. The dragon is having trouble flying and Hiccup realizes, when he goes to sketch the beast, that he’s missing part of his tail. When Hiccup reads the dragon manual that evening, the only information on the Night Fury is that it’s believed to be the “unholy offspring of lightning and death itself,” and never engage this dragon. Your only chance is hide and pray it doesn’t find you. Meanwhile, all other dragons are termed extremely dangerous, kill on sight.
Hiccup goes back to the cove again, with a peace offering of fish. The black dragon is imposing as it approaches the Viking teen and growls until Hiccup tosses away his dagger. Then sits there like an adorable black cat waiting for its treat. Hiccup notes the dragon appears to be “toothless” when it approaches, then teeth appear as it swallows the fish. When the dragon notices that Hiccup has nothing, it regurgitates half the fish and stares at Hiccup until he eats it, then even attempts to mimic Hiccup’s lopsided smile. But he scampers off when Hiccup attempts to touch him. So Hiccup patiently follows him, hoping to wear him down. Then Hiccup starts sketching again and the dragon is interested, again, mimicking the human. Hiccup carefully backs up over the large squiggle and ends up right in front of the Night Fury. Hiccup holds out his hand again, and turns his head away, hoping that the dragon will trust him. He hesitates for a second, but bumps his nose against the human’s hand. Then scampers away again. [All over the wonderful Forbidden Friendship track]
Training continues and Hiccup continues to get more ideas. When he’s told that a downed dragon is a dead dragon, he knows he needs to help Toothless fly out, so he designs a new tail for his new friend. More fish helps calm the dragon down on his first attempt to put on a tail fin. It works…sort of. It won’t stay open and they eventually crash. This does nothing to dampen Hiccup’s spirit; it’s just back to the drawing board. While he’s with Toothless, Hiccup learns more about dragons, which helps him in the training ring. They don’t like eel. They have a spot they loved to be scratched. There is grass that is like cat nip to them [it’s called dragon nip in the subsequent series]. The other teens are happy to hang out with him now, though Astrid is suspicious. Even the rest of the villagers are starting to pay attention to Hiccup, so he has to sneak off in order to work with Toothless. He eventually devises a rigging system, saddle, and vest so he can use foot movements on peddles to help Toothless’ tail.
Stoick returns with the other adults, unsuccessful. The villagers are pleased to tell him they don’t miss the nuisance Hiccup was. Stoick asks Gobber if Hiccup is gone. His friend eventually tells him that yes, Hiccup is gone most afternoons, but it’s to get away from his fans and his parenting troubles are over (because yes, Stoick probably wonders for a minute if Hiccup ended up dying).
Meanwhile, Hiccup is going on a test flight with Toothless [again, the soundtrack is amazing!] He’s got a little cheat sheet, which works until the wind tears it away. The two become separated, but Hiccup manages to get back in the saddle and now it’s up to instinct to fly together. And it works. They make a great team. Hiccup remarks to his friend when they take a break, “everything we know about you guys is wrong.” Stoick surprises his son in his workshop that evening, pleased that with Hiccup doing so well in the ring they finally have something to talk about. Except not really. So Stoick gifts his son his first Viking helmet [yes, they have horns, which historically they didn’t, but this is a fantasy world with dragons interacting with humans and a young lad creates a catapult, so we’ll forgive them], which had been half of his mother’s breastplate. That’s of course, after Stoick claimed that Hiccup had been the worst Viking for years and he’d almost given up on him.
Exam day comes for the teens and it’s down to Hiccup and Astrid. Hiccup really rather not win the competition because the prize is to kill a dragon in front of everyone. But he also won’t let Astrid hurt the other dragon, so he accidentally wins. Afterwards, Astrid comes across Hiccup, who is getting ready to leave Berk forever with Toothless. Astrid and Toothless frighten each other and Astrid gets ready to run back to Berk and tell everyone: “da-da-duh, we’re dead.” Toothless picks up Astrid and drops her on a tree while Hiccup attempts to explain. She’ll listen to him only if he gets her down. So she climbs aboard and instead of taking the Viking girl down gently, Toothless teaches her a lesson. Hiccup’s not pleased, at one point dryly commenting, “and now the spinning. Thank you for nothing, you useless reptile” [that part is my text notification on my phone]. Once Astrid apologizes, Toothless slows down and takes the pair up into the clouds (the soundtrack changes to Romantic Flight, and the artwork is stunning.)
Toothless hears something and they soon find themselves in a herd of dragons all flying somewhere…their nest. Which is ruled over by a gigantic queen that eats all the food that the dragons bring back to her. And the occasional dragon as well. She’s as large as a mountain and almost captures our heroes, who manage to fly away in the nick of time. This complicates matters. Hiccup manages to stand up to Astrid and tells her he’ll come up with an idea because he won’t kill a dragon, but he’s also got to protect the other villagers from the gigantic dragon at the nest. Astrid punches Hiccup first for kidnapping her, then gives him a quick kiss on the cheek “for everything else.” (This echoes her finding Hiccup earlier and twisting his arm for the lies and then dropping her axe handle on him for everything else.) She stands by Hiccup’s side when he gets ready to enter the ring the next morning. He pleads that she keep Toothless safe in case the worst should happen to Hiccup.
Stoick jokes to the crowd how Hiccup was a hiccup, though he’s the most surprised and most proud of his son. “Today, my boy becomes a Viking. Today, he becomes one of us!” Hiccup then enters the ring with his large shield, helmet, and pulls out a small dagger. But he soon sets them aside once the dragon is released and slowly approaches the Monstrous Nightmare, telling the dragon he is not one of the Vikings and trying to show everyone, including his father that these beasts are not what they think they are. But Stoick is worried for his son and shouts for the fight to be stopped. The loud bang sets off the dragon and Hiccup has to try to run away. Astrid manages to get in and distract the dragon. Stoick gets her out, but Hiccup is always a step behind. In the cove, Toothless hears Hiccup’s shouts and claws his way out, running to the rescue of his friend. He blasts his way into the ring and takes on the Monstrous Nightmare (remember, Toothless can’t properly fly without Hiccup to help with his tail). Eventually, the other dragon backs off and Toothless protects Hiccup. Then the Vikings start descending in and Hiccup begs Toothless to leave. Stoick runs towards the dragon and his son, armed and ready to kill the black beast, but Toothless takes him on. Hiccup shouts “no!” to his friend, and the dragon swallows his blast, but is soon pinned. Astrid holds Hiccup back from going after Toothless. Stoick throws his son into the great hall to have a talk.
Again, it’s one where they don’t really listen to each other, though Hiccup admits he should have told his father the truth earlier. He begs for his father to be angry at him, but spare Toothless. Stoick is more concerned about the Vikings who could have been hurt. Hiccup finally yells at his father that while dragons have killed hundreds of Vikings, Vikings in turn have killed thousands of dragons; they defend themselves. He also lets slip the knowledge of the nest and the queen, and that only a dragon can find it, but pleads with his father that this is not a dragon he can win against. “For once in your life will you please listen to me!” Stoick shoves his son aside and declares “you’ve thrown your lot in with them. You’re not a Viking. You’re not my son.” Both are shocked at the way the conversation went, but Stoick presses on, chaining Toothless and gathering the ships so they can wage war on the dragons’ island.
Astrid approaches Hiccup, not exactly giving him a pep talk, but demanding an answer on why Hiccup was the first Viking in three hundred years who wouldn’t kill a dragon. She points out he’s the first to ride one [some of this will actually play into the second movie]. Hiccup admits that when he looked at Toothless, he saw himself; the dragon was just as scared as the Viking. She asks what will Hiccup do now. “Probably something stupid.” He’s done that. Then something crazy. And crazy being getting one of the other dragons out. Astrid brings the rest of the teens who agree to follow Hiccup.
Stoick soon finds out, once the mountain is cracked open on the island and the other dragons have dispersed, that Hiccup might have been right about this dragon. Everyone starts to run, but the large dragon (the Red Death according to other material) burns their ships. He sends Spitelout with the rest of the Vikings to the other side of the island while he distracts the dragon. Gobber joins him. Then there’s a flash at the dragon; Hiccup has arrived with the teens to save everyone. He gives orders like a leader [note how the animation takes into account the wind in Hiccup’s hair]; even Gobber admits to Stoick that his son is as stubborn as his father. Astrid drops Hiccup to free Toothless, but the pair are soon sent into the water. Stoick dives down to save his son, then goes back for Toothless. The two eye each other for a second, but Stoick is able to break the lock. Toothless pulls them both up and goes over to Hiccup, who quickly sets about mounting the Night Fury. Stoick apologizes to his son and tells him he doesn’t have to go fight the dragon. “We’re Vikings, it’s an occupational hazard” (calling back to a line Stoick said earlier in the movie). Stoick admits he’s proud to call Hiccup his son, and lets him go.
They save Astrid from falling (the other teens are rather funny at this point) and set her down, then race into the sky, drawing the Red Death up. Toothless’ blasts in the dark clouds look like lighting down below. One of the Red Death’s blasts begins to take out Toothless’ new tail. Hiccup settles on diving down, tearing up the Red Death’s wings, then blasting into her open mouth at the last second. Which works…until they’re trying to escape the aftermath. Her large tail knocks Hiccup out of the saddle and Toothless’ tail isn’t working properly. We see Toothless dive after an unconscious Hiccup as he falls into the fire. [This sequence is all-around brilliant, including the soundtrack.]
When the ash settles, Stoick goes looking for Hiccup. He comes upon Toothless, eyeing the damaged rigging. With tears in his eyes, Stoick apologizes to Toothless in place of his son, admitting what has happened is his fault. Toothless opens his wings to reveal Hiccup wrapped in his legs. The boy is alive! Stoick is grateful and Gobber makes a comment about Hiccup being mostly there. We next see Hiccup waking up, with Toothless bounding around the house. When he goes to rise, something makes him pause. The bottom of his left leg is now a metal foot. Toothless helps his friend to the door (and there’s a poignant scene for a second showing that Hiccup’s loss now mirror’s Toothless’). He opens it to discover dragons have made Berk their home alongside Vikings. Everyone joyfully greets Hiccup. Turns out they just needed a bit of this, Stoick gestures to his son. Astrid even hits him again for scaring her, then a longer kiss. Gobber gifts his apprentice with a new saddle and tail for Toothless so Hiccup can continue flying. His new foot, which Hiccup may tweak a bit, hooks into the pedals to control the rig. The other teens cheerfully join Hiccup in flying around Berk (even mimicking the flyby scene from Top Gun with an adult Viking spilling his mug as they go by). Hiccup’s narration bookends the movie, recalling that “this is Berk,” though now it’s their pets that are different. “We have…dragons.”
Overall, this film is beautifully written and beautifully animated. The characters are very lifelike, particularly with the way they speak. I adore Hiccup because he’s utterly sarcastic. There are also so many depths to this film. It’s a film about family, about friendship, about discovering one’s self and accepting it. It’s an underdog story; the least Viking-like kid saves the day. His inventions are actually good; he just needed the chance to prove it.
There is the poignant friendship between Toothless and Hiccup. Just think about that; a dragon befriends a human. Befriends the human that shot him down. Then spared him. Then saved him. No wonder Toothless dives in to save Hiccup. And Toothless is utterly adorable. He has a lot of cat qualities. And by the end, you just want to hug him. A little tidbit…the hesitation Toothless shows in the “touch” scene was actually an animation error. But it looked so perfect, it was kept in the film.
There are other little shorts that follow the first movie, like “Legend of the Boneknapper,” where the teens go on an adventure with Gobber to save him from the scary and possibly mythological Boneknapper dragon. It ends well, with Gobber’s belt buckle being the missing bone for the dragon. There’s the “Book of Dragons” feature that explains how the Book of Dragons came to be written. The dragons they name will be shown in the subsequent series. There’s even a feature on “How to Find Your Dragon,” where the host shows that there is evidence that dragons are not as far-fetched as many people fear. Elements exist in nature and many cultures spanning the globe have myths and legends about dragons. [It’s a topic I want to research at some point.]
Then there is “Gift of the Night Fury,” which was actually released on DVD. It’s a cute Christmas-type special, with the Vikings celebrating “Snoggletogg.” It’s the first year with dragons around and everyone is excited. Until the dragons leave. Hiccup decides to make a tail for Toothless that doesn’t require Hiccup around. Toothless takes off and all Hiccup can do is hope his friend will return. Fishlegs hid Meatlug, but Hiccup discovers the dragon and is taken to a crescent-shaped island where the dragons have gone to lay and hatch their eggs. Back on Berk, the teens discover that Meatlug also laid eggs. Astrid decides to distribute the eggs to cheer everyone up. Then discovers that eggs explode (her just repeating “the eggs explode” several times is hilarious). Everyone is disheartened until Hiccup arrives with their dragons and the new babies. But Toothless wasn’t among them. Toothless sneaks in during the celebration and pukes up Hiccup’s helmet, that had been lost to the ocean. The next morning, Toothless also smashes his new tail and wants Hiccup back with the old style. Very heartwarming for the holidays.
Up Next: Cartoon Network started a series Riders of Berk (oh yes, we’re covering the whole fandom here)
I always manage to lose track of how many posts I’ve made and how long I’ve been blogging. I’m now over two hundred and twenty posts and coming up on my six-year anniversary and it remains incredible to me. I recently had to look back through my posts for something and was shocked at how much I’ve actually covered. When I started, I didn’t really think I would be blogging for this long. I’ve got some topics I want to do deeper dives on because I’m really passionate about them, so those will take more time. But this is also a thank you to everyone who has joined on this journey.
In between blog posts, I’ve been working, of course, but I’ve also been reading and watching other shows.
I’ve been reading some mystery series, mostly book-centric. There’s the Secret, Book and Scone Society series by Ellery Adams, though I’ve only gotten through two so far. And A Scottish Bookshop Mystery by Paige Shelton (not surprised I’m liking those). And I’m almost caught up with the Bibliophile Mystery Series by Kate Carlisle. I’ve read some memoirs as well, but I still have a lengthy list of to-be-read books as well.
I recently finished the All Souls’ Trilogy by Deborah Harkness, which contains A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, and The Book of Life (gifted to be by a family member) and recommended by said family member and another friend (who got me started on the show). And I 10/10 would highly recommend these books [that is where this post’s title came from]! They are a wonderful tapestry of science, magic, and history. My cousin has lent me the next book about Marcus and the guide that Harkness has published; that will be fun to dive into. I’m sure I’ll get even more ideas and help for my series. I’m eager to get back to the show.
In the meantime, my thoughts on the most recent season of Bridgerton: SPOILERS for the book series!
Well, it’s certainly deviated from the book, which is the growing trend in Netflix’s adaptation. Colin and Penelope’s story is fourth in the series, but they’ve upstaged Benedict (also a consistency in the show). They increased the drama of the secret of Lady Whistledown’s identity. I’m obviously not opposed to the match between Colin and Penelope and I’m glad that someone appreciates Penelope for herself. I’m not opposed to her wardrobe this season, that was even part of the book. But the costumes became a bit much this season. Cressida is like a Regency Barbie. The shapes are shifting very far from Regency era (i.e. Kate’s dresses were not always flattering and yet she was stunning in what they put her in last season). I also don’t mind the arrangements of pop songs into string pieces.
As much as we find Lady Featherington annoying and blind to her youngest child, she did make points that were historically accurate. As harsh as the remark she made to Penelope that “ladies do not have dreams,” it’s not that outrageous for that period. A woman’s duty was to marry and care for her husband. Her husband has dreams and she supports them. We, as modern watchers, want Penelope to have her own dreams, and for her husband to care about them just as much and to support her. And I don’t mind that the family becomes more supportive and happier at the end. Lady Featherington admits she is proud of Penelope and Penelope even supports her sisters.
And sadly, Benedict keeps getting sidelined and they took away his art. I certainly hope his story is next (which we have to wait two years for). It was nice to visually see Francesca and John meet and I was looking forward to her tale with her second husband, but not sure how that will go with changing the gender (the sticking point is going to be, Francesca wanted children and John died young, so Michael was eventually able to give her children). Overall, I’m game for genderbending characters and the trio that Benedict ended up in worked. I’m a bit upset of how far the show is stepping away from the books. However, his talks with Eloise are adorable.
Dear Netflix, we like Jane Austen etc, so the formula works, why are you changing it?
For now, I am going to work on my fantasy series (hopefully aided by some ideas that have popped in my head recently), and then jump into How To Train Your Dragon (it’s hard for me to pick between this series and Lord of the Rings which series I love the best).
The series as a whole is the best-selling book series of all time and the movie series is the third highest-grossing in history behind Star Wars and the MCU. Single books held records for being the fastest selling. With Harry Potter being around for over twenty years and the kind of people who got interested in the universe, there should be no surprise that there are a lot of fan theories out there. Same as Marvel, I’ve got a whole board on Pinterest devoted to “Potterverse”
These are the headcannons that fans have created that I totally support:
We want a Marauders movie, or story, or book…anything. What was the last straw that made Sirius run away? How did they make the map? How did Filch get it? What made Sirius tell Snape about the Whomping Willow? What made Lily agree to date James? Proof they weren’t just a bunch of jerks. When did Peter switch sides? Proof he was a friend and not a tagalong fanboy. (Cast: Ben Barnes as Sirius, Andrew Garfield as Remus, Karen Gillian as Lily, Aaron Taylor Johnson as James)
What name did baby Harry say first? (It’d be hilarious if it was Sirius or a version of Padfoot)
They became Animagus for their friend and told no one.
Prank wall covered in notes and photos
Pairing Sirius and Remus
James covers for Remus as prefect during full moons. McGonagall totally supports this.
Sirius and Lily friendship. Lily and Remus friendship
Lily’s friendship with all the Marauders, and individually
The Potters taking Sirius in
How did James and Lily fall in love?
James and Lily’s Patronus are complimentary (stag/doe), while Severus and Lily’s are same (doe). Love and obsession are not the same.
James Potter was more than a bully. A fully fledged person with a host of emotions. James changed for Sirius when he ran away, it just so happened that it coincided with Lily noticing and agreeing to go on a date.
When Lily Evans told James Potter she wouldn’t go out with him because he was a bully, he stopped bullying people and redeemed himself. When Lily told Severus Snape she wouldn’t go out with him because he called her a racial slur, he went and joined a racist terrorist group. Conclusion: James Potter handled rejection much better than Severus Snape did.
The bravest things James Potter did were secrets
What if James had transformed into his stag form to take on Voldemort on Halloween night, and trampled him to death.
The novel idea that Severus and James actually work together so no one else can ask Lily out; they take care of the competition.
Or Severus and Regulus stand in front of Remus when other students try to mess with him (for instance, the other Marauders are serving detention)
We respect McGonagall. She is as golden as her reputation. Imagine if she had raised Harry; he’d be super polite and probably managed to kill Voldemort when he was eleven. She also cares greatly about her students. The Marauders would have had Transfiguration questions about becoming Animagus and posed them to McGonagall. Yes, she got Harry a broom first year and just told Ron to replace his wand second year; but it was more giving a gift to a child who had been neglected and trying to get a family to recognize their youngest son. She’d be a more reasonable and responsible headmaster than Albus. Also, her sass to Umbridge.
McGonagall mothering students who need her, like Sirius.
An idea that McGonagall and the Weasleys start a program for students who are not safe at home.
Note that students get out of McGonagall’s way when she draws her wand.
James standing up to McGonagall for Sirus and Remus when Severus makes a crack that they’re privileged, and James hit Severus for it.
Harry being raised by Sirus and Remus [there are wonderful fanfiction stories out there]
We all hate Umbridge, even more than Voldemort. (Because we know people as bigoted as Umbridge)
Dumbledore knowingly put children in danger. And we realize that Dumbledore is manipulative and abusive, and not infallible.
I thought Albus was a great mentor the first time I read the books; I cried at his death in Half-Blood Prince. By Deathly Hallows, I was probably starting to lose faith. But as I’ve matured and thought of other points of view, I’ve changed my mind. No, he’s not a terrible person. He was just convinced he was right and he was the only one who knew what was right and what needed to be done. And he failed Harry. He allowed a child to be miserable to years when he could have changed the situation and then let the child go back, so that by the time the child has grown up, he doesn’t know how to be around his blood family because they’ve hurt and dismissed him. Great for self-esteem; but maybe that was what Dumbledore needed in order for Harry to willingly allow himself to die. Keep him dependent on Dumbledore for information and answers, but limit how much he’s allowed to know. Dumbledore is by far not the most evil character in the story, that lies with Umbridge and Voldemort, but he’s not a shining gold star.
Dumbledore collects outcasts: expelled half-giant, young werewolf, repentant Death Eater. But Sirius was a rebel, not an outcast. He knowingly chose his path and chooses the price, refuses to be used. So Dumbledore abandons him. Knows Sirius loyalty lies with Harry, not Dumbledore, and has no use for someone not willing to follow his orders without question. Harry is outcast because of abusive family, which is where Dumbledore knowingly placed him.
What if Remus yelled at Dumbledore for Sirius and then quit?
An AU where Remus keeps his job. When Umbridge comes to make rounds two years later, no one will say a bad word. Draco won’t mess up his OWL. Snape won’t say anything against his potion making. Everyone behaves because the student to get Lupin tossed out will be ruined and face the wrath of Hermione Granger.
I’m on the side of Severus Snape was not the greatest guy. He bullied a child for many things that were not that child’s fault. You think Harry can help he looks like James? Or he has his mother’s eyes? Snape only cared that Voldemort was going to murder a family and one-year-old boy when he found out it was Lily. He only wanted to rescue Lily, not her family. He was Neville’s worst fear. He got Remus fired and also set an essay while he was off hoping that the students would realize he’s a werewolf. He may have had a hard job, being a spy in two camps and keeping his true allegiance a secret, but he damn well could have been a nicer person! Saying he did it all for Lily doesn’t really absolve him of treating her son and other students abysmally. And admittedly, Alan Rickman portrayed the man splendidly and actually made us feel sorry for the man. No one could have played Snape better (and we have lost a gifted actor). Snape is a complicated man, period.
Lily kicking Severus’ butt in the afterlife. And probably Petunia’s as well
Fred Weasley joins the Marauders in the after life
Gordon Ramsey would be a better Potions professor than Snape. He’d support kids and call Dumbledore an “idiot sandwich”
There are dozens of other options Harry should have named his son rather than Albus Severus. For instance, Remus Arthur “you were named after two men who looked out for my safety and cared about my well-being out of altruism and decency rather than because I was a tool for them to use or because I was someone’s son. And one of them is your grandfather and presumably you mother got some influence on naming you.”
(And seriously, this whole business of the Slytherin one being the bravest man you’ve ever known? Like, what about Remus, who taught you the Patronus Charm? Or Sirius breaking out of prison to save you?)
Or, if they had triplet boys and name them James, Sirius, and Remus. That would be the last straw for McGonagall. She’s McGonagone.
Decent Slytherins: Slughorn, Andromeda Tonks, Narcisa Malfoy…none of them bullied children
Magical Home Ec
Muggleborn witches and wizards bringing Muggle ideas to school, pop culture. Pens. Coffee.
The Houses: “Luna Lovegood did not confront and suffer at the hands of Death Eather for Ravenclaw to be the House of smart snobs. Cedric Diggory did not die for Hufflepuff to be a forgotten House of underappreciated witches and wizards. Regulus Black did not sacrifice himself for Slytherin to be condemned as the House from which all evil and selfish wizards and witches come from. Peter Pettigrew did not sell out his long-had friends to Lord Voldemort for Gryffindor to become the golden House wherein no one can do wrong.”
Separated into Houses due to learning styles.
Remember, Slytherins value traditionalism, Hufflepuffs value hard work, Ravenclaws value creativity, wit, individuality, and Gryffindors value chivalry.
Gryffindors use magic as a weapon, but responsibly. Hufflepuffs share magic to benefit others. Slytherins are cautious, keep magic to selves. Ravenclaws push the boundaries of magic.
Hufflepuffs find beauty in life. Ravenclaws find wonder in life. Gryffindors find excitement in life. Slytherins find hope in life.
Gryffindors don’t care about rules, they care about justice. Slytherins are ruthless, but they care about rules. Ravenclaws hate rules, they prevent creativity. Hufflepuffs emphasize equality.
House bravery: Gryffindor is doing the thing, suppressing the fear and overcoming it. Slytherin is doing the thing because the goal outweighs the fear and risk. Ravenclaw is doing the thing because it makes sense despite the risk. Hufflepuff is forgetting to be afraid because the thing is so important that the risk doesn’t even matter.
Helga Hufflepuff created a secret room which would help all students, called many things, today known as the Room of Requirement
Slytherins protect younger students during the battle since their common room is removed from the fighting.
House unity. Playing evening Quidditch games against each other. Mixing tables after the war. Slytherins have comfort Hufflepuffs. House exchange programs.
Slytherin Triwizard champion. Slytherins stand up to Umbridge. Join Dumbledore’s Army. Fight against Death Eaters in the Ministry. Take in Muggleborns.
Harry is intelligent. He’s good at magic. Perfectly capable of becoming a terrifying Dark Wizard, times when he seems alarmingly near that point. But he chooses not to. Ability to love, accept love, understand love, yes, all important. But it’s not because he’s an incorruptibly pure hero with an unprecedented fountain of love in his heart, in the end he chooses friendship and family. Deliberately exchanges his life for the people of Hogwarts.
Harry is more sarcastic in the books
Harry’s life summarized: “Harry then did something that was both very brave and very stupid.”
Ron truly outdid his brothers. Bill’s a curse breaker, Ron destroyed a Horcrux. Ron freed the dragon from Gringotts. Ron rose in status due to being friends with Harry, then married Hermione, literal Minister of Magic. Ron drove a car to school one year, helped discover the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets, meetings in Room of Requirement.
Ron offered a stranger half a sandwich. He sacrificed himself for Harry and Hermione at 11 because even then he thought they were more important. He was Harry’s first friend, the first thing Harry ever had resembling a family. He took care of Harry and Hermione when they were too busy taking care of the rest of the world to worry about themselves.
“Shoutout to George, Fred, and especially Ron Weasley for realizing that Harry was stuck in abusive and unhealthy household, and in spite of massive trouble they knew they could get in, taking immediate steps to personally see him removed from that environment, something no adult in Harry’s life did.”
Charlie Weasley the next Care of Magical Creatures teacher.
Charlie Weasley bringing dragons to the final battle
Weasley appreciation: Try having a couple Weasleys illegally on the airwaves, one destroying Voldemort’s Horcruxes, one protesting at Hogwarts, one running loose in the government, one housing escaped prisoners, and one getting foreign support! More children than they can afford? Try more children than you can effectively stop! Would you like to pick an opponent based on which Quidditch position they excel at, or do you wanna roll the dice and go with one of the brothers who got 12 OWLs? Those are your only two options because the Weasleys are EVERYWHERE and the weak link is NO ONE. Glorious. Iconic. Every Weasley has red hair, freckles, and a drive to destroy the concept of blood purity at all cost!!
Characters (particularly the Weasleys and Hermione) recognizing and helping Harry out with PTSD
We want Harry to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, not Auror. All of them becoming professors; Hermione starts as Transfiguration, then becomes Headmistress. Ron is the new Flying Instructor.
Hermione returned to Hogwarts to complete her seventh year [this might have actually be verified by Rowling; I don’t remember. Don’t care. We claim it]
Nine-year-old Hermione reading Matilda
What if when Scabbers was stuck as a cup, he transformed back into Peter Pettigrew? McGonagall would have had that handled.
Where do you think magical blood came from? Cross humans with Fae and other magical beings.
Hagrid appreciation: He’s a better person than Snape; even after having his secret revealed without his consent, and taking the fall for Tom Riddle’s crime in school, was still a good man and supported the trio.
Similarities to James and Sirius’ friendship and Harry and Ron’s: Dursleys abused Harry, Blacks abused Sirius; Weasleys loved and cared for Ron, Potters loved and cared for James; Harry runs away from Privet Drive hoping never to return again, Sirius runs away from Grimmauld Place hoping never to return; Harry basically moves in with Weasleys, Sirius moves in with James while still in school; Whalburga Black blasted Sirius off the family tapestry, Dursleys wanted to erase Harry from lives and memories; Ron comes from old pureblood Gryffindor family, same with James; Harry didn’t want to be in Slytherin and ended up in Gryffindor, same with Sirius. Harry and Sirius are lost boys and James and Ron are their anchors and support systems.
Note, Sirius did not know the Dursleys were abusive. And Sirius grew up in an abusive house and if he had known for a single second that his godson was facing the same thing, he would have rescued Harry. And Harry was more worried about his godfather’s safety and freedom than his own health. To Dumbledore: “people don’t like being locked up!”
Sirius has PTSD
Don’t think about the fact that Sirius saw James’ and Lily’s bodies
Don’t think about the fact that Sirius spent more time in Azkaban than he did with James
Sirius fell behind the veil; but before his body hit the ground, a set of strong and familiar hands caught him. Beyond-the-veil James like “What in the world are you doing that you’re falling into the afterlife.” Sirius like “…definitely not battling Death Eaters with your kid…”
Bellatrix used red light: Stupefy. If Sirius had not fallen through the veil he would have lived. Hence why Harry can’t come to terms with his death (in the books; in the movie she does use Avada Kedavra and it’s a green blast).
Someone pointed out that Helena Bonham Carter played the moment after Sirius’ death with remorse for a second. We applaud her
Dapper and suave Sirius, a gentleman who looks good in full black tail, a charmer
Sirius is the one adult in Harry’s life that prioritizes Harry’s safety and happiness over literally anything else. In turn, Harry is far more open with Sirius than any other adult. Sirius listens to Harry’s thoughts and feelings patiently and without judgment. [And this is why I hate that Rowling killed him off…well, if you think about it, with Dumbledore being the paragon of good in her eyes, there’s no room for an actual decent character who would help Harry and not kill him]
Harry knew what he was losing when he lost Sirius. His parents were abstract; he was too little when they died to fully remember them. A dull ache. Sirius was someone who loved him, rooted for him, always come to help, the beginnings of a home and proper family.
If Hagrid and Dumbledore had let Sirius take Harry, Sirius would have never gone after Peter.
Headcannons about Regulus. Having a complicated relationship with Sirius, still caring about his brother. Coming out of the cave in Half-Blood Prince thinking Harry is James and wondering about Dumbledore.
Sirius protecting Regulus as a child
Regulus keeps an eye out on Sirius after his death. Tries to talk sense into him during the whole Pettigrew debacle. “You do not want to duel Bellatrix!”
What if Regulus was the Death Eater spy turned potions master instead of Snape? Seeing Remus again. Seeing Sirius in the third book.
What if Malfoys found Harry at platform, rather than Weasleys. But Harry still manages to make Draco and Ron friends.
Draco and Harry pairing
Draco and Harry the two sides to the same coin, caught up in something much bigger than themselves, as children.
Draco refusing Dark Mark after fourth year. Running away. Lupin finds him and rescues him from danger, brings him to Sirius. At first Sirius angry for treatment of Harry, but recognizes himself in Draco.
Teddy Lupin’s Patronus is a werewolf
Harry meets Susan Pevensie
Harry and possibly Nevill converting Grimmauld Place into a children’s home.
What if Petunia, or both Dursleys had cared a little more about their nephew?
What if Petunia was magical (and hid it)? Or if Dudley had a magical child?
Harry fights the Dark Lord, but still scared by angry women…well, when those women are Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley. If you manage to make Luna mad, watch out.
Mary Poppins attended Hogwarts. Mentions Walt and Wonka.
The funny notion that Voldemort made a seating chart for the Death Eaters
Hermione creates Lupin’s Law that helps werewolves.
3 things the Harry Potter fandom universally agree on: 1) Umbridge is awful. 2) Maggie Smith is the perfect McGonagall. 3) Everyone should be slightly bothered by DID YOU PUT YOUR NAME IN THE GOBLET OF FIRE
In addition; book Ginny is 100 times better than movie Ginny. Where was Peeves in the movies? And Voldemort’s death in the movie was stupid [the battle in Order of the Phoenix was more interesting]
Why the readers disliked the Nineteen Years Later epilogue: we’re millennials; we were satisfied that our young heroes won. But then there’s a time skip and they’re all happily married with children; they’re financially stable and content, and that is not something we can honestly believe. We don’t see that in our own futures and we’ve grown up with these characters, we don’t see that happening for them. An aftermath where they deal with the trauma and fallout, we can believe. Trying to make it and discover what the future holds; we’re on board. Trying to fix society, we know all about that. But who says we want to be exactly like our parents? “In a world about magic, JK Rowling finally broke our suspension of disbelief by having them all hit middle-class and middle-age contentment and expecting a fanbase of teenagers to accept it.”
Honestly, the book would have been alright ending right before the epilogue, with Harry repairing his wand, planning to get some sleep, hoping that Kreacher will bring him a sandwich, saying “I’ve had enough trouble for a lifetime.” Satisfying and hey, you let your readers come up with their own endings. Fans do that for every other book and movie. There will always be more to the story, but the epilogue just made us mad.
People talk a lot about how Harry Potter taught them about friendship and bravery and love overcoming evil, etc, and of course that is important. But, Harry Potter taught an entire generation of kids that news media can’t always be trusted to tell the truth, that the government can often be corrupt or incompetent, that the legal system isn’t always right, that the people in power don’t always have your best interests at heart. That bad things sometimes happen to good people, that your heroes aren’t always as perfect as you think they are, that even those with the best intentions can be wrong, that everyone can make mistakes and that often in order to make things right, it takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice.
I’ve also found as I read fanfiction and see all the headcanons that have emerged on Pintrest about this fandom: Rowling, we have claimed your characters. They are ours now. And we will continue to create a more in-depth world for them. And answer the questions you left dangling.
I have read supplemental material over the years; Harry Potter and Philosophy got me interested in the Pop Culture and Philosophy series and I went on to buy several other editions. There was even a second Harry Potter edition put out. The Magical World of Harry Potter is an excellent reference book for general magical research. Harry Potter’s Bookshelf and Harry Potter and History were not as interesting as I hoped. Calling All Witches! is a cute book about the women of Harry Potter. Because of Harry Potter, I did read Alan Rickman’s memoir, which was a bit eye-opening, and Tom Felton has put out a memoir as well. There are countless other guides out there and “unauthorized” companions and such that the sheer volume makes me shy away. I’ve also read my companions and that is quite enough for me, thank you.
Again, there will always be a place in my heart for Harry Potter. I’ve enjoyed re-reading the books, listening to the soundtracks again, watching the movies again and seeing the actors grow up. There are iconic characters now that are not leaving culture anytime soon. A whole generation was introduced to the likes of Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Maggie Smith, and the other adults. We are sad at the passing of each actor and actress that was involved with the movies as they pass. These books gave me hope of publishing my own series. It was fun to read a series about someone my age being the hero. I was enraptured by the world-building as a teenager. I still would love to visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, Florida (okay, I’ll visit while I stop at the How to Train Your Dragon land they’re opening soon). I will never say I hate Harry Potter, though I may be disappointed with the direction things have gone. We’ll file this under “childhood nostalgia” with Free Willy and Incredible Journey.
There are of course other Harry Potter fanfictions that I’ve read, such as
Erasing the Future by moxteminator, where Harry goes back in time to change events after things go wrong against Voldemort. It does not include information found out in Deathly Hallows.
There’s also An Aunt’s Love and What’s Right (and partially year two, but I believe it’s been abandoned by this point) by Emma Lipardi. In An Aunt’s Love, Petunia actually cares about Harry and makes some changes after Sirius’ death. What’s Right is another time-travel fic, where Harry goes back in time to set things right and it’s got the interesting addition of becoming friends with Draco and his family; they’re a little more sympathetic. And some hilarious quotes! I do recommend them.
There was a site when I first got into fanfiction called The Sugar Quill. It is no longer active, but there is supposedly an archive of their stories done as captures. Most of the stories are not canon compliant and go off the beaten path, but they’ve got some zingers.
But I still hold that the best Harry Potter fanfiction I have personally read (and was so happy to find out my cousin has also read it, yay, share the love!) and is miles better than Cursed Child is A Marauder’s Plan. Warning, if you do plan on reading this, there are SPOILERS Ahead! As already mentioned, it involves Sirius a lot more. He makes the decision to stay and help Harry during the events of the Triwizard Tournament (yes, he still gets entered, no way out of that). Sirius gets custody and gives Harry a loving home. We learn so much more about the Wizarding World (and yeah, it makes better sense than Rowling’s version). We learn more about Sirius’ backstory and even James’. There are more character dynamics and different character relations, like pairing Harry with Hermione. It incorporates all the vital information from later books (like Horcruxes and Hallows) and the Voldemort issue gets resolved. The issues with Dumbledore get addressed, Snape remains enigmatic, and other side characters get to step into the spotlight more, like McGonagall. Draco gets an attitude adjustment. We see more of Remus and Tonks. Heck, even Bill is more in this story. Harry gains power, magical and political, but also gets to be a teen at times.
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.
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).
Dreamer in the Mirror 