Blog #3

The end of the Harry Potter series is shocking and tragic yet completely perfect.  I was shocked mostly by how well everything fit together after Harry looked into Snape’s last memories in the Pensieve.  Throughout the whole series, I went back and forth debating whether Snape was truly good or evil.  After he killed Dumbledore and proceeded to take over as headmaster of Hogwarts, it seemed that he was officially on Voldemort’s side – he killed that one person who could help Harry survive.  But after seeing how deeply he loved Lily, and how faithful he was to Dumbledore, it was hard to not sympathize.  Snape lived a tortured life.  Not to say that the way he treated Harry all along was justifiable; his outright loathing and harassment of his least favorite pupil was completely uncalled for.  At the end of it all, I found myself believing that Snape might have actually been one of the most important people in Harry’s life.

            Dumbledore, on the other hand, turned out to be less saint-like than I had originally thought.  I was shocked to find out that he was friends with Grindelwald as a teenager, might have been the one to kill his own sister, and knew that in the end, Harry would have to die.  Harry always felt like he didn’t know anything about the real Dumbledore, but I think it was for the best.  It was important for Harry to have a strong and powerful role model like the great Albus Dumbledore as he journeyed ever closer to his final encounter with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.  To find out details of his hero’s past earlier might have hindered their ever-strengthening relationship – Harry might not have put his complete trust in the man.  At the series’ end, I was left under the impression that Dumbledore was a shear genius but, when it comes down to, only human.

            Lastly, I would like to discuss the series as a whole.  J.K. Rowling has kept me spellbound with the Harry Potter books from day one.  After growing up with the book and movies, I feel like it is a series that defines our generation.  I think although Rowling’s magical world is pure fiction, the lessons we learn from the characters are essential in the real world that we live in.  The friendship between Ron, Hermione, and Harry is one that all should strive for.  It was from the pages of Rowling’s masterpieces that I learned the true power of love.  The Harry Potter books give us hope for a bright future and courage to face even our biggest fears.