The ending to an era

Blog Post #3

The end of the Harry Potter series was something I had been anticipating for nearly a decade. I had spent countless hours trying to figure out what was going to happen and dwelling on the potential that my favorite characters could in fact die. I don’t know if it’s possible for a seventeen year old to get stress ulcers but I’m sure I was on the brink of having them.  I’m sure everyone addicted to the series was excited for the seventh book but for our generation, the one that literally grew up with characters in the novels, it felt like the ending to our childhood too. After I read it, there were parts I immediately connected with and there were parts I was not as fond of. For starters, I knew and loved that Harry was a horcrux. I think it was important for Harry to get to the end and rather die at the hands of Voldemort, choose to die at the hands of Voldemort.  There are things more important than any one person- friendship, family, love, hope, and the opportunity for a better tomorrow. Harry’s truly selfless sacrifice was with the intent that the rest of the world could be free to live in peace. That’s a mighty big responsibility to place in the hands of a seventeen year old but again, for our generation, I think it showed us that we too could make decisions for the good of not only ourselves but the good of others. I don’t know how everyone else feels but it certainly made me feel like I had an inner strength too.  I was not to sure how I felt about Harry coming back to life. It felt very Jesus-y to me. I don’t now if Rowling was making a religious statement with her books but I felt odd about it. I think Harry had to live but they way she went about it felt off. I also love that she didn’t solely give Harry all the hero moments. Neville, quit possibly the most unfortunate but lovable character in the book who never seemed to have anything go his way, killed Nagini, the last horcrux. I love that in the end, he proved to himself and the rest of the school that he too could stand and fight when the time came. You never know your inner strength until you are forced to use it and Neville found it at just the right moment.

Snape also became my favorite character by leaps and bounds by the end of the series. After Harry, Snape might be the most heroic character in the series for me. At first, we see Snape as a mean teacher out to get Harry and we aren’t sure why.  Throughout the series, pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place like how Harry’s father bullied him or how he was an outsider in all aspects at school. But in the seventh book we finally learn that his love for Lily Potter fueled his intentions the entire series. Snape sacrificed literally everything for his love of one girl. Whether or not people think he is a good or bad guy, the fact that he was willing to die protecting Harry trying to do right by Lily is noble and inspiring. You truly see his humanity and depth when as he lay dying next to Harry after getting bit by Nagini, all he wants is to look into Harry’s eyes- the same eyes as Lily had. Snape’s willingness to dedicate his life in the memory of his only love is a beautiful tribute and makes me undyingly love him as a character .