[Spoilers beware, only intended for those who have read the book. Or if you haven’t read it yet, be doomed.]


There will always be a time for things to end.


In the case of the universally phenomenal Harry Potter series, the ending means turning the last page of the final chapter and coming to full realisation that there will never be another Potter book to wait again.


Nevertheless, finally – the end; HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS is that one kind of a conclusion that severely grips you, oftentimes making you rush throughout the pages but all the same wanting you to savour every word of it. I must admit, satisfaction and devastation comes in full blow after flipping the last page of the Epilogue “NINETEEN YEARS LATER”, that the battle has been fought and won, that the good finally conquered the evil, and peace overrules war. As what J. K. Rowling had constantly campaigned metaphorically in her books of magic that death is not the solution out of struggle and that real victory means sacrifice and acceptance of fate. Of course, there will always be the message about the magic of friendship, family and most of all; the power of love – that even in the battle, these weapons had never been defeated yet. DEATHLY HALLOWS is probably the most compelling Potter book, with a powerful message built in a stunning narrative that leaves you bedazzled and Imperiused all the way.


The Potter Era went fast like a speeding broomstick, although it lasted for nearly a decade, its occupation in the literary world felt fleeting but yet momentous. With PHILOSOPHER’S STONE, the world was introduced to Harry’s universe with Rowling’s wit and charm across the pages, child-like but thrillingly clever; then came CHAMBER OF SECRETS, which have shown the author’s capability in weaving a complex story for young minds as Harry’s true identity comes into question. PRISONER OF AZKABAN, by then, was my favourite book at the time, capturing a contemporary classic status with themes of murder, mystery, humour and dark fantasy. AZKABAN would have be, in my opinion, the real introduction to the dark path that lays ahead for Harry and Hogwarts. GOBLET OF FIRE, a very fine doorstopper of an adventure book that showcases the Triwizard Tournament, probably the most exciting contest ever written on novel yet, and bringing back the arch-nemesis that we had all been waiting for to return. ORDER OF THE PHOENIX, no doubt the most complicated and darkest Potter book by then, was criticised as the weakest (and massively thickest) but never disappointed the Potterites. As for my opinion, PHOENIX would have to be the most complex and most emotional of the lot, letting Harry face the cold, bitter truth of death for the first time (Sirius Black’s demise was definitely a hard blow). Then entered HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, a psychotically and psychologically captivating book that studies Voldemort’s past and Harry’s stand in the task he’s about to face, with Dumbledore in his final important bow.


So the story had been woven, questions started to arise and the world was left craving for most crucial part of all – the finale. Everyone asked, probably even the most insignificant-looking, indifferent bloke that you’ve thought would never open a book in his entire life would have thrown the question: “Will Harry die?” DEATHLY HALLOWS proves that it should not be a question about Harry’s death, but instead about Harry’s survival and that “Will he live up to the expectation as The Boy Who Lived?”


But before deciding about Harry’s fate, J. K. Rowling lets us plunge into the dizzying depths and the almost impossible enormity of Harry’s task in destroying the three remaining Horcruxes. As Dumbledore had left Harry the most crucial job of all, and letting him understand Voldemort’s nature and background in order to destroy him, Harry realises that what Dumbledore had left him wasn’t enough to help him in his path. Voldemort’s Death Eaters were gaining strength and that they had already totally controlled the Ministry of Magic with the “Magic Is Might” totem and symbolism of anarchy, infiltrating the very vein that’s running the magical world. Harry remains the hope of the wizarding community, but as the more people wanted to protect him, the more people who try to flee as well and save their own skin. But Harry got it all planned, and he didn’t need any help from any member of the Order of the Phoenix, and has Ron and Hermione by his side. When you think the trio’s friendship had already been tested before, think twice because what the HALLOWS brings is much worse that what we could have imagined for these three young magicians. Rowling spent so much emphasis in the three’s relationship as they wander around trying to figure out how to find the Horcruxes and how to destroy them, as this journey also nearly destroyed their bond. There was more time spent in camping out in different places, letting their selves to figure out that the task was becoming more seemingly impossible every minute.


Then we are introduced to the Deathly Hallows, three relics that gives the bearer the protection against Death itself, namely the unbeatable Elder Wand, the Resurrection Stone that recalls the spirits back in its earthly form, and the Cloak of Invisibility, impenetrable from any form of magic. Rowling discusses these three with wit as she puts Hermione in the polar opposite, incriminating that it’s all rubbish and not existing. Brilliantly put, Rowling reveals that the Deathly Hallows are actually existing and laid hidden within Dumbledore’s premises. This made Harry confused to whether he’s after destroying the Horcruxes or finding the Hallows.
Unlike the previous Potter books, DEATHLY HALLOWS moves in an extraordinary speed, almost breathless, fast-paced and undeniably unpredictable compared to the almost routinary predecessors where tension builds up and explodes in a majestic climax at the end. In HALLOWS, it’s like in every fourth chapter it’s always climax, and every death of character puts so much heavy feeling in our senses. There’s so much emotion in this book, few examples are the Dursley scene where Dudley shows compassion to Harry, Dobby’s death, Harry’s quiet but nerve-breaking acceptance of his cruel fate, the trio’s falling out of each other, and the Battle of Hogwarts that left me wringing out of sheer thrill, anguish, and other sensations I couldn’t really explain or understand anymore. With the finale read and done over with, plot threads pulled out satisfyingly in conclusion, especially Severus Snape’s poignant vindication (probably Harry calling him “the bravest man I have ever met” moved a bit from my seat), his real story comes alive out of an amazing fashion that it takes seven books to justify the importance of his character. Now, we shall never call people “coward”, unless we know they’re really dead cowards. Dumbledore’s revelation as well as very flawed man was a chilling truth, that even the most idealistic person could have done things out of foolishness. Rowling closes her grand job (historical, as well) by giving us a fair battle of Voldemort and Harry. Some might hate this part, but in my opinion, it tantamount the real essence of the book as Harry digs out the very flaw in Voldemort’s plans, by means of blood and protection. And one cruel fact as well: I had never realised that as soon as Voldemort used Harry’s blood to revive himself, it was the start of his own downfall. Then it all comes down to one thing: as Harry’s mother died for him, Voldemort uses Harry’s blood unconsciously without realising that the same blood that a mother had died for was running in his veins, the very last precipice and trace of love that Lily Potter had given to her own son.


I think the most powerful moment in DEATHLY HALLOWS was when Harry faced the cold truth of his own existence, that’s he’s indeed the final and seventh Horcrux and that he has to die. In a dark, lyrical writing, Rowling intensifies Harry’s character more as he tries to remain composed despite of his unnatural fear of death. He gives in to his fate and walked the line to fulfil the final thing that could only defeat something anarchic and leftist in this world, and that is sacrifice.


HALLOWS is no doubt a glorious conclusion to this brilliant series. It closes all the books in one mighty revelation that twists and turns, generating the impact of story in a breathtaking climax. It’s even darker the previous books combined and Harry’s evolution from boy to man was cleverly put. As soon as revelations were revealed, you could have never thought that Rowling was as clever as this, evidently planning it all the way through.


Like closing the last page of the book, fans will burden a heavy heart, as the journey was a rough one, our beloved characters admits to a final bow. The battlefield was littered with many losses, but couldn’t ignore the fact that it’s one loss we have to face. The Harry Potter series is over.
It’s like having a really good friend and companion for nearly a stretch of a decade, through all the years of laughter, humour, adventure, friendship, dark mystery and battling the evils of the world – and the time to part ways is here and the crossroad is already at our door. It’s always hard to say goodbye.


Although the queue in bookstores might be temporarily over, midnight parties are done, the wait for sequels in through... yet we know, the Harry Potter series will remain with us and I will make sure they will be on my shelf, ready to be read by the next generation, by my children and grandchildren in the future, letting them discover what magic can do in their lives.



RATING: A+