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In my most recent post we looked at plot outlines in Harry Potter. Now, we look at the endings. Because the endings of each HP book are part of the allure. The part that keeps you wanting more. The part that leaves you with that warm, sad, lovey dovey fuzzy feeling and...well, you get the idea.
Here, I'll dive into the ending of the 3rd Harry Potter book, The Prisoner of Azkaban:
"You are truly your father's son, Harry," says Sirius Black.Right as he's taking off—flying, escaping—on the hippogriff.
But the action hasn't stopped.
Right up through the final chapter, Harry and Hermione are still on their time-adventure (using the Time-Turner) and just as they scream for Sirius to "Go!" and escape, they have only minutes to return to the hospital before Dumbledore locks the door. Then they overhear a conversation with Snape talking to the Minister of Magic, Fudge, about how he's (truly?) attempting to betray Dumbledore.
The endings in Harry Potter tend to keep you flipping till the last page. There are often multiple subplots and mysterious goings-on from earlier in the book that still need wrapping-up—and a little bow put on them (which, I think, those little witty, clever bows are one of Rowling's greatest hallmarks).
In The Prisoner of Azkaban, there's a round-robin of characters right to the very end. Harry, Ron, Hermione are there, all in on the secret of Black's escape (of course). Snape furious his plans have been thwarted (and doesn't it feel a little good?). The sadness of Professor Lupin having to resign and leave because Snape in petty vengeance "accidently" let it slip he's a werewolf. Hagrid happy that Buckbeak's escaped. The Minister of Magic, Fudge, making the decision to remove the dementors from Hogwarts. And, of course, Dumbledore, speaking about the prophecy about Harry and Voldemort that Professor Trelawney made—"That brings her total of a real prophecy up to two. I shall have to give her a pay raise..."
Not only is it the spin of plot-points, of characters, and of mysteries solving and clues fitting into place, but it's also the positive, warm-and-fuzzy, real-world advice that Dumbledore (as the mentor) is there to give:
But Rowling doesn't just end it there.
The endings in Harry Potter tend to keep you flipping till the last page. There are often multiple subplots and mysterious goings-on from earlier in the book that still need wrapping-up—and a little bow put on them (which, I think, those little witty, clever bows are one of Rowling's greatest hallmarks).
In The Prisoner of Azkaban, there's a round-robin of characters right to the very end. Harry, Ron, Hermione are there, all in on the secret of Black's escape (of course). Snape furious his plans have been thwarted (and doesn't it feel a little good?). The sadness of Professor Lupin having to resign and leave because Snape in petty vengeance "accidently" let it slip he's a werewolf. Hagrid happy that Buckbeak's escaped. The Minister of Magic, Fudge, making the decision to remove the dementors from Hogwarts. And, of course, Dumbledore, speaking about the prophecy about Harry and Voldemort that Professor Trelawney made—"That brings her total of a real prophecy up to two. I shall have to give her a pay raise..."
Not only is it the spin of plot-points, of characters, and of mysteries solving and clues fitting into place, but it's also the positive, warm-and-fuzzy, real-world advice that Dumbledore (as the mentor) is there to give:
"You did a noble thing...saving Pettigrew's life...this is magic at its deepest, Harry..."(Because when a wizard saves another wizard's life, their is a bond, a life debt, forged between the two of them. And Dumbldore seriously doubts that Voldemort wants a wizard in his service in debt to Harry Potter.)
But Rowling doesn't just end it there.
On top of all this, she zings in the nostalgia, where Ron and Hermione are talking as they leave on the Hogwarts Express. Harry has just narrowly passed his exams and he watches, not really listening to either of them, as Hogwarts slips from view behind a mountain. "Two whole months till he'd see it again..."
Plus, there are shout-outs to the next book: The upcoming Quidditch World Cup and, in mentioning the prophecy, the impending duel between Harry and Voldemort himself—which is a source of tension that carries through all 7 books.
But still, does Rowling end it there? No.
But still, does Rowling end it there? No.
A final surprise: A final mystery unfolded: "I sent you the Firebolt," says Sirius Black, who sends Harry an owl message while on the train. And Black, as Harry's godfather, gives Harry permission to visit Hogsmeade on weekends. Which of course had annoyed Harry from the very start of the story since his Uncle Vernon would not sign the form for him.
With that, Harry's able to poke at his Uncle Vernon finally, saying something along the lines of: "Oh yes, my godfather...he's a convicted murderer and a wizard." And doesn't that just ruffle Uncle Vernon's feathers so bad it delights Harry?
Perhaps one of the best things about Harry Potter is that "good" really does always get the best of "bad" and "evil" in the end. Always. That's what makes them so enduring. So full of wish-fulfillment. That's why people escape into Hogwarts and the HP Universe again and again.
There are many lesser villains in HP and part of the wish fulfillment of the whole series are all the little victories against these lesser villains, exemplified even in the very last paragraph of The Prisoner of Azkaban.
As we leave behind Harry Potter (since this is the last of 3 posts on this blog specifically addressing the Harry Potter books though I'll doubtless refer back to them in other posts, here and there), I'd like to thank all of the lesser villains in HP. Voldemort is too big, too scary, too powerful all at once. The impending duel between him and Harry needs to carry as a source of tension throughout the series, so it is the little victories against the lesser villains, righting the less epic injustices, all usually taking place at or near the end of each book, which make Harry Potter what it is.
Thanks.
As we leave behind Harry Potter (since this is the last of 3 posts on this blog specifically addressing the Harry Potter books though I'll doubtless refer back to them in other posts, here and there), I'd like to thank all of the lesser villains in HP. Voldemort is too big, too scary, too powerful all at once. The impending duel between him and Harry needs to carry as a source of tension throughout the series, so it is the little victories against the lesser villains, righting the less epic injustices, all usually taking place at or near the end of each book, which make Harry Potter what it is.
Thanks.