Part 10-Details

“Unlike any other creature on this planet, humans can learn and understand, without having experienced. They can think themselves into other people’s places. We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.” – J. K. Rowling

 

Introduction

One of the things that impresses me the most about the Harry Potter series is that in seven books, over a decade of creating the wizarding world and writing about it, and over 3400 pages, not one detail in the series was left without a purpose.  It is incredible to think of how anyone could keep track of that number of details over that period of time, much less find a creative, although secretive, way of using each one as well.  For this last post, I am simply going to give a list of some of the details we are given throughout the series that may seem meaningless and explain what their hidden meaning is.

Details

1. When Harry is shopping for his wand just before his first year, he meets the wandmaker Ollivander, who remembers every wand he ever made and sold.  He informs Harry that Harry’s father’s wand was an excellent wand for transfiguration (turning one object into another) and later we learn that James was in fact so skilled at transfiguration that he was able to do the complex magic that allowed him to become and animagus, or turn into an animal (specifically a stag) at will.
2. In book four, there is a moment where Harry is looking out a window at Hogwarts and notices an eagle owl, which of course is not unusual, but becomes significant when connected to a dream Harry has later, where he rides the back of an eagle owl to Voldemort, who reveals to Harry accidentally that there is a traitor at Hogwarts.  This suggests the owl Harry saw was the owl being used by the traitor to communicate with Voldemort.
3. Also in book four, the main trio are in potions class discussing how Rita Skeeter, a rumor-starting journalist, could have found out secret information about them and their friends.  As they are discussing, it is noted they are grinding up beetles for their potion, and it is later discovered that Skeeter was in fact an animagus who could turn into a beetle.
4. In the wizarding world, there is a terrible serpent called a basilisk, which during the second book stalks the school.  The reader is told that a basilisk is created when a chicken’s egg is hatched beneath a toad.  Later in the series, the locket of Slytherin (who was the master of the basilisk) becomes significant, and the reader is told multiple times it is about the size of a chicken’s egg.  The trio have to steal it back from Umbridge, a teacher from their fifth year who tried to take control of Hogwarts and is constantly described as a toad.  While this detail may not be important, it is a very hidden way to connect events from the second book to the seventh.
5. In book six, Draco Malfoy is tasked with killing Dumbledore, and for much of the book he is attempting to repair a vanishing cabinet which has a pair in a shop for dark objects, meaning if it was repaired he could sneak Voldemort’s followers (Death Eaters) into Hogwarts.  However, what the reader may not remember is that we got to read the event where this cabinet is destroyed.  The poltergeist Peeves in fact destroys the cabinet in the second book with the encouragement of the ghost Nearly-Headless Nick, who is trying to distract Filch (the caretaker) in order to get Harry out of trouble.
6. In books 1, 4, and 7, green and red sparks are used as signals for moments when some of the characters are attempting to carry out a dangerous plan.  In books 1 and 4, green sparks indicate something positive, like something being found or a character being alright, and red sparks indicate something negative, like the characters being in trouble.  This is significant for book seven when Harry is being rescued.  The rescuers are given two signals to indicate when it is time leave.  The first signal is green sparks, indicating all is well and they are on track, and the second is red, indicating it is time for the to leave.  However, this also foreshadows the danger the group is about to enter, as they run into Death Eaters almost immediately after leaving.
7. It is not until the seventh book that we really realize Dumbledore has a brother (Aberforth), much less that he is a barman at a pub near Hogwarts. However, this is alluded to multiple times before.   Aberforth is very fond of goats due to the memories he has of caring for goats with his sister.  It is mentioned in the fifth book that Aberforth’s pub has a strong smell of goats, and Dumbledore says at one point that he is “friendly with the local barmen” (significant as the other pub is run by a woman, not a man).
8.  *bonus*  In the first book, Hermione, under immense pressure forgets she can use magic to conjure fire, to which Ron responds “Are you a witch or not!?”  Toward the end of the seventh book, the group is again under pressure and it is Ron this time who expresses being unable to do something despite being able to do magic, to which Hermione this time responds “Are you a wizard or not!?”  This quote ties together the first and last adventures the trio have together in the series in a way that is both sweet and accurate to the character’s personalities.

Conclusion

This list could go on for as long as the series is.  The incredible intricacies in what is really just a children’s series has drawn millions of people to read Harry Potter, and to find a sense of connection and fascination with the series.  I hope that over the course of this semester I have been able to explain well how the Harry Potter series became so successful simply through the way it was written.  I have read (or listened to the audiobooks) probably over 30 times since I first read the series ten years ago, and I still find myself suddenly noticing new details or connections I had not noticed in any of the times I previously read the books.  Thank you for taking the time to read this blog!

 

 

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Quote Source: https://www.bustle.com/articles/200871-15-jk-rowling-quotes-that-will-inspire-you-to-get-writing