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Template:Future book Template:HPBooks Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series of novels by J. K. Rowling.

The book title was announced on 21 December, 2006 via a special Christmas-themed "hangman" puzzle on Rowling's website, confirmed shortly afterwards by the publishers. Rowling has stated that the final volume relates so closely to the previous book in the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, that she feels "almost as though they are two halves of the same novel." It features the adventures of Harry Potter as he attempts to bring an end to his nemesis, Lord Voldemort.

On 1 February, 2007, it was officially announced that Book 7 will be released in English-speaking countries around the world at 00:01 British Summer Time on 21 July, 2007. In the USA, however, the book will be released at 00:01 local time. Rowling left a signed statement written on a marble bust of Hermes in her room at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh saying; "JK Rowling finished writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in this room (652) on 11th Jan 2007". In a web update on February 6, 2007, Rowling stated "While each of the previous Potter books has strong claims on my affections, 'Deathly Hallows' is my favourite, and that is the most wonderful way to finish the series." The book reached the top spot on both the Amazon and Barnes and Noble best-seller lists just a few hours after the date was announced.

Background to the series

The Harry Potter series was originally published as a children's book by British publisher Bloomsbury, and American publisher Scholastic Press. However, it rapidly became a phenomenal success amongst children and adults alike. The books each chronicle one year at school for the characters concerned and follows a long tradition of children's series about life in schools. Perhaps unlike some of the traditional series of this format, each book has matured and expanded in complexity and scope compared to the last, approximately developing with the age of the principal characters (later books are also significantly darker in tone than earlier ones). Although the author has said that she comprehensively plotted the entire series of books before the first was published, and that this plot remains unchanged, she has also stated that it has undergone a number of revisions as it has progressed. The books started as relatively slim volumes (223 pages Philosopher's Stone UK ed.), but have grown as the series progressed (766 pages Order of the Phoenix UK ed.).

The books contain a significant element of fantasy and magic, but this is combined with a detective-novel approach to the story. Each volume contains a complete problem and task for the heroes to complete, but each has also added to the background information about the wizarding world in general and contains many pieces of information whose importance only becomes apparent in later volumes (known as foreshadowing). Thus a considerable fan following has developed of people wanting to discover how the many loose ends and unfinished adventures in the book will finally be completed. The author has stated that, more than with any other book in the series, the final volume continues the unfinished story in book six. She has also stated that she doesn't have plans for any other novels concerning Harry Potter.

The meaning of "Hallows"

When asked "What does 'Deathly Hallows' mean?" J.K. Rowling responded, "Any clarification of the meaning of 'Hallows' would give away too much of the story - well, it would, wouldn't it? Being the title and all. So I'm afraid I'm not answering.". She also declined to say what her two other shortlisted titles had been, at least until after publication.

Hallow is a word usually used as a verb, meaning "to make holy or sacred, to sanctify or consecrate, to venerate". However, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the word hallows appears as a noun. In modern English, the word is used as a noun in "All Hallows' Day" or "All Saints' Day," which is the day after Halloween or "All Hallows' Eve". Hallows can refer to saints, the relics of saints, the relics of gods, or shrines in which the relics are kept., Since the essence of these saints or gods were often considered present at their shrines and in their relics, hallows came to refer to the saints or gods themselves, rather than just their relics or shrines. So, the hallow (relic) of a hallow (saint) is hidden in a hallow (shrine). Hallow is not to be confused with hollow, such as in Godric's Hollow.

A story where hallows play a crucial role is in Arthurian legend, where the Fisher King is the guardian of the four hallows, which include the Grail itself, the serving dish or stone or pentacle, the sword or dagger, and the spear. Scholars believe that the four grail hallows are a representation of the four treasures of the Tuatha de Danaan, which include the Dagda's Cauldron, the Stone of Fal, the Sword of Nuada and the Spear of Lugh. Many scholars have commented on the use of "Arthurian motifs" in the Harry Potter series, and have gone so far as to see a Harry as an Arthur in miniture, "Harry Potter is a latter-day version of the Christian knight. He resembles Arthur not only in being the chosen one for the magical sword, but also for his qualities as a natural leader, and in an assumption of responsibility, for himself and his peers, that begins at a very early age." It is, therefore, not suprising that there has been speculation that the last and final Harry Potter book will continue with this theme that has been inherently present from the beginning. A connection between the four founders of Hogwarts, their relics, and the four hallows in the grail legend has been suggested. It is known from the books that Godric Gryffindor's relic is a sword, Helga Hufflepuff's relic is a cup (chalice), and Salazar Slytherin's relic is a locket (pentacle), presumably leaving Rowena Ravenclaw's relic as a spear or wand.

In addition, many scholars have argued that the four hallows in the Grail legend symbolize the four natural elements (earth, fire, water, and air). J. K. Rowling has explicitly stated that the four Hogwarts founders represent the four natural elements. Helga Hufflepuff and her house Hufflepuff connects with earth (the house's symbol is a Badger), Rowena Ravenclaw and Ravenclaw with air (the symbol is a bird), Salazar Slytherin and Slytherin with water (the symbol is a snake), and Godric Gryffindor and Gryffindor with fire (the symbol is a Lion, a zodiac fire sign, and fire is often associated with protection from evil in Harry Potter, for example it is used to combat Inferi). This solidifies the connection between the four founders and the four hallows in the Grail legend. It is also stated in the books that Harry Potter must find four horcruxes, and that Voldemort wanted a hallow, or relic, from each of the four founders. Template:Spoiler-about

Known plot details

Unresolved plot elements from previous books

• Harry will return to the home of his non-magical (Muggle) relatives, the Dursleys, during the school holiday. The magical protection Albus Dumbledore arranged, which requires Harry to have a home with them, is set to expire on Harry's 17th birthday July 31.

• Harry plans to visit the remains of his parents' home at Godric's Hollow. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger plan on accompanying him on this trip.

• Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour plan on getting married in August. Several of the main characters have been invited.

• It is unclear what will happen to Hogwarts after the attack on the school at the end of book six, but Harry has said he will leave school to continue his battle against Voldemort. If the school reopens, new instructors will be needed for Defence Against the Dark Arts (replacing Severus Snape), and possibly Transfiguration in the event Minerva McGonagall becomes Headmistress.

• Harry comes of age (for wizards) when he turns 17, and is therefore entitled to perform magic outside of school and to obtain a licence to Apparate. His friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, and many of his classmates, already turned 17 during the sixth year, and Neville Longbottom turns 17 on July 30 - the day before Harry does.

• There is no explanation at the end of Half-Blood Prince as to the true identity of the mysterious "R.A.B.", who claimed to have stolen one of Voldemort's Horcruxes with the intent to destroy it, while replacing it with a fake that was recovered by Harry and Dumbledore.Template:HBP The most likely candidate is Regulus Black, who Rowling said was "a fine guess" for R.A.B.'s identity in an interview. Also in book 5 when cleaning out the cupboards in 12 Grimmauld Place Mrs. Wealsey finds a heavy locket that she was unable to open.

• Because Harry convinced Remus Lupin and Sirius Black to spare Peter Pettigrew's life in the third book, Pettigrew owes Potter a yet unpaid life debt.

• The quest to identify, locate, and destroy Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes will continue. The remaining Horcruxes must be destroyed before Voldemort can be successfully conquered.

• Harry will have his final battle with Lord Voldemort by the book's end.

Information from Rowling

• Rowling wrote the last chapter of the book some time ago, to give her an ending to work up to. The last word of the seventh book, according to Rowling, is currently "scar" , but she has also said it may change, along with the whole last chapter she has previously written. This last chapter contains details of what happens to each surviving character:

"This is the thing that I was very dubious about showing you... This is the final chapter of book seven. This is really where I wrap everything up, it's the epilogue. And I basically say what happens to everyone after they leave school - those who survive - because there are deaths - more deaths coming. It was a way of saying to myself, 'Well, you will get it, you will get to book seven one day. And then you'll need this!' So I'd just like to remind all the children I know who come around my house and start sneaking into cupboards that it's not there anymore - I don't keep it at home anymore for very, very, very obvious reasons. So there it is." – J. K. Rowling

• Rowling has stated that there will be no Quidditch matches in Deathly Hallows.

• J. K. Rowling said in 2001 that Harry might get another pet at some point. Although Buckbeak may have filled this role (Harry obtained possession of the Hippogriff after the death of Sirius Black, albeit under Hagrid's care), she also hinted that Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, might have another role.

• We will learn something very important about Lily:

Now, the important thing about Harry's mother - the really, really significant thing - you're going to find out in two parts. You'll find out a lot more about her in book five, or you'll find out something very significant about her in book five, and you'll find out something incredibly important about her in book seven." – J. K. Rowling

• Rowling has long said that the fact that Harry's eyes resemble his mother's is important.

• Severus Snape has been an important and enigmatic character throughout the books, as his true loyalty has always remained unclear. It is to be anticipated that as a surviving major character, his loyalty will be settled in the final confrontation of the book.

Questioner: There’s an important kind of redemptive pattern to Snape.

Rowling: He, um, there’s so much I wish I could say to you, and I can't because it would ruin. I promise you, whoever asked that question, can I just say to you that I'm slightly stunned that you've said that and you'll find out why I'm so stunned if you read Book Seven. That's all I’m going to say.

• She has stated we will learn more about Peter Pettigrew and Dumbledore and their respective families.

• At the Edinburgh book festival, Rowling mentioned that something more would be revealed about Petunia Dursley. Nothing of note occurred in book 6, so this remains to be discovered.

"..there is a little bit more to Aunt Petunia than meets the eye...She is not a squib, although that is a very good guess. Oh, I am giving a lot away here. I am being shockingly indiscreet."

Rowling repeated this comment at the Radio City charity reading in August 2006. She clarified by stating that Aunt Petunia will not perform magic.

• Rowling has said that some non-magical character will perform magic late in life in desperate circumstances. However, Petunia will not be the one to perform magic (see above).

• Also at Edinburgh, Rita Skeeter was mentioned: "She is loathsome . . . but I can't help admiring her toughness. . . . There is more to come on Rita"

• On Dolores Umbridge, "It's too much fun to torture her not to have another little bit more before I finish"

• Rowling has said that Ginny Weasley is quite powerful, that we have seen a taste of that in the past, and we will see it again.

• Viktor Krum is set for a reappearance.

• Kreacher, the former Black Family house elf which passed to Harry's ownership with the death of Sirius Black, may make an appearance. Rowling told the filmmakers of Order of the Phoenix to include the character in the movie, because he is "very important".

• The two-way mirror given to Harry by Sirius Black and his flying motorbike will return. In fact, Rowling has mentioned in one of her FAQs that the two way mirror "will help more than you think". Rowling refused to comment whether Sirius himself might in some way reappear, but she has also said that there was a reason why he had to die.

• Rowling refused to comment when asked whether the locked door in the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry of Magic would feature in the final book.

• Dumbledore was said to have a "gleam of triumph" in his eyes when told that Voldemort had restored his body using Harry's blood, at the end of Goblet of Fire (Ch. 36). Rowling has confirmed that this is "still enormously significant".

• Someone from Harry's class--not Harry, Ron, or Hermione, and not who most readers would expect--will become a Hogwarts teacher. This seems to indicate that Hogwarts will indeed re-open, though possibly not until after the main events of Deathly Hallows have occurred.

• In an interview after the completion of the Prisoner of Azkaban film, she commented that director Alfonso Cuarón had "put things in the film that, without knowing it, foreshadow things that are going to happen in the final two books. So I really got goosebumps when I saw a couple of those things, and I thought people are going to look back on the film and think those were put in deliberately as clues."

• There are indications that at least two of the main characters will die. In a June 2006 interview about the previously-written ending, Rowling stated that:

"One character got a reprieve, but I have to say two die that I didn't intend to die...A price has to be paid. We are dealing with pure evil...They go for the main characters... well, I do".

• When further questioned in June 2006 about authors who kill off their main characters, Rowling said "I can completely understand, however, the mentality of an author who thinks, well, I'm going to kill them off because that means there can be no non-author-written sequels'".

• Rowling clarified that "Dumbledore is definitely dead", when asked by Salman Rushdie and others at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Rowling answered the same question three times, each time with increasing conviction..

• When asked what questions she should have been asked, she admitted that "the final book contains a couple of pieces of information that I don't think you could guess at", and declined to explain further. On 13 September 2006 she updated her website saying that when she was asked that question, her mind went blank. Since she couldn't make amends, she created a NAQ section of her website, in tribute to the girl who asked the question. In her NAQ section, she states:

"Why did Dumbledore have James' invisibility cloak at the time of James' death, given that Dumbledore could make himself invisible without a cloak?"

On 29 September 2006, she revealed that Severus Snape was not under the cloak the night of the Potters' death in the Rumors Section.

• Asked which five of her characters she would like to invite to dinner, she chose Harry, Hermione and Ron, but then hesitated before choosing her last characters, saying "See... I know who's actually dead", unsure whether she was permitted to invite those who are 'dead'.
• Lord Voldemort was voted best villain at the Big Bad Read poll. Responding to the news Rowling commented:

"I hope those of you who voted for him in the big bad read enjoy reading about him in book seven, where he finally gets the leg room for which he has been aching all those years in exile."

Beyond Deathly Hallows

As of 2007, Rowling has been working on the Harry Potter stories for over 17 years.

• Rowling confirmed that there isn't a university after Hogwarts and further Harry Potter books.

Q: Do you think that you will write about Harry after he graduates from Hogwarts? Isn't there a University of Wizardry?

A: There's no University for Wizards. At the moment I'm only planning to write seven Harry Potter books. I won't say "never," but I have no plans to write an eighth book.

• When asked about other books similar to Quidditch Through the Ages and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Rowling has said that she would consider writing them at some point and that they would also be written for charity. She also mentions writing an encyclopedia-style tome on all the major characters, also for charitable purposes.

• Shortly before the release of book 5, in an interview for the BBC, she was asked about Harry's future by Jeremy Paxman:

Jeremy Paxman: So you know what is going to become of all the major characters over the span of the series?

J.K. Rowling: Yeah..yeah.

Jeremy Paxman: Why stop when they grow up? Might be interesting to know what becomes of Harry as an adult.

J.K. Rowling: How do you know he'll still be alive?

Jeremy Paxman: Oh. At the end of book seven?

J.K. Rowling: It would be one way to kill off the merchandising.

• When questioned about possible future books, she jokingly suggested Harry Potter and the Mid-Life Crisis.

• On her website she posted her feelings about finishing the final book:

I always knew that Harry's story would end with the seventh book, but saying goodbye has been just as hard as I always knew it would be. Even while I'm mourning, though, I feel an incredible sense of achievement. I can hardly believe that I've finally written the ending I've been planning for so many years. I've never felt such a mixture of extreme emotions in my life, never dreamed I could feel simultaneously heartbroken and euphoric.

Some of you have expressed a (much more muted!) mixture of happiness and sadness at the prospect of the last book being published, and that has meant more than I can tell you. If it comes as any consolation, I think that there will be plenty to continue arguing and speculating about, even after 'Deathly Hallows' comes out.

Editions

Bloomsbury (United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, etc.)

• ISBN 0747591059 Hardcover
• ISBN 1551929767 Hardcover (adult edition)

Raincoast (Canada, etc.)

• ISBN 1551929767 Hardcover
• ISBN 1551929783 Hardcover (adult edition)

Scholastic (United States, etc.)

• ISBN 0545010225 Hardcover
• ISBN 0545029376 Deluxe Hardcover

References

1. "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows". Bloomsbury Publishing. 2006-12-21. Retrieved 2006-12-21.
2. "Progress on Book Six". J. K. Rowling Official Site. 2004-03-15. Retrieved 2006-12-23.
3. Release date announced on J.K. Rowling's website
4. "BOOK 7 completed". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2007-02-03.
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6. "BOOK 7 RELEASE DATE!". Mugglenet. Retrieved 2007-02-01.
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10. Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press.
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17. "Anelli, Melissa and Emerson Spartz. "The Leaky Cauldron and MuggleNet interview Joanne Kathleen Rowling: Part Two," The Leaky Cauldron, 16 July 2005". Accio Quote!. 2005-07-16. Retrieved 2006-12-23.
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20. ^ "MuggleNet and The Leaky Cauldron interview Joanne Kathleen Rowling (part 2)". Mugglenet. Retrieved 2006-06-30.
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23. ^ J.K. Rowling interview transcript, The Connection (WBUR Radio), 12 October 1999
24. Loer, Stephanie (October 18, 1999). "All about Harry Potter from quidditch to the future of the Sorting Hat". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2006-06-30.
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External links

• Speculation on Deathly Hallows from Beyond Hogwarts: the site formerly known as Dumbledoreisnotdead.com
• Speculation on Deathly Hallows from Dark Mark
• Speculation on Deathly Hallows from Harry Potter Fan Zone
• Speculation on Deathly Hallows from Mugglenet
• Speculation on Deathly Hallows from The Leaky Cauldron
• Speculation on Deathly Hallows from Veritaserum
• Continuing storylines from previous books from Harry Potter Lexicon
• Issues unresolved at this point in the story from the Harry Potter Lexicon
• An evidence-based 'synopsis' of Deathly Hallows from book7.co.uk
• Quick Quote Quill, collected statements by J K Rowling
• Deathly Hallows rumors helpfully refuted by J K Rowling
• In-depth interview with J K Rowling by Mugglenet and The Leaky Cauldron
• The latest news, rumors and confirmed information on Deathly Hallows from HPANA
• CBBC Newsround reports on Harry Potter
• Speculations on the Loyalty of Severus Snape
• J.K. Rowling's Official Website
• Harry Potter: Next, will he die forever?

• Harry Potter books
• Sequel novels