Harry Potter Month is hosted by Faith at Geeky Zoo Girl and Micheline at Lunar Rainbows Reviews. This awesome event runs all through July, and you can find more information about it here.
If ever there was a book that made me cry really, really hard, it would be Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. And it's all because of Chapter 34: "The Forest Again."
While there were plenty of other sob-inducing moments in DH that forced me to run for the nearest box of Kleenex, "The Forest Again" absolutely destroyed me. Along with Harry, we've finally arrived here:
"He pressed the golden metal to his lips and whispered,
'I am about to die.'"
GAHHHHH!!! NOOOOOOO!!!! I was barely holding it together after Harry finished visiting Snape's memories in the Pensieve and realized the truth of what he needed to do, but the quote above broke the crying floodgates. And then THAT was followed by:
"They were neither ghost nor truly flesh, he could see that. They resembled most closely the Riddle that had escaped from the diary so long ago, and he had been memory made nearly solid. Less substantial than living bodies, but much more than ghosts, they moved toward him, and on each face, there was the same loving smile."
Lily. James. Remus. SIRIUS. All there with Harry as he's about to face death. I don't think I've read a more beautifully written scene in a book. EVER. And I might never read another scene in a book that equals this one in brilliance and genuine emotion. After everything Harry has been through, he now has to do this, but he's not alone; he's surrounded by absolute, unconditional love. There's a depth to this scene that, even eight years after first reading it, I still can't quite wrap my head around because it's so profound.
When I went to see the second Deathly Hallows film, I knew I wasn't going to make it through the forest scene without turning into a blubbering mess. And I wasn't wrong. I did try to keep my sniffling to a minimum so that I didn't draw too much attention to myself in the theater, lol.
There's a line that Sirius says to Harry in the film that I'll never forget. When Harry asks if Voldemort can see anyone besides Harry, his godfather tells him no, we're here—and he points to Harry's heart. (Sirius's reply in the book echoes a similar sentiment: "We are part of you," said Sirius. "Invisible to anyone else.") And that is an image that I've carried with me ever since. On the days when I'm especially missing my mom and dad, I think of the forest scene, both in the book and in the movie, and remember that they'll always be in my heart. So if I had to choose the single, most important thing I've taken away from Harry Potter, it's this. ❤
Oh Lee *hug* I got actual chills reading your post here^^ I love you for writing this ♥ I know we've often talked about our love for this particular chapter and how it basically shattered our hearts and souls but you said it all perfectly. After everything Harry had been through and after those memories in the Pensieve and finding out the WHOLE truth, to have him say those words undid me. And then those appearances. The words they all say, it's all unbelievably poignant. You're right, I don't think I'll ever read such a heart wrenching and gorgeous scene again in my life. Gah!
ReplyDeleteI know how much this chapter means to you, too. ❤ It's one of the most perfect, if not THE most perfect, scenes I've ever read. I loved HP so much before reading this chapter, but afterwards, my heart was just about ready to explode, from all the love I felt for "The Forest Again" and from the magnitude of what happens.
DeleteI just watched DH and experienced that moment again. It's just like you said, so powerfully emotion. Sirius' statement is an echo to one of his earlier film quotes of "The ones that love us never really leave us" and he points to Harry's heart just as he does in DH. Of course, we know in the books that is Dumbledore's quote but I love how the movies tied those together. Fantastic post!! I love that scene.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of Sirius's line at the end of the PoA movie, too, and how wonderfully it came full circle in the forest scene in DH2. ❤ I caught DH2 over the weekend during the HP movie marathon on ABC Family (good timing, lol!) and this scene still feels as powerful as it did when I first saw the film.
DeleteThis chapter is all sorts of emotional. This chapter, to me, is the culmination of everything for Harry. He's walking off to his death and those who love him and he loves are gathered around him. Some last bit of comfort before he goes willingly into his final moments. It always gets me crying. This post is so eloquently written. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly it- after waiting so long to find out Harry's destiny, we learn that he must die. I was devastated, and the words he spoke before opening the Snitch absolutely broke my heart. To this day, I still can't get through that chapter without putting the book down before I soak the pages with tears!
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