Ending Where It Began

I have a confession. I resisted a long time-but I am a Harry Potter fan. I have read all the books, I've seen the movies. I am even contemplating staying up 'til midnight, July 21st so that I can get the last book in the series-The Deathly Hallows. I know. It's a little extreme. There are lots of people in my situation though- and I suspect many of them actually want the book themselves but say they just go to the midnight release so "the kids can get one". I have resisted letting my boys get into Harry Potter because of the dark overtones and violence. I don't think it will affect them as much now- but as it is written for 10-12 year olds in mind, I think I'll wait until they are a little closer to that age.

I think some of the things that interest me about the series include the nice mix of real life teenage angst, a well constructed magical world (that uses lots of Latin spells) and just enough mystery to keep you interested. Trying to figure out a mystery appeals to lots of us- and the fact that there are clues in 7 different books makes it more of like a conspiracy theory- and nothing gets me hooked like a good intrique story. So, I've formulated a little theory of my own.
So there are seven books, and they are circular in nature. Book 4 is in the center- Goblet of Fire is the book where Voldemort regains a physical body, the one he lost in Book 1, and will have something happen to in Book 7- The Quidditch World Cup and the Tri-wizard tournament both are things that only happen every once in while- not every year. It of course has characters and elements from other books- but the whole Barty Crouch story and so forth is pretty stand alone. Book 4 is a pivotal, centering book in the middle of the chain.

Books 3 and 5 (Prisoner of Azkaban and Order of the Phoenix) were all about Sirius Black. His reunion with Harry, his history, his family, and his demise. Lupin is also a major player in these 2 books. Again, other things were at work, but this just focuses on the major themes. Books 2 and 6 are all about Tom Riddle/Voldemort. Chamber of Secrets is all about Hogwarts when Tom Riddle was there, parselmouth, the Big snake and Voldemort trying to regain power through his horcrux. Half Blood Prince spends considerable time focusing on parselmouth, Riddle's history, his family, his big snake and again, his horcruxes (and the destruction thereof).
So that leaves us with Books 1 and 7- Sorcerer's Stone and Deathly Hallows. It will end where it started. Many think that is Godric's Hollow- where Harry's parents were killed and where Voldemort lost his bodily form. I do think Godric's Hollow will be significant- and that Harry will find and/or destroy a Horcrux there. I think Bill and Fleur's wedding will remind Harry of something he saw in a picture of his parents wedding (where Sirius was best man) and something he can find at Godric's Hollow. But mostly, (and this is my big theory here) I think the story will end up on Privet drive. PRIVET Drive? Where nothing magical ever happens? Where the dreaded Dursleys live?

Here's my thoughts- the first book starts on Privet drive, focused on the Dursleys- seeing the magical world through their eyes. Almost all of the major characters have been there at one time or another to pick up Harry- and Dumbledore has admittedly put strong enchantments around the house for Harry's protection. Rowling has already let us know that Petunia will play a significant role in Book 7- and also that Harry having his mother's eyes is important. There is something about the family connection that will play a major role. In the first chapter, there are two important passages I picked out. One is that the Durselys and Potters hadn't met "for several years"- at least since before they had children (as they had never seen Harry). But since Dumbledore knew of the Durselys existence, and location, there must have been some interaction at some point. And I am guessing that it was not so positive since Petunia and Vernon BOTH hated magic and anything to do with it. Vernon also asks Petunia if she'd heard from her sister lately- as if maybe Lily communicated with Petunia every once in awhile- they obviously knew Lily and James had a son- they had a nephew, even if Vernon couldn't remember his name. There had to be communication of some sort (which may explain Vernon's discomfort at the report of owls all over England).

The second passage is right at the end of chapter 1, as Harry goes to sleep on the doorstep of # 4, Rowling describes Privet Drive this way "A breeze ruffled the neat hedges of Privet Drive, which lay silent and tidy under the inky sky, the very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen." So, I think at some point before Harry was born, Lily gave Petunia something significant- a Griffyndor or Ravenclaw relic perhaps, - or something else- because it would be so far out of the magical world- safe from Voldemort's followers and the Dark Lord himself- and Petunia has it squirreled away in some hygenic box deep in a closet. Maybe she gave it as a present when Dudley was born and Petunia regarded it as 'too weird and magical' to have out. As Harry seeks it out- he will find something in the last place he expects it to be- #4 Privet Drive. The other piece that plays into this theory is that Rowling has said someone non-magical in book 7 will accomplish the feat of performing magic late in life- and it will absolutely not be Petunia- but how about Arabella Figg? The squib neighbor of the Dursleys who has revealed herself to Harry and has been watching him for years on Dumbledore's behalf. Will she protect Harry- reveal some spell or apparate- maybe repel the dementors? So, while I don't know what or how- I think I am onto a where- Privet Drive- very last place you would expect astonishing things to happen.