First of all, thank you, John, for this amazing and beautiful site! I’m only on my 2nd reread of the series, and using your thoughts (and those of the commenters) has enriched my understanding and enjoyment of this epic story. Thanks, especially, to Grace has Victory for your thoughtful insights into the parallels to Christianity. It has hit me over the head this time around, but you have significantly added to my realization and appreciation of it! I just can’t thank you all enough for what a blessing this site has been to me!

This chapter brings back memories of the first time I read the series 3 months ago – I wanted it to last as long as possible, which meant hiding the book from myself. When I got to this chapter, however, I started hyperventilating and realized that I could not put it down until I finished it – never mind that it was after 1 am!

I know with everything else going on in this chapter, it seems trivial to mention Hermione’s offer of a toothbrush to Harry at the end, but I thought somewhere someone said that the wizarding world didn’t have need of / wasn’t aware of dentistry?

Many of these pictures brought me to tears. JKR created such an enigma in Snape. I will revist this site many times throughout my subsequent readings of the books, to better appreciate the deeper meanings and admire the creative representations on exhibit here. Thank you so much for an amazing site!

I think the red and gold sparks are indicative of the phoenix feather core more so than a foreshadowing of Harry going into Gryffindor.

In my view, the key point is that she was given the option to live. Snape loved her and asked Voldemort to spare her life. She was asked a couple of times to stand aside. To me that is what is key. Sure lots of people might have sacrificed themselves for their family or friends but I think they would have been sacrifices like James’. Voldemort wasn’t bothered about who he killed. If someone stood in his way he would just kill them too. James sacrificed himself for his wife and son but it didn’t have any impact on their protection because he wasn’t given a choice. Lily was and this made all the difference. Her situation was unique. I highly doubt Voldemort would have given anyone else the chance to live, if they got in his way they were killed. So the fact that Harry lived comes down to Snape. If it wasn’t for him Lily would have been murdered straight away and wouldn’t have been told to step aside. The fact that she then still chose to stand between Voldemort and Harry is what gave him the protection.