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February 05, 2025
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 | Summary, Recap, & Review
The final battle for Hogwarts begins in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2! Check out our recap which includes a review, book and movie differences, and a FAQ.
10
Phenomenal
The final installment of the Harry Potter series concludes with an epic showdown between good and evil that is visually pleasing and heart wrenching.
Pros
The wizarding world at war is brought to life magnificently through amazing CGI and music.
Major and minor characters have their stories fleshed out even more in heroic and tragic ways.
Cons
There was no chemistry between Harry and Ginny, who he ends up marrying, making it feel unbelievable.
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In the final installment in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 follows Harry, Ron, and Hermione in the great battle between good and evil that'll change the wizarding world forever. In this article, we'll be going over a detailed summary of the movie, a review, differences between the book and the movie, along with an FAQ.
Deathly Hallows Part 2 | Summary & Recap
The Shell Cottage
The movie begins with a glimpse of Hogwarts in its current state with Snape as headmaster. It is a shadow of what it once was, all vibrancy and life stripped away by the influence of Lord Voldemort. The movie then picks up where it left off with Harry, Ron, and Hermione at Bill and Fleur’s place by the sea, called the Shell Cottage.
Harry asks Griphook, a goblin, how he can get into a vault in Gringotts. He believes there is a Horcrux inside of Bellatrix’s vault and he plans on stealing it. Griphook agrees to help him get in, but for a price. He demands the Sword of Gryffindor as his reward.
Harry and his friends then check on the wand maker, Ollivander. They ask him to check the wands they stole from Malfoy Manor, including Draco’s and Bellatrix’s wand, before moving on to the Elder Wand. Ollivander warns Harry that if Voldemort has the Elder Wand then he doesn’t stand a chance.
Gringotts Bank
Using Polyjuice Potion, Hermione turns into Bellatrix and travels with Harry, Ron, and Griphook to Gringotts. Harry uses the Imperius Curse on one of the Goblins in order to get in. They end up going under a waterfall that washes away all of their enchantments and experiences the Thief's Downfall, a spell that removes any magical enchantments.
Griphook shows them how to get past the dragon and lets them into Bellatrix’s vault, where they find another one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes. Everything in the Death Eater’s vault multiplies when touched. As they’re trying to escape, Griphook turns on them and takes the sword.
With no way out and security on their tail, Hermione comes up with an insane idea. They jump onto the back of the dragon and break its chains. It climbs its way out of Gringotts, destroying the building in the process.
Harry’s Vision
As Harry, Ron, and Hermione jump off the back of the dragon and plunge into the icy waters of a lake, Harry has a vision of Voldemort. He knows they have another Horcrux and he is slaughtering his followers in a fit of rage. During this moment, he lets images of Ravenclaw and Helena Ravenclaw slip by. Now Harry knows where the next Horcrux is: Hogwarts. The scene switches to the Dark Lord in the aftermath of the events Harry saw. One of the dead bodies is Griphook with the sword, but it vanishes.
Aberforth Dumbledore
Harry, Ron, and Hermione apparate into Hogsmeade Village, just outside of Hogwarts, but a sudden alarm begins ringing. Guards are alerted of Harry’s presence and they begin hunting him. A man helps the trio, ushering them into his building. Hermione and Ron point out that the man looks a lot like Dumbledore. He introduces himself as Aberforth Dumbledore, the former headmaster’s younger brother.
Harry discovers that the shard of the mirror he has been carrying is connected to the one in Aberforth’s place, a mirror that once belonged to Sirius. Aberforth tells Harry his brother sent him on a suicide mission, but Harry defends the former headmaster and plans on finishing what he started. Aberforth sends the woman in the portrait, Ariana Dumbledore, to retrieve something. She returns with Neville Longbottom. The portrait is a secret passageway into the castle.
McGonagall vs Snape
Neville tells Harry about the school's current cruel state and the trio is greeted by members of Dumbeldore’s Army. They broadcast a message to the Order of the Phoenix that Harry has arrived at Hogwarts. Word reaches Headmaster Snape that Harry was spotted in Hogsmeade. He calls everyone into the Great Hall, warning the students and professors that anyone aiding Harry will be punished.
Harry steps out of the crowd and reveals himself to Snape just as the Order arrives. Snape draws his wand and Professor McGonagall steps in between them. She and Snape duel. He flees the castle, breaking the window as he goes. Voldemort then speaks directly into the minds of the students, warning them that if they do not hand over Harry Potter then he will attack the school. The Slytherin students are escorted to the dungeon and the professors prepare the school for an attack.
Helena Ravenclaw
While magical shields are being erected and statues are coming to life to defend Hogwarts, Harry goes in search of Ravenclaw’s lost diadem. Luna chases after Harry and tells him he needs to speak with the Ghost of Ravenclaw Tower, Helena Ravenclaw. Harry finds her but she is reluctant to tell him where it is, because the last person who had it (Tom Riddle) defiled it with dark magic.
Harry reassures her that he intends to destroy the diadem once and for all. The ghost relents and she tells him where to find it in a cryptic way. Luckily, Harry understands the message. The diadem is somewhere in the Room of Requirement.
The Chamber of Secrets
While Harry is searching for the diadem, Ron and Hermione travel to the Chamber of Secrets in order to retrieve a Basilisk fang. They use the fang to destroy the cup and the water in the chamber comes to life, rushing at them. They run, but it turns out to be harmless. Recovering from the scare, the two friends who have grown to love each other finally kiss.
The Battle of Hogwarts Begins
Voldemort feels that the Horcrux has been destroyed. Enraged, he uses the immense power of the Elder Wand to destroy the barrier around Hogwarts. With this, the battle of Hogwarts begins. Neville is chased by Death Eaters across the bridge and he blows it up. Giants destroy the statues guarding the bridge.
The Room of Requirement
Harry finds the Room of Requirement, unaware of who is following him. Draco is inside Hogwarts and he’s grabbed a few of his friends to go after Harry. Ron and Hermione are also searching for him on the Marauder's Map and realize he’s gone into the secret room.
Harry finds the diadem, just as his friends and his enemies find him. Goyle sets fire to the room and the trio must escape the living flames that are trying to kill them. Unfortunately for Goyle, his own plan backfires and he dies trying to escape the fire.
The trio find a few old brooms and use them to escape. When Harry sees Draco and Blaise, he convinces the others to turn back so that they can save them. The moment they make it out of the Room of Requirement, Draco and his friend run off. Harry destroys the diadem and Ron kicks it into the fire. Another one of the Horcruxes has been destroyed, leaving only the snake.
The Boat House
Harry uses his connection with Voldemort to search his mind and find the snake. He sees Voldemort at the boathouse talking to Lucius. He is angry because the Elder Wand is failing him and he tells Lucius to summon Snape.
The trio fight their way across Hogwarts, dodging spells, giants, and dementors. Students are fighting, and dying, right before them. They make it to the Boat House just in time to overhear Snape and the Dark Lord’s conversation. Voldemort is convinced that the Elder Wand belongs to Snape, because Snape is the one who killed its previous owner, Dumbledore.
Voldemort uses a spell to slice Snape’s throat and sics Nagini on him. Harry and his friends enter the Boat House once it’s clear to see Snape on the ground, dying. He urges Harry to take his tears to the Pensieve in his office. He tells Harry that he has his mother’s eyes before dying.
The Death of Heroes
Voldemort, speaking into their minds once again, calls off the attack and tells them to collect their dead. He tells Harry that he has allowed his friends to die for him and to meet him in the Forbidden Forest. The trio return to the castle to see that most of the fallen have been gathered into the Great Hall. Ron sees his family gathered around a body, sobbing, and he discovers one of his brothers, Fred, has been killed. Next to them, Harry sees Remus and Tonks’ bodies side by side even in death.
Severus Snape
Harry takes the tears to the Pensieve and watches Snape’s memories. He sees Snape as a young boy befriending Harry’s mother, Lily. It shows them growing up together at Hogwarts but drifting apart because of James. He sees Snape begging Dumbledore to save Lily and their plan for Snape to kill Dumbledore. The Potions teacher also reveals his Patronus, which is a doe, the same doe that Harry saw at the pond and the same Patronus as his mother’s.
Snape’s love for Harry’s mother isn’t the most surprising thing Harry learns. In the memories, Dumbledore reveals to Snape that a part of Voldemort’s soul latched onto Harry the night he killed Harry’s parents. Harry is a Horcrux and, in order for Voldemort to be destroyed, must die by the Dark Lord's hands.
The Boy Who Lived
Accepting his fate, Harry makes his way to the Forbidden Forest. On his way, he runs into Ron and Hermione. He tells them what they’ve been suspecting, that he is a Horcrux, and they say their goodbyes. In the forest, the Golden Snitch that he has been carrying with him opens and, inside, is the Resurrection Stone.
The ghostly forms of Harry’s loved ones appear: mother, father, Sirius, and Remus. With words of encouragement, Harry knows that he isn't alone, and he drops the stone. He faces Voldemort, who has taken Hagrid captive, and Voldemort uses the Killing Curse on Harry.
Harry finds himself in a white landscape that resembles a train station and, there to greet him, is Dumbledore. They talk about all that has been revealed and Dumbledore tells him that he has a choice. He can move on or go back. Harry choses to return.
The Final Battle
Draco’s mother checks to see if Harry is alive or dead. Noticing he’s alive, she asks if Draco has survived and Harry nods. This prompts her to lie to the Dark Lord and they return to Hogwarts, Hagrid carrying Harry’s body. There is a moment where everyone thinks Harry is dead, but just as Neville pulls the Sword of Gryffindor from the Sorting Hat, ready to fight the Dark Lord on his own, Harry jumps from Hagrid’s arms.
The second battle commences. Harry fights Voldemort, stalling until the last Horcrux is destroyed. During the battle, Molly Weasley kills Bellatrix. Neville uses the sword to kill Nagini. With no more Horcruxes, Harry and Voldemort have their final showdown and the Dark Lord is destroyed forever.
The Aftermath
Despite the death and suffering, everyone is visibly relieved that the war is over. Harry, Ron, and Hermione stand outside. Harry reveals the truth about the Elder Wand and why it failed Voldemort. Draco disarmed Dumbledore, and then Harry disarmed Draco. The wand never belonged to Snape and, in the end, it actually belonged to Harry.
Rather than keep all the power for himself, Harry snaps the Elder Wand in half and throws it off the bridge. The trio stand together in the light of a new world, without the threat of Voldemort and without the power of the Elder Wand.
19 Years Later
There is a time jump of 19 years and the trio are shown once again at Platform 9 3/4, but this time their own kids are going to Hogwarts. Harry and Ginny are married. Ron and Hermioney are also married. Harry reassures one of their sons, Albus Severus Potter, that it doesn’t matter if he’s put in Slytherin or not. He’ll be a great wizard. The trio watch as the Hogwarts Express takes off.
All is well.
Deathly Hallows Part 2 | Review
CGI and Visuals | 10/10
The CGI and visuals for the final movie are at their peak. The magic spells and creatures, like the dragon, that are shown are all convincing and terrifying. The barrier around the castle, when it's created and when it's destroyed, is beautiful. Overall, the creators did an amazing job at bringing the wizarding world at war to life.
Storyline and Plot Development | 10/10
The story unfolds perfectly as the tension builds and the battle begins. The story leading back to the castle for the big finale is poetic. There is just enough suspense and action to keep the movie flowing. Events and locations from the past, like the Chamber of Secrets, are brought to a full circle. The death of certain characters are heartbreaking and this final movie, concluding the franchise, is done masterfully.
Character Development | 10/10
The character development is at an all time high as we see certain characters reach their peak. Neville, the character who was always depicted as the weakest of the bunch, shines brighter than ever. He stepped up without Harry at Hogwarts, faced off against a horde of Death Eaters, and was even ready to face Voldemort himself. In the end, he killed the snake and aided Harry in his final battle.
Snape’s character and his story are finally pieced together in a tragic way. His complexity is revealed through his memories and we learn that he was always on the right side, Dumbledore’s side.
While these first two characters take the forefront of character development, the trio still have their own. Ron and Hermione finally accept their feelings for one another and Harry bravely accepts his fate.
Sound and Music | 10/10
The music in the Harry Potter franchise never fails, and the soundtrack for the final movie is magical and heart wrenching. The scores that play during certain scenes, like Snape’s memories, when the barrier is falling, and when the trio are fighting their way across the battlefield, are hauntingly beautiful
Reception and Impact | 10/10
Many fans and critics were satisfied with the conclusion of the franchise and that is reflected in the fact that it has the highest rated score out of all the movies on Rotten Tomatoes and grossed the most in the box office. The series was so well known during its time that posters didn’t even need the title when its release date was advertised on billboards.
Few reviews criticize the ending, and the ones that do simply didn’t like the direction it took or who Harry ended up marrying. Overall, fans were very satisfied with its conclusion.
Final Score | 10/10
Deathly Hallow Part 2 | Book and Movie Differences
Snape’s Memories
Snape’s memories in the movies were an emotional rollercoaster, but a few key details from his past were left out. We already know Snape and James didn’t like each other, but it goes into more detail about how the Marauders treated him. It also shows that his nature was not as heroic as they were depicted in the movie and that his prejudice eventually led to a falling out between him and Lily.
Hermione and Ron’s First Kiss
Hermione and Ron’s first kiss in the movie is much different than it was in the books. In the movie, during the middle of war with the inevitability of death hanging over their heads, they finally kiss. In the books, when Ron questions if the house-elves fighting in the war is right, Hermione kisses him. Harry is also present for the kiss, but he isn’t in the movie.
Professors vs Death Eaters
In the movie, McGonagall comes to Harry’s defense against Snape in the Great Hall and they duel before Snape flees. However, in the books, the events take place outside of the Astronomy Tower, where Harry defends McGonagall from the Carrows. Professor Flitwick, Sprout, and Slughorn are also there, but in the movie the other professors only get a few moments on screen.
Harry vs Voldemort
During the final battle in the movies, Harry and Voldemort are alone in the courtyard while the rest of the school is fighting the Death Eaters. Harry disarms Voldemort and, when the Dark Lord dies, he disintegrates.
In the book, it is more tense and less action packed. The whole school is watching Harry and Voldemort circle each other. Harry reveals all that he has learned about Snape and the Elder Wand, before he disarms Voldemort. Voldemort doesn’t disintegrate either, but dies like a human.
The Elder Wand
In the movie, Harry snaps the Elder Wand in half and throws it off the bridge, ensuring no one will ever use its power for evil again. Harry, having been one of the few to hold all three Deathly Hallows, eliminates the possibility of there being another Master of Death.
In the book, Harry uses the powerful wand to restore his old wand. Instead of destroying it, he decides to hold on to it so that, when he dies, the power of the wand dies with him.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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