Crossing the Return Threshold
Framework of The Return in Harry Potter
Analysis By Lynne Milum
Copyright © 2005-2007
by Lynne Milum. All rights reserved.
Refusal of Return for the Series
Harry loves the magical world. Is this the world he
will be challenged to leave? One can foresee heavy reluctance to return
to the Muggle world. In OOTP he wanted to die and pass from the
suffering imposed by the Dark Lord - but his love of Sirius prevented
total possession by Voldemort. This demonstrates the source of his
ongoing protection - similar to the power of his Patronus incantation…love
is the sword he wields.
Ultimately, what will Harry do for love?
Magical Flight for the Series
When the hero obtains a powerful object against the
will of the father, a magical flight ensues - where despite efforts of
the father, various protectors aid that return.
The best example for the series thus far is in OOTP
through the maze with the prize of the Dark Lord. Harry obtains the
globe containing the prophecy and refuses to relinquish it to the
Deatheaters (against the will of Voldemort, the father). The D.A.
members manage to create sufficient chaos to deter Voldemort’s most
dangerous followers. The Magical Flight carries us along by means of
quick use of hexes and jinxes to unconventional use of wands; wit in
surmising the value of the globe to dark Lord; intervention by members
of the Order; and finally through protection of Dumbledore himself using
the figures of the magical fountain.
Another example of the magical flight is the
fashioned escape of Sirus and Buckbeak in the Prisoner of Azkaban -
through use of the time-turner. Harry realized the boon of the truth
that Sirius was family and that he had not betrayed James Potter. Once
the truth was discovered, the opposition of Peter and Severus Snape
necessitated escape with the boon - the lives and freedom of Sirius and
Buckbeak through the manipulation of time.
Rescue from Without for the Series
Resurrection from the dead - aid from the shadow figures in Goblet
of Fire - Harry's father, James, tells him how to use the Portkey to
return to Hogwarts. Although James appears to be in the graveyard, this
is a shadow of another time and place. In this sense, Harry is rescued
through a force beyond comprehension.
Return Threshold for the Series
Crossing the return threshold is the culmination of
the journey and as such will not be experienced until the final episode
- the seventh book. Readers can surmise a reversal of the original
separation (the discovery of the magical world) which could be presented
as either the dissolution of the magical back into the ordinary
universe, or as some other reconciliation of the Magical and Muggle
worlds.
Trial 1 – Return Threshold - Dust to Dust
(Harry and the Sorcerer’s Stone)
Dumbledore cast a spell on the Mirror of Erised that
passed the stone to Harry through his wish to obtain but not use the
stone. Having destroyed Voldemort's body in the form of Professor
Quirrell, Harry is pierced with Voldemort's spirit and loses
consciousness. Dumbledore rescues Harry from the hidden depths and
returns him for healing to the hospital wing.
Trial 2 – Return by Ascension
(Harry and the Chamber of Secrets)
Fawkes arrival with the Sorting Hat provides the
means for ‘rescue from without.’ The phoenix arrives from outside
the Chamber, but within the call of Harry's heart.
The culmination of this episode manifests as a failed 'atonement'
with the Father. As witness to Ginny's suffering at the hands of Tom
Riddle – Harry becomes aware that this is the man who killed his
parents and threatens not only Ginny's life for his own rebirth; but one
who intends to rob Harry of life as well.
The magical item is the diary - and flight is necessitated by the
serpent. Riddle achieves his goal - the serpent poisons Harry even as
Harry smites the creature. What Riddle, aka the historical projection of
Voldemort, does not foresee is his own demise. As Harry
"dies", he destroys the diary. Fawkes comes to Harry and
resurrects him from fatal wounds - then in true "magic
flight", the phoenix rises with Harry, Ginny, Ron and Lockhart from
the bowels of the beast.
Trial 3 – Hospital Wing Threshold - Return Through
Time
(Harry and the Prisoner of Azkaban)
As throughout the series, there are many physical and
metaphorical portals. The challenge is in identifying the portal where
Harry moves from closure of the adventure to understanding the events.
The complexity in this adventure unfolds when the culmination of the
adventure occurs neither at the dramatic unveiling of Sirius’
innocence, nor at the edge of life and soul-lessness for Harry. The
return portal is time itself.
Harry has gathered knowledge that Sirius is no
traitor to his parents. His sole purpose turns toward prosecuting
Wormtail with liberty for Sirius. Unfortunately, Lupin didn’t take his
potion and disrupts plans by reverting to his animal nature. His
transformation to werewolf results in Wormtail getting away, and
ultimately, the dementors trapping Harry, Hermione and Sirius.
They avoid the dementors’ soul-draining kiss by an inexplicable
arrival of a powerful Patronus after Harry’s attempts at a Patronus
failed.
Harry wakes up in the hospital wing and discovers
Sirius' execution is impending. He is in the depths of despair. The
magical flight begins as Dumbledore instructs Hermione to use the
time-turner. Hermione and Harry dodge their 'earlier' selves and manage
to save Buckbeak the hippogriff, and hide in the forest to wait for the
next opportunity. Harry shares with Hermione that he saw his dad save
them from dementors and goes to see the replayed event up close – at
the last possible moment, Harry realizes he saw his future self and
casts his Patronus with authority. Harry
broke the constraints of time and self-limitation, saving the earlier
version of himself, Sirius and Hermione!
The future Harry and Hermione then wait until Sirius is held prisoner
in the tower. They fly Buckbeak to the tower and free Sirius.
Sirius thanks them, affirms Harry and escapes with Buckbeak by
air.
Harry's ‘object of value’ in this trial is his godfather Sirius.
After finding Sirius innocent, Harry’s raison d’etre is to keep
Sirius alive and is the 'return' of this adventure. One could again
identify this adventure with magical flight on the wings of another
beast - this time in the guise of a hippogriff
Harry flees the distant graveyard with Cedric via the
trophy portkey, marking the flight from a restored Voldemore – a
critical moment in the book series. However, Harry does not know his
life is still in imminent danger – the return is not yet complete. In
this episode, Harry is diverted by the apparent Alastor Moody – in
reality, Barty Crouch, Jr. who intends to complete Voldemort’s task.
Harry sees approaching figures in the Foe Glass
behind Crouch. At the critical moment, Dumbledore, Snape and McGonegal
burst though the door disarming Crouch – manifesting Harry’s
"Rescue from Without". The return transition occurs when Harry
looks into the mirror and sees Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape looking
back. Harry then witnesses the transformation of the man and an
explanation of the adventure comes from Crouch under the influence of
Veritaserum.
