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Expanding Worlds Within Harry Potter
Editorial
By Blake D.

In SS/PS Harry’s world changed from a Muggle-based one to one steeped in Magic. Harry’s world existed only within a limited area such as his cupboard under the stairs and his Uncle’s home at Privet Drive, with a few trips into the wider Muggle world (the zoo). Once Harry discovers that he’s a wizard, his world grows quickly to include Diagon Alley and Hogwarts. Just as his physical world grows, so does Harry’s knowledge of himself. He soon discovers that his parents were murdered by the ultra-evil wizard (Voldemort) and that he survived and is famous in his newly discovered world. From Harry’s perspective he is famous for having done nothing. Through Harry’s new found knowledge of self, he continues to grow as he discovers his courage and strength of character. He has a thirst to prove himself worthy in regards to this unwanted fame as the Sorting Hat states:

‘Hmm,’ said a small voice in his ear. ‘Difficult. Very difficult. Plenty of courage, I see. Not a bad mind either. There’s talent, oh my goodness, yes – and a nice thirst to prove yourself, now that’s interesting…’ (SS, US, p. 121.)

Harry’s growth in SS/PS can also be seen when he decides to go through the trap door beneath the three-headed dog, Fluffy, in search of the Stone. He is determined to do this with or without his friends. He’s not concerned about house points or school rules. He sees the bigger picture and the difference between his beginnings in the small Muggle world of the Dursley’s to owning his fame and the responsibility that comes with it in the wider magical world of Hogwarts:

‘SO WHAT?’ Harry shouted. ‘Don’t you understand? If Snape gets hold of the Stone, Voldemort’s coming back! Haven’t you heard what it was like when he was trying to take over? There won’t be any Hogwarts to get expelled from! He’ll flatten it, or turn it into a school for the Dark Arts! Losing points doesn’t matter anymore, can’t you see? D’you think he’ll leave you and your families alone if Gryffindor wins the house cup? If I get caught before I can get to the Stone, well, I’ll have to go back to the Dursleys and wait for Voldemort to find me there, it’s only dying a bit later than I would have, because I’m never going over to the Dark Side! I’m going through that trapdoor tonight and nothing you two say is going to stop me! Voldemort killed my parents, remember?’ (SS, US, p. 270.)

In COS Harry’s world expands to include hidden chambers within Hogwarts as well as hidden character traits within himself. At the outset his world has expanded to include his new room (formerly Dudley’s second bedroom) at Privet Drive. Additionally, we see his world expand to include a wizarding family home (The Burrow), new characters (Dobby, Lucius Malfoy), and new places within familiar places (Knocturn Alley, the Chamber of Secrets). Once at school, he begins to discover hints of previously unknown skills and talents within himself (primarily as a parseltongue). This is a direct parallel to his discovery of the hidden chamber of secrets. Both discoveries frighten and worry Harry, but he perseveres relying on the choices he made in previous encounters with Voldemort to give him courage. As a result, his character grows and deepens as is revealed after he has defeated Tom Riddle and while he is standing before Dumbledore:

‘It only put me in Gryffindor,’ said Harry in a defeated voice, ‘because I asked not to go in Slytherin…’
‘Exactly,’ said Dumbledore, beaming once more. ‘Which makes you very different from Tom Riddle. It is our choices, Harry that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.’ (COS, US p. 333.)

Harry’s world expands significantly in POA to include the wizarding village of Hogsmeade and the wizard prison Azkaban. Presumed betrayal to his family by Sirius Black and misleading information help Harry to work through some intense feelings and fears, eventually resulting in his ability to provide compassion and justice to those around him, regardless of how he feels for them (he prevents Lupin and Sirius from killing Wormtail, instead leaving him to be judged by those in the Ministry). The transfiguration theme of POA is a parallel to Harry’s growth. Although Harry doesn’t change into an animal, he changes from an innocent boy into our first glimpse of his own personal wisdom. This is primarily seen when he’s tested by the Dementor attacks and battling his inner fears:

‘I see,’ said Lupin thoughtfully. ‘Well, well…I’m impressed.’ He smiled slightly at the look of surprise on Harry’s face. ‘That suggests that what you fear most of all is – fear. Very wise Harry.’ (POA, US p. 155.)

From the very beginning of GOF the world expands largely to include an international presence evidenced by the Quidditch World Cup and the other schools that compete with Hogwarts in the Triwizard Tournament. GOF has gone global in its significance of reaching out to other cultures. As a result there is also the potential to reach out and have evil affect us more. Harry faces Voldemort and the death of a classmate. He is also faced for the first time with betrayal from his close friend (Ron). It is Harry’s conviction and belief in himself that resolves the betrayal from Ron. This same belief gives him enough presence of mind to eventually throw off the unforgivable Imperious curse. Harry has always been brave, but his ability to be brave in light of all that he faces in GOF without losing sight of himself, shows that he has grown to the point where he feels finally deserving of the fame that was thrust upon him as a baby. Dumbledore says to Harry, while in his office after the tragic events that transpired in the graveyard:

‘You have shown bravery beyond anything I could have expected of you tonight, Harry. You have shown bravery equal to those who died fighting Voldemort at the height of his powers. You have shouldered a grown wizard’s burden and found yourself equal to it – and you have now given us all we have a right to expect.’ (GOF, US pp. 698-699.)

OOP is a transitional novel that parallels the most difficult growth phase for Harry: adolescence. Harry’s world is expanding in leaps and bounds to include 12 Grimmauld Place, St. Mungoes, and the Ministry of Magic. The world also expands through the unique glimpses of various perspectives found in the Pensieve as well as the ‘dream’ experiences that Harry shares with Voldemort. Harry’s perspective regarding himself and his world changes dramatically during this novel. Essentially, Harry’s growing pains force him to face physical challenges such as his fears (Dementors), and possible death (Voldemort). There are also substantial emotional and psychological challenges that he must face including his own sudden anger spurts, suspicion from once adoring fans (The Daily Prophet articles), occlumency lessons with Snape, the truly heinous Dolores Umbridge, and the sudden loss of his godfather (Sirius). Even in the middle of all of this Harry manages to discover something worthwhile about himself. He discovers that he can teach others. For a brief moment, this gives him another calling other than that of ‘The Boy Who Lived’ or ‘The Chosen One’. Through the influence of Hermione and Ron, Harry is persuaded to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts to those who are interested. While they are persuading him, the reality of Harry’s life hits him hard and his anger and frustration at his situation gets the better of him:

‘You don’t know what it’s like! You – neither of you – you’ve never had to face him, have you? You think it’s just memorizing a bunch of spells and throwing them at him, like you’re in class or something? The whole time you know there’s nothing between you and dying except your own – your own brain or guts or whatever – like you can think straight when you know you’re about a second from being murdered, or tortured, or watching your friends die – they’ve never taught us that in their classes, what it’s like to deal with things like that – and you two sit there acting like I’m a clever little boy to be standing here, alive, like Diggory was stupid, like he messed up – you just don’t get it, that could just as easily have been me, it would have been if Voldemort hadn’t needed me – ‘ (OOTP, US pp. 327-328).

Harry feels guilt regarding Cedric’s death as well as the fact that his very own blood helped to bring Voldemort back to power. Once again, as in the previous novels, Harry has this pressing need to prove himself. His final confrontation with Voldemort is only won through the intervention of Dumbledore. Harry’s frustration and guilt are evidenced in the rage that he unleashes in Dumbledore’s office near the end of OOP. As opposed to the previous novels where we see Harry awarded with house points and words of recognition and thanks, we see Harry at loose ends, unable to control his emotions and unsure of the future. As this is a transitional novel, similar to all that we go through when we transition from adolescence to adulthood, this ending is appropriate as Harry is still on his way to becoming the young adult who will show forethought and wisdom in HBP.

HBP establishes a new dynamic in the expansion of Harry’s world and his character. The world has become large and the narrative shows this with JK Rowling stepping outside of her established writing style and having the story begin beyond Harry’s point of view. The first chapter establishes the fact that the Muggle and Magical worlds are crossing over and becoming more intertwined. The second chapter shows us Snape’s home and an important scene with more detail regarding Voldemort’s plans and his Death Eaters. The new dynamic is also evident in Harry’s character. He has grown much from his angry experiences of OOP and is now a confident and well-spoken young man. He is able to artfully handle himself around the new Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, keeping to the ideals of right and wrong that he has shown us before. And yet there is the old loveable Harry who is uncertain about learning how to apparate as well as still being unsure around girls (his struggle with telling Ron how he feels about Ginny).

HBP really shows the parallel between the expanding world and Harry’s personal growth through the disclosure of Horcruxes, the visit to the Cave with Dumbledore, the apparent betrayal of Snape and the death of Dumbledore. Throughout all of these revelations, Harry acts with all the bravery and confidence that he has developed over the course of six years, but is able to grow still further in his ability to finally accept his fame and his situation without guilt. He no longer feels the need to prove himself, as he knows what he must do is track down Voldemort and kill him, regardless of his own life.

‘And Harry saw very clearly as he sat there under the hot sun how people who cared about him had stood in front of him one by one, his mother, his father, his godfather, and finally Dumbledore, all determined to protect him; but now that was over. He could not let anybody else stand between him and Voldemort; he must abandon forever the illusion he ought to have lost at the age of one, that the shelter of a parent’s arms meant that nothing could hurt him. There was no waking from his nightmare, no comforting whisper in the dark that he was safe really, that it was all in his imagination; the last and greatest of his protectors had died, and he was more alone than he had ever been before.’ (HBP, US p. 645).

Given the ending to HBP, one can assume that Harry’s world will once again expand along with his character in Book 7. Harry states that he thinks he might go back to the beginning, where it all started – Godric’s Hollow – a place we have only seen briefly in memory. We can also assume that in order to track down the remaining Horcruxes that Harry may have to travel far and wide, or perhaps he discovers more secret locations within familiar worlds (as he did in COS). Regardless of where he physically travels during Book 7, we can be certain that we will see the same bravery and loyalty that we have in all the past novels, as well as more emotional growth from our favorite boy wizard. And, just as Mr. Ollivander says in SS/PS:

‘…I think we must expect great things from you, Mr. Potter…’ (SS, US p. 85).