The Harry Potter series is one of the best, most intertwined series I have ever read. Items briefly seen and characters mentioned could play a key role in a later in the series. We see Hagrid mention of Sirius in book 1, Voldemort’s horcruxes in book 5, and the Polyjuice Potion in book 2. However, there’s something else that makes J. K. Rowling’s wonderful series all the more intertwined. Something that I would like to refer as *cough* Harry Potter and the Parallel Themes!

Okay, imagine the seven books in the series. Smack dab in the middle is book 4. Ah yes, the Goblet of Fire, a very important addition in the series. It stands at a doorway between children goodiness and young adult realism. Books 1-3 were not as dark or as foreboding as books 5-7 and had more uplifting endings. Indeed, you can feel this transformation come forth as you read GoF; terror at the World Cup, former Deatheaters make their appearance, the first emotional death, and the rebirth of Voldemort. It’s no wonder many people, including my sister, like this book the most.

Now imagine this.

Imagine that book 4 is the focal point of the series. As you step farther and farther away from this mirror, certain themes, plot points, and characters that you were once introduced to now become reintroduced with a stronger focus.

Take for example, books 3 and 5. These two books share many things in common with each other. The prominent role of Sirius Black, the return of the Dementors and Lupin, prisoners escaping Azkaban, and Harry’s dad’s past. Harry’s dad seems especially important in these two books as Harry now learns so much more about him and subsequently realized that he wasn’t that great of a guy. Harry’s relationship with Cho also plays a role. He was introduced to her in book 3 and their tumultuous relationship ended in book 5.

Now, let’s take a step further, book 2 and 6. This is where I began to notice the parallel events in the series. Indeed, it’s pretty noticeable, most prominently of which were horcruxes. In book 2, we saw our first horcrux, the diary. And though its origins were hinted at, we were finally revealed in book 6 what it truly was, a part of Voldemort’s soul. This was a part of a more important concept mainly Tom Riddle’s past, something that book 2 grazed over. Of course, there are other smaller things. Ginny’s infatuation with Harry in book 2 finally blossomed into an actual relationship in book 6 and Aragog’s old age finally bested him at the same time. I was actually hoping throughout most of the book that we would see the Ford Anglia, but alas, that wasn’t the case. Finally, Fawkes the phoenix was introduced in book 2 and we last saw him in book 6.

But what about book 1 and 7? Going into it, I thought we would surely see the Mirror of Erised which played a strong and melancholic role in the first book. It would only be fitting that we would see this magical device again.

Alas, again, this was unfortunately not true and I was sad because of it. But we got something that I didn’t expect. Dumbledore’s past. Indeed, our only window into Dumbledore’s past was through the Chocolate Frog Cards which gave a light description of Dumbledore and his battle with Grindelwald. Now, in book 7, we see the dark, sad, and lonely past of Albus. It was almost too much to bear. Gringotts made its return as well along with Griphook the goblin. The Gringotts’ boast of being the most secure place in the Wizarding World (second only to Hogwarts) in book 1 was finally tested in book 7 and was subsequently foiled by three teenagers and a blind dragon. This was very fascinating to me as when we first saw Gringotts, it was a magically mysterious place that seemed more strange than dangerous. But in book 7, we see its true colors of paranoia, greed, and hate.

But most important out of all of this are the Deathly Hallows (the magical items, not the book). True, many themes from all the other books come back to book 7 but the Deathly Hallows have their special roots in book 1. The Invisibility Cloak’s, which was given to Harry during his first year from Dumbledore, origins were finally revealed (and why Harry’s dad had it). The Resurrection Stone, though first seen in book 6, was hidden in Harry’s very first golden snitch. Of which, its puzzling lock frustrated Harry through most of book 7 as he tried desperately to open it. It is a relief when he finally figures out how to open it.

I’m still impacted by that passage “I open at the close.”

And finally, rounding it off, the Elder Wand, passed along from powerful wizard to powerful wizard, finally ending with Dumbledore. And it’s not just the Elder Wand, the connection between a wizard and his wand was never elaborated on, save briefly in book 4, until book 7. It is because of this importance that we see why the climatic events at Malfoy Manor in book 7 were so important. Harry had sealed his fate, and Voldemort’s as well, when he disarmed Draco Malfoy and became the rightful ruler of the Elder Wand.

These parallel events really go to show how great of a writer J.K.R. is. Even before she knew she had a big hit on her hands, she had been dropping themes, ideas, and characters long before their importance was established. What’s more, she took it a step forward and made a clever series of parallel events that really helps tie the book series together. It’s very likely that I’m not the first person to notice this, as such, what other parallel events and such have you noticed in the series?

Finally, I just wished that I could have seen the Ford Angila one more time!