User:Fbv65edel/Second Wizarding War
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| Second Wizarding War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Death Eaters Giants Dementors Werewolfs Inferi Imperiused Wizards |
Order of the Phoenix Ministry of Magic Dumbledore's Army |
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| Commanders | |||||||
| Lord Voldemort Bellatrix Lestrange Pius Thicknesse (Minister of Magic under Voldemort's control) |
Albus Dumbledore Rufus Scrimgeour Harry Potter |
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| Strength | |||||||
| Death Eaters: c. 30-50 Giants: c. 40 Dementors c. 100+ Werewolfs c. ?? Inferi c. ?? (thousands, perhaps) Imperiused Wizards c. ?? |
Aurors: unknown Dumbledore's Army: 29 Order of the Phoenix: 16+ |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| At least 7 killed, includng Lord Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange 10+ captured All Imperiused victims freed |
Several killed and captured; 54 deaths in the final battle Significant deaths include Albus Dumbledore, Rufus Scrimgeour, and Severus Snape |
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The Second Wizarding War is a fictional war that is fought in the Harry Potter series, mainly between Lord Voldemort and his followers and the Order of the Phoenix, primarily in the last three books of the series ( Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows). Even though Lord Voldemort regains a corporeal body and his powers in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the war does not begin until the end of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, mainly due to Cornelius Fudge's refusal to believe that Voldemort has returned to power.
Contents |
[edit] Background
[edit] The First Wizarding War
The First Wizarding War was part of the back story in the Harry Potter series. As described in the series, it was fought for eleven years, from 1970 to 1981. It included Voldemort's rise to power, the induction of the Death Eaters, and the mass chaos that resulted in his reign of terror.
Several great wizards were murdered in this time - the Bones, Gideon and Fabian Prewett, and Harry Potter's parents, James and Lily Potter. Others, such as the Longbottoms, were taken out of commission through various means, such as the Cruciatus Curse.
[edit] Voldemort's Downfall
On October 31, 1981, shortly before the beginning of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Voldemort attacked the house of James and Lily Potter in hopes of murdering the only wizard who was prophesied to have the power to vanquish him. However, the curse intended to kill Harry backfired, and Voldemort, who remained as a soul, fled to a forest in Albania. The Death Eaters disbanded and many were arrested by the Ministry of Magic. Peace was finally restored to the Wizarding World and Harry Potter became a household name overnight.
There was much speculation after the war about Voldemort's continued existence. Only Dumbledore had confirmation he was in Albania; however, many people, including Hagrid, believed he was still alive, because he wasn't human enough to die. It was revealed in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince that Voldemort had created multiple Horcruxes (receptacles that hold part of a Dark Wizard's soul) before his defeat, which kept him alive.
[edit] The Calm Between Two Wars
After Voldemort's downfall, there was much rejoicing in the Wizarding World, and just as much work that needed to be done. The damage done during Voldemort's time was being repaired, and broken families started to mend.
The Ministry of Magic also captured or killed many of the Death Eaters - some, like Lucius Malfoy, were spared prison; others, like Bellatrix Lestrange, went to Azkaban; others, like Igor Karkaroff made deals to keep themselves out of prison.
Harry Potter, the Chosen One, was taken to his Muggle relatives, Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and Dudley Dursley by Rubeus Hagrid on Dumbledore's orders. Since Harry's mother sacrificed herself for her son, this act placed a protective charm around Harry, which made it impossible for Voldemort to harm him at their home.
An interesting note is that in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Firenze the centaur predicted that since the planet Mars, bringer of battle, "shines directly above us", the war must break out again soon, as Wizard-kind is, according to him, nothing more than a short period of peace between two wars. The war did break out in June of that year.
[edit] Reestablishing War
Throughout the Harry Potter series, Voldemort has attempted to resurrect himself several times, using various methods, in order to reestablish his war. Some events were not portrayed directly in the narrative, but formed the back story of the novels. The first and second books often had a central plot line, which culminated in the revelation of Voldemort's resurrection plans, and subsequently, Harry's vanquishing of the plans. However, in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Voldemort's last attempt was successful.
[edit] Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
Voldemort came across Hogwarts teacher Professor Quirrell while hiding in Albania and convinced him that there is no good or evil in the world; there is only power. Quirrell submitted to Voldemort's will.
Voldemort, possessing Quirrell, attempted to steal the Philosopher's Stone from Gringotts. However, his attempt was unsuccessful when Dumbledore had Hagrid move the Stone to the Forbidden Corridor on the third floor at Hogwarts. Voldemort's attempt to seize the stone at Hogwarts failed when Harry defeated and destroyed Quirrell. Leaving his servant to die, Voldemort's soul then fled back to Albania.
[edit] Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Voldemort's devoted Death Eater, Lucius Malfoy, planted a mysterious diary in Ginny Weasley's cauldron. This diary (which was also Voldemort's first Horcrux) possessed Ginny, opened the Chamber of Secrets, released its monster onto Hogwarts students, and stole Ginny's life force in order to resurrect Tom Riddle. The sixteen-year-old Voldemort preserved within the diary wanted to help the present-day Voldemort return to full power - two Voldemorts to start a new war. However, Harry destroyed Tom Riddle's memory by stabbing it with the Basilisk's fang, also destroying the Horcrux.
This remains the only time when the present-day Voldemort hadn't directly planned or ordered his resurrection: Lucius planted the diary without Voldemort's knowledge, to get back at Arthur Weasley, and the fragment of Voldemort's soul held within the diary took advantage of this situation.
| Duel in the Graveyard | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Hogwarts students | Death Eaters | ||||||
| Commanders | |||||||
| Harry Potter | Lord Voldemort | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 2 students of Hogwarts | Voldemort 12+ Death Eaters |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Cedric Diggory killed, Harry wounded |
At least 1 Death Eater injured | ||||||
[edit] Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Wormtail, one of Voldemort's servants who was previously believed to be dead, returned to Voldemort in Albania out of fear of his old friends that he betrayed. On the journey, Wormtail came across Bertha Jorkins, a witch from the Ministry of Magic, who gave Voldemort valuable information:
- Barty Crouch, Jr., another Death Eater that was previously assumed to be deceased, was alive and was willing to serve Voldemort.
- The Ministry had organized the Triwizard Tournament to take place at Hogwarts this year.
Voldemort and Wormtail devised a plan with Barty Crouch, Jr., where he pretended to be the new Professor Moody and placed Harry's name in the Goblet of Fire under the name of a fourth Wizarding School. As Harry's name was the only one from the false school, he was chosen to join the Triwizard Tournament, and was not able to back out. Imposter Moody then made sure Harry won the first two tasks of the Tournament. When Harry won the final task of the Tournament, the Triwizard cup (transformed by the false Moody into a Portkey) took Harry to a graveyard where his blood, Wormtail's flesh, and Tom Riddle Sr.'s bones were used to create a new body for Voldemort's soul to inhabit.
The resurrected Voldemort forced Harry to duel with him, in an attempt to destroy him for good; ironically, this choice saved Harry's life. Unknown to Voldemort, their wands shared a phoenix feather core, and the spells they cast towards each other connected. Through a spell called Priori Incantatem, Harry forced Voldemort's wand to divulge its previous spells - which caused a shadow of those murdered to appear. The shadows of Cedric, Bertha Jorkins, Frank Bryce and Harry's parents appeared, and they distracted Voldemort and allowed Harry to escape with Cedric's body. Upon his return, he informed Dumbledore and Fudge of Voldemort's return.
[edit] The Intermittent Cold War
As established in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry's and Dumbledore's testimonies of Voldemort's return were not greeted well by the Ministry. They believed that Harry was seeking attention and Dumbledore was trying to use panic to steal Fudge's office. In an attempt to silence and discredit them, the Ministry placed Dolores Umbridge as the New Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts, and she slowly seized authority over the school. The Ministry placed her in the position of High Inquisitor over the school, and she discredited Dumbledore and Harry.
Meanwhile, Dumbledore had resurrected the Order of the Phoenix to fight Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Harry taught several of his classmates how to defend themselves against Voldemort and the Death Eaters without Umbridge's knowledge, creating Dumbledore's Army.
Voldemort, taking advantage of the Ministry's arrogance, started to build up a new army in preparation for the Second War. He persuaded the Giants to side with him and attack the Ministry for forcing them into hiding, and promised the Dementors more human prey if they joined him. He then helped eleven of his most infamous followers - including Bellatrix Lestrange - break out of prison. Voldemort also had an ulterior motive; he wanted to hear a prophecy concerning himself and Harry Potter. He planted dreams in Harry's mind (using his connection with Harry's scar), which led Harry to the Ministry's Hall of Prophecy. He sent many of his Death Eaters to attack Harry and bring the recording of the prophecy, which he then could hear in its entirety.
[edit] Battle of the Department of Mysteries
| Battle of the Department of Mysteries | |||||||
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| Part of the Second Wizarding War | |||||||
| Image:Dumbledore versus Lord Voldemort.jpg Dumbledore and Voldemort dueling as depicted by Mary GrandPré |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Order of the Phoenix (OotP), Dumbledore's Army (DA) |
Death Eaters | ||||||
| Commanders | |||||||
| Albus Dumbledore (OotP) Harry Potter (DA) |
Lord Voldemort, Lucius Malfoy, Bellatrix Lestrange | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| OotP: 6 Order members DA: 6 DA members |
Thirteen Death Eaters | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| OotP: One death (Sirius Black), a large number of non-permanent and serious injuries; DA: One serious injury (Hermione Granger), most with non-permanent injuries | All but two captured; Bellatrix Lestrange and Lord Voldemort escaped | ||||||
In the climax of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter, accompanied by Ron and Ginny Weasley, Hermione Granger, Neville Longbottom, and Luna Lovegood, fought the thirteen Death Eaters at the Department of Mysteries. They were eventually joined by members of the Order - Remus Lupin, Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Alastor Moody, and Sirius Black.
[edit] Attack & Counterattack
Harry, in possession of the prophecy, rallied his friends and fought the Death Eaters. They were split into two groups (Harry, Hermione, and Neville; Ron, Ginny and Luna) after escaping from the Hall of Prophecy. Harry, Hermione, and Neville managed to defeat three Death Eaters in the Time Room, but Hermione was severely injured by Antonin Dolohov. Neville used Hermione's wand for the duration of the battle.
Harry and Neville found Ron, Ginny, and Luna in the Entrance Chamber. Ron had been hit with a spell that had addled his mind, and Ginny had broken her ankle. The Death Eaters chased Harry, Neville, and Luna into the Thought Room, where Ron was attacked by the brains, and Luna was knocked unconscious. Harry and Neville were chased into the Death Chamber, and Harry was backed up onto the dais with the veil.
Harry was about to hand over the Prophecy to Lucius Malfoy to spare Neville's life when the Order arrived, and continued the fight. Neville accidentally smashed the Prophecy as he and Harry attempted to escape. At this point, Dumbledore arrived, and promptly rounded up most of the remaining Death Eaters. However, Bellatrix Lestrange hit Sirius with a Stunning Spell, and he fell backwards into the veil (thus killing him).
Furious, Harry chased Bellatrix into the Atrium of the Ministry, where Voldemort appeared. He and Dumbledore engaged in a titanic duel, which ended in Voldemort's (and Bellatrix's) escape. Several Ministry officials appeared during the battle, including Fudge, who had to accept Voldemort's return.
[edit] Fallout
The fallout of the Battle of the Department of Mysteries were immediately described at the end of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, with further details described in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
The wizarding world suffered losses, including Emmeline Vance of the Order. Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, was also killed; this murder shook several people in power into taking action against Voldemort, as she had been one of the most gifted witches of her age.
Short-term effects: After the battle, several changes were quickly made in the wizarding world. Professor Umbridge was removed from Hogwarts, and Dumbledore was restored as Headmaster, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, and Order of Merlin, First Class. Harry's name was also cleared and he was respected by the Wizarding Community again.
Long-term effects: Voldemort, confirmed to be alive again, now could move his war into the open. The Ministry took action against Voldemort, beefing up security at Hogwarts and hiring a new Minister for Magic (previous head of Auror Office, Rufus Scrimgeour) after sacking Fudge. Also, Sirius' death inspired Harry to work harder towards the end of Voldemort, as seen in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.
[edit] The Second War Begins
As described in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, The Ministry of Magic started making strides to cover its mistakes and help ward off Voldemort's attacks:
- A special hotline was set up for those attacked by Death Eaters or Voldemort himself.
- Several arrests were made after the Battle; however, the three arrested men (including Stan Shunpike of the Knight Bus) were definitely not Death Eaters.
- Several informational pamphlets were published by the Ministry to inform the wizarding community on how to protect their homes, families, and friends from an attack. However, they were generally regarded by several characters as not being very useful.
- The Ministry significantly increased the security at Hogwarts.
The Dementors abandoned their posts at the prison, making it likely that the twelve Death Eaters arrested in the Department of Mysteries would soon escape. According to members of the Order of the Phoenix, the Dementors are also breeding an army for Voldemort to use, creating misty and cool weather in mid-July.
The effects of the Second War are also being felt by Muggles. The introduction in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince shows the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom dealing with several unusual incidents that turned out to be Muggle attacks by Voldemort after Fudge refused to step down.
[edit] Battle of the Astronomy Tower
| Battle of the Astronomy Tower | |||||||
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| Part of the Second Wizarding War | |||||||
| Image:LightingStruckTower.jpg The Astronomy Tower where Dumbledore was killed by Severus Snape, as depicted by Mary GrandPré |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Order of the Phoenix (OotP), Dumbledore's Army (DA) |
Death Eaters | ||||||
| Commanders | |||||||
| Albus Dumbledore†, Minerva McGonagall, Harry Potter |
Draco Malfoy, Severus Snape | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 6 Order members and a teacher, 6 DA members |
8 Death Eaters |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 death (Albus Dumbledore, killed by Severus Snape with the Avada Kedavra curse); Bill Weasley (bitten by a werewolf); numerous minor injuries | 1 death (Gibbon, killed accidentally by another Thorfinn Rowle who was firing the Avada Kedavra curse); numerous minor injuries | ||||||
[edit] Attack & Counterattack
Shortly before the events described in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Voldemort had another plan placed in action in order to murder Albus Dumbledore. He chose Draco Malfoy, a sixth-year student at Hogwarts, to carry out this mission as a punishment for Lucius Malfoy's failure; Voldemort branded the boy a Death Eater and let him return to school. Draco Malfoy planned to use a set of Vanishing Cabinets - one in Hogwarts, one in Borgin and Burkes - to smuggle Death Eaters into the castle as a distraction while he murdered the Headmaster. He used the Room of Requirement to hide the Cabinet, and finally fixed it near the end of the term. That night, while Harry and Dumbledore were attempting to destroy one of Voldemort's Horcruxes, Madame Rosmerta of the Three Broomsticks (acting under the Imperius Curse) tipped Malfoy of Dumbledore's departure.
Harry, anticipating Malfoy's attack, had warned his friends Ron, Hermione and Ginny and had given them his Felix Felicis. Hermione used her contact galleons to rouse members of the DA to help defend Hogwarts. Two answered: Neville and Luna. Along with the Order of the Phoenix , they patrolled the hallways. But the Death Eaters headed by Draco Malfoy dropped a Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder from the Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes that made it impossible to see, and attacked the wizards in the hallway. Gibbon went up to the Astronomy Tower to set off the Dark Mark but came back down the stairs, as he was nervous to stay alone at the top. He was hit by a Killing Curse set off by a large blond death eater.
Dumbledore and Harry returned to Hogsmeade and flew to the Astronomy Tower when hearing the news of the Dark Mark from Madam Rosmerta. At the tower, they heard someone runring up the stairs towards them, and Dumbledore spent his chance of defending himself to immobilize Harry, who was hiding underneath his Invisibility Cloak. Malfoy arrived and disarmed Dumbledore, but stalled for several minutes without killing him until more Death Eaters arrived. Snape later arrived and hit Dumbledore's weakened body with the Avada Kedavra, sending him flying from the ramparts to the ground below.
Harry, mobilized again, pursued the Death Eaters, particularly Snape and Malfoy before they could cross the gates where disapparition would be possible. Malfoy managed to disapparate, but Snape remained for a duel with Harry. He easily beat Harry, commenting on the latter's lack of focus. But his 'victory' was shortlived as Buckbeak (Witherwings) the Hippogriff ran to Harry's protection, forcing Snape to disapparate and escape from the powerful beast.
[edit] Fallout
Dumbledore, the leader in the War Against Voldemort, was now gone. He was buried on Hogwarts grounds, as he requested. Harry Potter makes his final choice: he will find and destroy every remaining Horcrux and destroy Lord Voldemort. He ends his relationship with Ginny and will be accompanied by Ron and Hermione on his quest.
[edit] The Death Eaters Triumphant
Now that Dumbledore is gone, Voldemort's last major opponent is now gone. He now can focus on his final tasks: to take down the Wizarding Government of Britain, to purify the wizarding race of Mudbloods, and to destroy Harry Potter.
[edit] The Ministry's Fall
Shortly after the start of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows a coup d'etat occurs when the Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, is murdered and replaced by Pius Thicknesse, who is effectively a puppet leader as he is under the control of the Death Eaters by means of the Imperius curse. This gives Voldemort power over the Ministry, and allows him to appoint Severus Snape as Hogwarts headmaster, as well as forcing Muggle-borns to register with the Ministry.
Voldemort then organises a smear campaign to eliminate all of the muggleborns and squibs from the Wizarding World. Spearheaded by Dolores Umbridge, biased courts try and accuse muggle-borns of stealing magic and have them executed by a Dementor's Kiss. Using its new power, the Ministry makes Severus Snape the new Headmaster of Hogwarts and Amycus and Alecto Carrow new teachers at the school, and the disciplinary heads of the school. This also secures his power at Hogwarts; however, he is unaware that Snape, taking orders from Dumbledore, is secretly helping Harry complete his quest.
[edit] Harry's Journey
While Voldemort has been taking over the Wizarding World, Harry, Ron, and Hermione have been finishing Dumbledore's final task: destroy Voldemort's Horcruxes. However, they have no leads or ideas about where the Horcruxes are or what the "missing" Horcrux of Ravenclaw is.
When Death Eaters attack the Burrow during Bill and Fleur's wedding, Harry, Ron, and Hermione escape to London, where they eventually end up at Grimmauld Place. Harry realises that R.A.B. is Regulus Black, Sirius' brother, and Hermione remembers a locket that was at the House. Kreacher reveals that is was stolen by Mundungus Fletcher, and it ended up with Dolores Umbridge. Harry manages to obtain the Horcrux from her, and they leave, with no way to destroy it.
Harry and Ron get into a fight, and Ron leaves Harry and Hermione alone in the woods. Snape plants the Sword of Gryffindor near where Harry and Hermione are camping, and a returning Ron uses it to destroy the locket for good, leaving only Hufflepuff's cup, the snake Nagini, and the Missing Ravenclaw horcrux. They learn of the Deathly Hallows, three magical objects that makes bearer invincible: the Elder Wand (the most powerful wand on Earth), the Resurrection Stone (which brings the dead to life), and the Invisibility Cloak (which grants the wearer invisible to Death itself). Voldemort seeks the Elder wand to destroy Harry. Harry chooses not to look for the Hallows and continues his search for the Horcruxes.
When Harry, Ron and Hermione were captured and sent to Malfoy Manor, Harry realized that one of the Horcruxes might be in the Lestrange's vault at Gringotts. After escaping and setting the Malfoy's prisoners (including Dean Thomas, Luna Lovegood, Griphook the goblin, and Mr. Ollivander) free, they and Griphook infiltrated the Lestrange's Vault. Griphook steals the sword and Harry Ron and Hermione leave on the back of a dragon with Hufflepuff's cup. However, without the sword, they have no way to destory it.
Harry has a vision of Voldemort, who now realises what Harry has been up to for the past several months. Voldemort goes to check on his Horcruxes, making a note that his last one is safe at Hogwarts. Harry, Ron and Hermione then leave and Apparate in Hogsmeade, where they are attacked by Death Eaters and Dementors and are saved by the barman of the Hog's Head.
[edit] Before the Battle
The barman, who was Aberforth Dumbledore, revealed that he had a secret passage that led to the Room of Requirement, where they found most of the D.A.. Neville, in charge, revealed that they had hidden from the attacks of the Carrows and Snape. Harry, Ron, and Hermione needed to find the Horcrux; the students, however, believed that they were there to fight off the Death Eaters regime at the school. However, the D.A. still wanted to help, and Hermione believed that the students might know something about Ravenclaw that could have been a Horcrux.
Neville had sent word (using the D.A. contact galleons) that Harry was back, and Luna Lovegood, Dean Thomas, Fred and George Weasley, and many others arrived through Aberforth's bar (now a "train station" to get into the school). Returnee Cho Chang suggested that the Diadem of Ravenclaw, and Luna and Harry snuck through the school to see the statue of the Rowena Ravenclaw wearing her diadem. While they were there, they were ambushed by Alecto Carrow who touched her Dark Mark and signalled Voldemort that Harry Potter was at Hogwarts.
Alecto and her brother Amycus were apprehended by Professor McGonagall, who then proceeded to oust Headmaster Snape from the school. The students were brought down to the Great Hall, to use the passageway in the Hog's Head to evacuate the younger students. Voldemort projected his voice into the school, saying that Harry must be delivered to him in one hour, or else he will attack the school. The Order of Phoenix were tipped off by the Weasley twins, and arrived along with Hagrid and Grawp to help fend off the Death Eaters.
Harry, consulting with the Grey Lady, ghost of Ravenclaw, learned that the Lost Diadem had been hidden in a forest in Albania, and the Tom Riddle had charmed this information out of her. Harry realized that Voldemort had hidden the diadem when Voldemort had asked Dumbledore for a job - in a Room of Requirement manifestation called the Room of Hidden Things.
[edit] Battle of Hogwarts
| Battle of Hogwarts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Second Wizarding War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
| Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore's Army, Hogwarts Students, Hogwarts Staff, Loyalist Ministry of Magic Employees. Forces later reinforced by Centaurs, Thestrals, Hippogriff, Hogsmeade Residents, Combatant's Families and house elves |
Death Eaters,Imperius Curse Victims, Turncoat Students, Dementors, Giants and Acromantulas. | ||||||
| Commanders | |||||||
| Minerva McGonagall, Neville Longbottom, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Harry Potter | Lord Voldemort†, Bellatrix Lestrange† | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Approx 13 Order of the Phoenix Members, 10+ Hogwarts Staff Members, Approx 29 Current and Former Dumbledore's Army Members, 1 Giant, Unknown Numbers Of Loyalist Ministry Of Magic Employees, Centaurs, Thestrals, Hippogriff, Hogsmeade Residents, Combatant's Families and house elves | 50+ Death Eaters, In excess of two giants, 1 Acromantula Colony, High, but unconfirmed, numbers of Dementors, Maximum of 15 turncoat students. | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Fifty-five deaths including Fred Weasley, Colin Creevey, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks. High, but uncertain, numbers of injuried. | Numerous deaths including Lord Voldemort and Bellatrix Lestrange. Numerous injuries and imprisonmnents. | ||||||
[edit] First Attack
As the clock struck midnight, Harry found Ron and Hermione, who had entered the Chamber of Secrets and stolen the basilisk fangs from the snake's carcass in order to destroy the final horcrux. The three head off to the Room of Requirement, which they empty and turn into the Room of Hidden Things. Harry is about to reach the Diadem when he is ambushed by Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle. Crabbe sets off a furious Fiendfyre, and is killed. Harry saves Malfoy and the Diadem, but it breaks into pieces in his hand, destroyed by Crabbe's fiery curse. There is only one Horcrux left: Nagini, the snake.
As they leave the Room of Requirement, they meet Percy and Fred Weasley who are fighting several Death Eaters, including Pius Thicknesse, to whom Percy sends his resignation. After Fred reacts ecstatically to Percy making a joke, the corridor explodes, sending Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Percy flying; Fred is killed.
As Harry, Ron, and Hermione flee the next assault of Death Eaters, Harry has another vision of Voldemort in the Shrieking Shack. As the three make their way down there, they witness the horrible battle: Peeves was dropping deadly plants onto Death Eaters, and Professor Trelawney was bewitching crystal balls to attack the Death Eaters like Bludgers. The acromantulas attack the school, and Hagrid goes to fend them off, swallowed up by the crowd of them. The giants come next, and the one nearest Harry, Ron, and Hermione is taken down by Grawp. When the three finally reach the Shrieking Shack, Voldemort has Nagini attack and murder Snape. As Voldemort and his pet disapparate, Snape, close to death, gives his memories to Harry. Voldemort projects his voice around the grounds again, saying if Harry does not join him in the forest in one hour, then he will return to battle, and dispose of every man, woman, and child in the castle. Snape then dies.
[edit] Armistice
Harry, Ron, and Hermione return to the Great Hall, where the dead are lined up: Fred Weasley, Colin Creevey, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks among them. Harry goes up to Dumbledore's Office to see Snape's memory. In it, Snape reveals that he knew Harry's mother, Lily Potter, as a youth, and taught her about the Wizarding World. He loved her, and after he caused her death, vowed to protect her son. He became Dumbledore's right-hand man.
Dumbledore also gave Snape one last task after they planned his death: to tell Harry that part of Voldemort's soul was inside him, from that moment when the Killing Curse rebounded. Harry must die to destroy it, and Voldemort alone must do it. Harry leaves the school, and goes into the Forbidden Forest, where he finds Voldemort and the Death Eaters holding Hagrid captive. Voldemort then hits Harry with the Killing Curse, and Harry falls to the ground.
Harry "wakes up" at King's Cross station, where he finds Dumbledore and a shriveled piece of Voldemort's soul waiting. Dumbledore reveals to Harry that when Voldemort used his blood to regenerate, he extended the protective charm that his mother, Lily, had placed around him by dying for him; so, when Voldemort killed Harry, he also killed off his last Horcrux. Dumbledore leaves Harry with a choice: board the train and travel on, or go back and finish Voldemort off for good. Harry returns, free of Voldemort's shred of soul.
When Harry returns, Narcissa Malfoy checks his body for life. When she realizes Harry is alive, he tells her of Draco's safety after being questioned. She pronounces him dead, and Hagrid is forced to carry Harry's body back to Hogwarts.
[edit] The Second Attack
The Death Eaters return to the Hogwarts grounds. Voldemort points to Harry's "dead" body and demands that his opponents kneel to him. Neville Longbottom refuses and attacks Voldemort. Voldemort causes the Sorting Hat to land on Neville's head and sets it afire, burning him, but also giving him the Sword of Gryffindor. Neville takes it and slices off Nagini's head, destroying the last Horcrux. Harry pulls the Invisibility Cloak over himself, and the battle erupts around him again. Voldemort takes on McGonagall, Slughorn, and Kingsley at the same time, while Bellatrix attacks Ginny Weasley.
While the thestrals and Buckbeak peck out the giants' eyes, Grawp tackles and pummels them. The centaurs charge from the forest shooting arrows left and right. Kreacher leads the house elves into battle.
Mrs. Weasley, who is furious that Bellatrix attacked her daughter, duels the other woman, and kills her after Bellatrix mocks Fred. Voldemort drives off his attackers and Harry reveals himself to the shocked people around him. He and Voldemort circle in the Great Hall,and Harry tells him everything: that Dumbledore was one step ahead, that Snape was on Harry's side, and that since Draco Malfoy Disarmed Dumbledore last year, Draco (not Snape) became the Master of the Elder Wand. However, Harry Disarmed Malfoy after that, so Harry is now the Master; that Voldemort took the wand from Dumbledore's tomb is meaningless. Voldemort and Harry shoot spells at each other (Avada Kedavra and Expelliarmus, respectively) and Voldemort's rebounds and kills him. The Elder Wand lands in Harry's hand. Voldemort is finally dead, and the war is over.
[edit] After the War
After the war, Kingsley Shacklebolt is made the temporary Minister of Magic. Voldemort's remaining followers flee or are captured. All Imperiused victims revert to normal. Harry returns the Elder Wand to Dumbledore's tomb, and keeps the Invisibility Cloak. The Resurrection Stone was lost in the Forbidden Forest, where Harry decides to leave it. Hogwarts reopens as a school, and Neville becomes the Professor of Herbology. Harry marries Ginny, and they have three children: James, Albus Severus, and Lily. Ron marries Hermione and they have two children: Rose and Hugo. Draco Malfoy has a son named Scorpius, and Bill and Fleur have a daughter named Victoire, who is attracted to Teddy Lupin. Harry's scar hasn't twinged once in nineteen years, since his defeat of Lord Voldemort.
[edit] Analysis of Voldemort's Strategy
For the most part of the war, at least while Dumbledore was still alive, Voldemort waged a sort of guerrilla warfare against the Ministry. Although Voldemort commanded a formidable army, he and his followers generally avoided open confrontation with Ministry forces whenever possible.
[edit] Terror
Through out much of the sixth book, Voldemort's forces focused on spreading terror and chaos through out the Wizarding community. People were murdered in their homes, sometimes by friends or family under the Imperius Curse. Many more simply disappeared.
Dementors attacked both Muggles and Wizards alike on the streets - seemingly at random. In addition, the Dementors began breeding, thus creating a perpetual "fog" that covered much of the country. Overall, the Dementors and the Death Eaters successfully paralyzed the Wizarding community in an atmosphere of fear and distrust.
[edit] Muggle Killings
Voldemort and his followers carried out mass Muggle killings, occasionally with the help of the Giants. In addition to simply conforming to Voldemort's racial beliefs, the Muggle killings served to keep the Ministry distracted, as the Ministry would have to modify memories and create cover up stories. Thus, Voldemort constantly remained one step ahead of the Ministry.
[edit] Infiltrating and toppling the Ministry
Even with the Ministry constantly off balance, Voldemort did not make his move against Rufus Scrimgeour until after Dumbledore was dead. Obviously, Dumbledore was the one person who could still oppose Voldemort even if the Ministry was infiltrated and taken over. After Dumbledore and Scrimgeour were both dead, Voldemort still remained in the shadows. He installed Pius Thicknesse as a puppet Minister of Magic, rather than declaring himself Minister. Lupin suggests that Voldemort did not want to spark an open revolt. Also, based on his known personality, Voldemort probably considered the title of Minister of Magic to be beneath him.
[edit] The Anti-Muggle Born Campaign
Through Thicknesse, Voldemort slowly introduced his anti-Muggle Born policies amongst the Wizarding community, which didn't even know Scrimgeour had been killed. Many key officials had been placed under the Imperioius Curse. Others, such as Umbridge, were actually somewhat sympathetic to Voldemort's cause. Most Ministry wizards were simply too afraid to oppose Voldemort. Furthermore, Voldemort ensured that Snape was made Headmaster of Hogwarts - the last and greatest source of any future resistance (and the place where future generations could be taught Voldemort's pure-blood dogma). This of course, would turn out to be a mistake on Voldemort's part.
With the Ministry under Voldemort's control, the tables had been turned. The Order of the Phoenix became the wanted criminals and were forced to flee into exile. Voldemort utilized the resources of the Ministry to hunt down Harry Potter, the last remaining threat to his rule.
