Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

This entry details the plot and production of the 2011 film adaptation. As such, all events described are from the film unless otherwise noted. For the original story, please see the entry for the novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2* is the eighth and final installment in the *Harry Potter* film series, directed by David Yates and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures (film). It is the second of two cinematic parts based on J.K. Rowling's 2007 novel of the same name. The screenplay was written by Steve Kloves and produced by David Heyman, David Barron, and J.K. Rowling (film).

The film picks up immediately where *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1* left off, chronicling Harry Potter's quest to find and destroy Lord Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes. The narrative culminates in the final, climactic confrontation between Harry and Voldemort during the Battle of Hogwarts, bringing the decade-long cinematic saga to its conclusion. Released in July 2011, it was widely acclaimed by critics and audiences as a powerful and satisfying finale (film).

The film opens with Lord Voldemort desecrating Albus Dumbledore's tomb to steal the Elder Wand. Meanwhile, at Shell Cottage, Harry Potter convinces the goblin Griphook to help him, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger break into the Lestrange Vault at Gringotts Wizarding Bank in exchange for the Sword of Gryffindor. Using Polyjuice Potion to disguise Hermione as Bellatrix Lestrange, they successfully infiltrate the bank. They retrieve the Horcrux, Hufflepuff's Cup, but are betrayed by Griphook. The trio escapes by freeing a Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon and riding it to safety. Voldemort, furious at the break-in, realizes his Horcruxes are being hunted and systematically destroyed. A vision allows Harry to learn that another Horcrux is hidden at Hogwarts and is connected to Rowena Ravenclaw. The trio Apparates to Hogsmeade, where they are saved from Death Eaters by Aberforth Dumbledore. He reveals a secret passage into Hogwarts, where they are greeted by Neville Longbottom and members of Dumbledore's Army in the Room of Requirement. When Headmaster Severus Snape learns of Harry's return, he summons all students to the Great Hall. Harry confronts Snape, who is then challenged to a duel by Professor Minerva McGonagall. Snape flees the castle. As Voldemort and his army surround Hogwarts, Professor McGonagall and the other staff members cast powerful defensive spells to shield the school, initiating the Battle of Hogwarts. Inside the castle, Ron and Hermione venture into the Chamber of Secrets, using a Basilisk fang to destroy Hufflepuff's Cup. They share their first kiss immediately after. Meanwhile, Harry speaks with the ghost of Helena Ravenclaw, the Grey Lady, who reveals that her mother's Diadem is hidden in the Room of Requirement. In the Room, the trio is ambushed by Draco Malfoy, Gregory Goyle, and Blaise Zabini (film). Goyle casts Fiendfyre, which spirals out of his control. The cursed fire destroys the Diadem and kills Goyle, but Harry and his friends manage to save Malfoy and Zabini before escaping. Harry, Ron, and Hermione make their way to the castle's Boathouse, where they witness Voldemort murder Snape. Believing Snape was the master of the Elder Wand, Voldemort kills him to claim the wand's allegiance for himself. Before dying, Snape gives Harry his memories. In the Pensieve, Harry discovers the truth: Snape had loved Harry's mother, Lily, and acted as a double agent for Dumbledore. He also learns that he himself is the final, unintended Horcrux, and that he must die to make Voldemort mortal. Resigned to his fate, Harry walks into the Forbidden Forest. He opens the Golden Snitch left to him by Dumbledore, revealing the Resurrection Stone inside. He summons the spirits of his parents, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin, who give him the courage to face Voldemort. Harry confronts the Dark Lord, who strikes him down with the Killing Curse. Harry awakens in a limbo-like state resembling King's Cross Station, where a spectral Dumbledore explains that Voldemort's curse destroyed the piece of soul within Harry, but left Harry himself unharmed. Harry chooses to return to the world of the living. Back in the forest, Narcissa Malfoy lies to Voldemort, proclaiming Harry is dead after he discreetly confirms that Draco is still alive. Voldemort and his followers march to Hogwarts with Harry's body. There, Neville Longbottom defies Voldemort and pulls the Sword of Gryffindor from the Sorting Hat. Harry reveals he is alive, and the battle resumes. In the chaos, Molly Weasley kills Bellatrix Lestrange. Harry and Voldemort engage in a final, destructive duel throughout the castle grounds. As their spells connect, Neville beheads Nagini with the Sword of Gryffindor, destroying the last Horcrux. Harry reveals that the Elder Wand's true master was never Snape, but Draco Malfoy, whom Harry had disarmed at Malfoy Manor. As its true master, the wand will not kill him. Voldemort's Killing Curse rebounds, and he disintegrates into ash. In the aftermath, Harry explains the Elder Wand's lineage to Ron and Hermione. He then snaps the powerful wand in two and throws the pieces from a bridge. The film concludes with an epilogue set nineteen years later, showing a grown-up Harry, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione seeing their own children off to Hogwarts from Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.

While largely faithful, the film adaptation contains several notable changes from the source novel, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:

• The Final Duel: In the film, Harry and Voldemort duel alone in a deserted courtyard, physically grappling and flying through the castle. In the book, their final confrontation is a tense, verbal standoff in the Great Hall in front of all the survivors, where Harry explains the Elder Wand's allegiance before any spells are cast.
• Voldemort's Death: The film depicts Voldemort disintegrating into flakes of ash upon death. The book emphasizes his newfound mortality by having him die like any other man; his body hits the floor and is later moved to a separate chamber away from the honored dead.
• The Elder Wand: In the film, Harry snaps the Elder Wand and throws it away. In the book, he first uses it to repair his own broken phoenix feather wand and then resolves to return it to Dumbledore's Tomb to let its power die naturally with him.
• Snape's Death: Snape is killed in the Boathouse in the film, a location created for the movie. In the book, this occurs in the Shrieking Shack.
• The Diadem's Destruction: In the film, Harry stabs the Diadem with a Basilisk fang and Ron kicks it into the Fiendfyre. The book states that the Fiendfyre itself, cast by Vincent Crabbe, is potent enough Dark Magic to destroy a Horcrux.
• Ron and Hermione's Kiss: Their first kiss happens in the Chamber of Secrets after they destroy the cup (film). In the book, it occurs later in the Room of Requirement after Ron shows concern for the fate of Hogwarts' House-Elves.
• Character Roles: Due to actor unavailability, the character of Vincent Crabbe was written out of the Room of Requirement scene and replaced by Blaise Zabini. Gregory Goyle is the one who casts the Fiendfyre and dies (film). In the book, it is Crabbe who casts the spell and is killed.

• Director: David Yates (film)
• Screenplay: Steve Kloves (film)
• Composer: Alexandre Desplat took over from Nicholas Hooper and John Williams to score the final film, creating new themes while also referencing Williams' iconic “Hedwig's Theme” (film).
• Box Office: *Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2* was a monumental financial success. It broke numerous opening weekend records and went on to gross over $1.342 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of 2011 and, at the time of its release, the third highest-grossing film of all time (film).
• Critical Reception: The film received universal acclaim, with many critics calling it the best film in the series. It was praised for its emotionally resonant performances, visual spectacle, and satisfying conclusion. It holds a 96% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes (film).
• Awards: The film was nominated for three Academy Awards: Best Art Direction, Best Makeup, and Best Visual Effects (film). It also won several other accolades, including a BAFTA Award for Best Special Visual Effects.