The ending of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 is perhaps the most tantalizing and exciting ending in the entire movie franchise, bringing together several plot threads that are set to be resolved in the following conclusion. Harry, Ron, and Hermione still have several Horcruxes to find in order to bring down Lord Voldemort, but his army of loyal Death Eaters definitely isn't making things easy for them. War is on the horizon, and the ending of Deathly Hallows Part 1 perfectly sets the scene for the dark, emotional battle that's soon to follow in the next installment.
In Deathly Hallows Part 1, the series' main characters are separated from the rest of the Wizarding World for the first time ever, left to their own devices on a secret quest to find Voldemort's hidden Horcruxes and destroy them before he grows too powerful. The stakes are higher than ever before, and the movie's ending marks a noteworthy turning point for this franchise as it morphs from a lighthearted children's story into something much darker and more mature. Lord Voldemort is on the rise, and the fate of the entire Wizarding World is left hanging in the balance of Harry, Ron, and Hermione's quest.
Who Does Voldemort Visit In The Cell?
Although audiences had seen the object wielded by Professor Dumbledore all throughout the Harry Potter series, it's not until Deathly Hallows - Part 1 that it's explained how Dumbledore got the Elder Wand in the first place. This particular wand, being one of the three Deathly Hallows, is considered the most powerful wand in the world - and Lord Voldemort believes that with this wand, he will be unbeatable in the final battle. For this reason, he takes a visit to Gellert Grindelwald, the previous owner of the Elder Wand - although his trip isn't quite as successful as he'd hoped.
Throughout Deathly Hallows Part 1, there are several flashbacks that trace Lord Voldemort's quest for the Elder Wand, and throughout these memories, it's clear that the wand's lineage is an extremely complicated one. Harry's conversation with Xenophilius Lovegood confirms that it started its life with the Peverell Brothers, and after being passed down through the generations, it eventually made its way to Gellert Grindelwald - a dark wizard previously considered one of the most dangerous men in the Wizarding World. In order to find out the true owner of the Elder Wand, Voldemort pays a visit to Grindelwald in his long-time prison.
Why Does Voldemort Break Into Dumbledore's Tomb?
Although this aspect of Deathly Hallows Part 1 differs greatly from the original source material, the cinematic adaptation sees Gellert Grindelwald reveal the true location of the Elder Wand to Voldemort. He explains that he lost the wand several years ago to Albus Dumbledore, with whom the object still remains buried. After a moment of rage and panic, the Dark Lord then leaves Grindelwald and travels to Dumbledore's Tomb, which he carelessly breaks open and finds the Elder Wand hidden inside. Now the perceived owner of the most powerful wand in history, Voldemort considers himself undefeatable and begins to plot Harry's downfall.
There are several connections between the followers of Voldemort and Grindelwald, but the two wizards are actually very different in their morals and beliefs - and their conflicting understandings of the Elder Wand actually set up several problems for Voldemort in the future. The legend of the Deathly Hallows warns that death cannot be overcome, and that the Elder Wand cannot simply be taken from its rightful owner - but Voldemort's greed and ambition simply overlooked this part of the story. Though Deathly Hallows Part 1's ending might seem bleak, there's some comfort to be taken in Lord Voldemort's blind confidence in a story that he doesn't fully understand.
Why Does Xenophilius Lovegood Summon The Death Eaters?
Despite being one of the best Harry Potter movies, there was one moment in Deathly Hallows Part 1 that was disappointing upon first viewing. After learning about the importance of the Deathly Hallows, Harry Potter recounts a necklace that he saw upon the neck of Xenophilius Lovegood at Bill and Fleur's wedding - a necklace depicting the symbol of the Hallows. In their quest to learn more about the objects, Harry, Ron, and Hermione pay a visit to Xenophilius, but they're not met with the hospitality they were quite hoping for. In a strange twist of character, Mr. Lovegood betrays the three heroes and alerts the Death Eaters to their location.
Lord Voldemort is perhaps the most dangerous wizard in the world, so handing his daughter's friends over to him seems a little out of character for Xenophilius - but there's a simple answer. The Lovegoods have always declared an unconditional love of their family, and Voldemort used this to his advantage by kidnapping Luna and forcing Xenophilius into a secret alliance. When Harry Potter appeared on his doorstep, Xenophilius saw this as a chance to earn Voldemort's trust and reclaim his daughter's freedom. Whilst it wasn't an ideal choice, it does prove just how dangerous and threatening the Death Eaters can be, which raises the stakes for the upcoming finale
How Do Harry, Ron, and Hermione Escape From Malfoy Manor?
After being captured by the Death Eaters outside the Lovegood residence, The Golden Trio is taken to Malfoy Manor, where they're to be held until Lord Voldemort returns from his business; ever since Harry Potter survived Voldemort's killing curse, the Dark Lord has vowed to be the one to kill the boy. Voldemort's absence from the Manor was the heroes' first miracle, but the second was by Draco Malfoy himself. When asked to identify Harry through his enchantment, Malfoy refused to say for certain (despite an overwhelming likeness) that it was really Harry Potter before him. This bought the heroes priceless time that they used to plot their escape.
Although it's Dobby's arrival that inevitably saves Harry and his friends, their lives probably would have ended in that manor if Draco had identified his long-time enemy. The fact that he didn't speaks volumes about his character, and marks the true beginning of the character's powerful redemption arc. Draco isn't his father, Lucius, and this moment really proves that. But despite that, it was Dobby that really saved Harry at this moment of darkness - at his own cost. There were several Harry Potter characters (like Hedwig) that needed to die in order for this journey to be complete, and sadly, those included Harry's loyal house elf.
Why Did Dobby Need To Die?
The penultimate scene of Deathly Hallows Part 1 sees Harry's old friend Dobby meet an untimely death at the hands of Bellatrix Lestrange, who indiscriminately throws a dagger into the creature's heart. This scene is widely regarded as one of the saddest in the entire franchise, and the emotional weight is doubled by the poetic nature of his death: for his entire life, Dobby has strived to serve and protect Harry, and it was this exact loyalty that led to his death. But the character's death was actually necessary for Harry to build the humility and selflessness that he needed in the upcoming battle against Voldemort.
Harry Potter's final battle differs from the books in several ways, but one thing that remains the same is Harry's willingness to sacrifice everything for the good of humanity. Without watching Dobby make the ultimate sacrifice at Malfoy Manor, Harry might not have learned the value of these traits in time for Voldemort's conquest of Hogwarts in the following film. Every tragic death has a purpose, and whilst Dobby's is undoubtedly one of the most emotional, it's also one of the most important and meaningful. It really sets the scene for the coming storm of Deathly Hallows Part 2, marking a turning point into the darker side of Harry Potter.