Summary: Chapter Thirty-Two: The Elder Wand
Giant spiders from the Forbidden Forest enter the school,
fighting on the side of the Death Eaters, as Harry, Ron, and the
Weasleys try to move Fred’s body to a safe place. Ron wants to stay
and fight to avenge his brother, but Hermione urges him to focus
on the goal: to destroy Nagini, the last known Horcrux. Harry uses
his ability to see through Voldemort’s eyes to find out where he
is, and has a vision of Voldemort in the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade
ordering Lucius Malfoy, who is frantic with worry about Draco, to
go fetch Snape.
They head toward the Whomping Willow to enter the passageway
to the Shrieking Shack, on the way fighting off attacking Death Eaters
and saving Draco Malfoy’s life from a Death Eater who mistakes him
for an enemy. Before they reach the Willow, they see that giants
have joined the fight on both sides, and they have to fight off a
hundred dementors, with some help from Luna, Ernie, and Seamus,
who have mastered the art of summoning Patronuses.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione enter the passage and creep to
where they can observe what’s happening in the Shrieking Shack.
Voldemort is telling Snape that the Elder Wand is working no better
than his old wand and has not given him the extraordinary powers
it was supposed to. Voldemort concludes that he is not yet the true
master of the Elder Wand, because Snape killed its previous owner,
and thus Voldemort must kill Snape to be the wand’s master. Voldemort orders
Nagini to kill Snape, and the great snake bites Snape’s neck, mortally
wounding him. Voldemort leaves.
Harry goes to Snape’s body, and Snape, dying, tells Harry
to “Take it,” and expels a silvery substance from his mouth, nose,
and ears. Harry collects the substance in a flask that Hermione
provides, and Snape, after telling Harry to look at him, dies.
Summary: Chapter Thirty-Three: The Prince’s Tale
Voldemort addresses the school, telling them that he will
give them a one-hour reprieve to dispose of their dead and treat
the wounded. He announces that Harry should meet him alone in the
Forbidden Forest in one hour, or Voldemort will recommence the battle,
enter the fray himself, and kill every person who helped Harry.
In the Great Hall of Hogwarts, those who have died fighting
for Harry are laid out. Among the dead are Lupin and Tonks.
