Battle of Hogwarts: Interpretations of The Final Battle

May 2nd, 1998. It’s been 21 years since the Battle of Hogwarts took place, and J.K. Rowling took to Twitter today (a big deal, seeing as she hasn’t tweeted since March!) to first update her profile and header image – a move we know means one thing: CLUES. We’re still awaiting her to fulfil her annual tradition and apologise for the death of antoher character, but in the meantime we’re marking the anniversary in a slightly different manner this year!

Rowling’s header image looks to suggest something celestial or space-related. A constellation doesn’t speak much to either the Fantastic Beasts series (though Centaurs may say differently), or the Cormoran Strike series, but with over two years until the next Beasts movie is set to drop, you never know what else Jo might be working on!

The Fantastic Beasts Film Series fan account provided more details on the image, and pointed out the MinaLima-designed Atlas of Celestial Anomalies. We know Grindelwald

.@jk_rowling new Twitter header is a picture from the Hubble telescope of Capricorn constellation

What do you think this means? pic.twitter.com/dGCKUl6vCv

— Fantastic Beasts Film Series (@FBFilmSeries) May 2, 2019

The Cursed Child account also posted an ominous question related to the Battle:

What would life be like in the wizarding world if the Battle of Hogwarts didn’t end in victory? #CursedChild pic.twitter.com/tzq8Qzv7So

— Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (@HPPlayLDN) May 2, 2019

We’re all still eagerly anticipating a tweet by Jo – watch this space to see if she shows up!

As it’s been 21 years since the battle, we’re choosing today to look back at various interpretations of the Battle, from the Deathly Hallows movie, to fan art, wizard rock and musicals:

1) Movie

It’s also been 21 years since the launch of film review site Rotten Tomatoes, and for this anniversary the site is revealing exclusive videos celebrating 21 of the most memorable moments ever on screen. One of these videos features David Yates speaking about the iconic final face-off between Voldemort and Harry during the Battle of Hogwarts in Deathly Hallows: Part II.

On Thursday, May 2^nd, they will unveil the next video in the series featuring DEATHLY HALLOWS director David Yates talking about the “Voldermort vs. Harry” final battle. Thursday will also mark 21 years to the date of the battle at Hogwarts between Harry and He Who Shall Not Be Named – it happened, in the timeline of the fictional HP narrative, on May 2, 1998.  Check out their video below:

The film interpretation arguably left out some key parts of the battle (Fred’s last moments, Voldemort dying like a man, for example), but Alexandre Desplat’s score resonated with key moments in the final movie perfectly. Listen to how the score was brought together below:

Also read this interview with Production Designer Stuart Craig on the journey to creating the Battle of Hogwarts, and what it meant to destroy Hogwarts.

2) Art:

Artistic interpretations of the Battle of Hogwarts allow fans to go beyond the movie interpretations and bring to life moments from the books (or their own imagination) to breathe life to the Battle in a new way. Pottermore‘s art (above) depicting the showdown between Harry and Voldemort is more akin to the books than the films, and seeing the moments people choose to highlight in their fan art shows new angles we might not have appreciated from the book or film:

‘Battle of Hogwarts’ by rodolfoguerreiro

Dark marks, Death Eaters, dragons, Hogwarts burning and a dark sky all make this image a brilliant representation of the Battle – not to mention the fact that the artist has incorporated the rough terrain of the Hogwarts grounds!

‘Fiendfyre’ by loulaubye:

The Hogwarts House mascots (minus Hufflepuff’s badger) within the Fiendfyre summoned by Crabbe makes for a powerful image here:

‘Burning Hogwarts’ by Lennves

This one poignantly mirrors Hagrid taking children to Hogwarts in the first movie, and instead gives the impression of evacuees looking back at a burning Hogwarts during the battle. We know students and vulnerable witches and wizards were evacuated via the Room of Requirement prior to the battle, but it’s still a striking image!

‘Hogwarts From the Start to the End’ by CaptainSquirel

This image puts in perspective just how traumatising it would have been to see Hogwarts destroyed in the Battle, and how much destruction there would have been to clear up following the fight. Entire sections of the castle obliterated, students called this place their home for years!

3) A Very Potter Musical

This may have been a fan parody musical, but Team Starkid did the Final Battle brilliantly! One of the more serious moments of the otherwise hilarious play. See the moment below:

4) Wizard Rock

It’ll make you laugh, cry and – most importantly – dance. Wizard Rock bands have been gifting fans their msucial interpretations of the Battle of Hogwarts for years! Most recently, Harry and the Potters announced a brand new album, Lumos, (with 16 songs!) set to focus soley on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Which Deathly Hallows Wrock song do you rate most highly?

What’s your favourite interpretation of the final battle? Do you have any fan fiction, fan videos or other interpretations to share with us? Tag us on social with the hastag #BattleOfHogwarts!