Harry Potter, #7
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
by J.K. Rowling
Contents
CHAPTER FOUR
Overview
The Order arrives at Privet Drive with a revised escape plan: six members take Polyjuice Potion to become decoys while each pair heads to separate safe houses. The convoy is ambushed; Hedwig is killed and Harry’s use of Expelliarmus marks him as real. Voldemort himself pursues, but Harry’s wand inexplicably counters him, and Harry and Hagrid crash-land, barely escaping.
Summary
Harry watches the Dursleys depart, takes a last look around Privet Drive, and is interrupted by the Order of the Phoenix arriving under Disillusionment. In the kitchen, Mad-Eye Moody outlines a new plan: due to Ministry blocks and Harry’s Trace, they will use brooms, thestrals, and Hagrid’s motorbike. Six volunteers will become Harry via Polyjuice Potion, each decoy paired with a protector and heading to different safe houses before Portkeying to the Burrow.
Despite Harry’s protests, hair is taken and the potion brewed; Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Fleur, and Mundungus transform into Harry. Pairs are assigned: Moody with Mundungus; Arthur with one twin, Lupin with the other; Bill with Fleur on a thestral; Kingsley with Hermione on a thestral; Tonks with Ron; and Hagrid with the real Harry on Sirius’s motorbike. They launch simultaneously into the night.
Immediately, a large force of Death Eaters ambushes them. In the chaos the bike flips, Harry nearly loses his gear, and Hedwig is struck dead by a Killing Curse. Hagrid deploys Weasley modifications (airborne wall, net, dragon-fire) to shake pursuers, but the sidecar breaks away. Harry levitates it briefly, duels multiple Death Eaters, and blows up the falling sidecar, grieving Hedwig. When he disarms a masked pursuer and recognizes Stan Shunpike, a Death Eater identifies him as the real Harry, causing the chase to intensify.
Voldemort arrives, flying unsupported, and attacks. Hagrid dives to evade Killing Curses, then tackles a Death Eater off a broom, leaving Harry momentarily alone on the failing motorbike. As Voldemort closes in and demands another’s wand, Harry’s scar sears and his own wand acts of its own accord, releasing golden fire that thwarts Voldemort. Voldemort vanishes; Harry steers into a crash, swerving to avoid Hagrid, and smashes into a muddy pond, barely escaping with his life.
Who Appears
- Harry PotterLeaves Privet Drive, protests the decoy plan, duels Death Eaters, loses Hedwig, disarms Stan, and inexplicably repels Voldemort.
- Rubeus HagridTransports Harry on Sirius’s motorbike, deploys bike’s defenses, dives to evade Voldemort, tackles a Death Eater, survives the crash.
- Mad-Eye MoodyLeads the mission, explains Ministry blocks and the Seven Potters plan, assigns travel pairs and transport.
- Ron WeasleyBecomes a decoy Harry, pairs with Tonks, offers reluctant support for the plan.
- Hermione GrangerBecomes a decoy Harry, pairs with Kingsley on a thestral, reassures Harry about the plan.
- Fred WeasleyTakes Polyjuice to become Harry, jokes with George, pairs with Arthur or Remus per Moody’s assignment.
- George WeasleyAlso becomes Harry, banters with Fred, pairs with Remus or Arthur as assigned.
- Arthur WeasleyHelps prepare the motorbike, joins escort assignments for a decoy Harry.
- Remus LupinAssists organizing decoys and escorts one twin; worries for the group’s safety.
- Nymphadora TonksNewly married to Lupin; pairs with Ron on broom; departs in formation.
- Kingsley ShackleboltLeaves Prime Minister to aid escape; escorts Hermione on a thestral.
- Bill WeasleyEscorts Fleur on a thestral; departs as part of the decoy convoy.
- Fleur DelacourBecomes a decoy Harry; travels with Bill on a thestral.
- Mundungus FletcherReluctant decoy Harry; assigned to travel with Moody by broom.
- Lord VoldemortJoins the aerial ambush, flying unsupported; attempts to kill Harry but is thwarted by Harry’s wand.
- Stan ShunpikeRevealed among attackers; Harry disarms him, prompting Death Eaters to identify the real Harry.
- HedwigHarry’s owl; killed by a Killing Curse during the ambush, devastating Harry.