Is James really Harry's father?

Honestly, I haven't looked too much around to see if anyone else has written about this, but the latest Harry Potter movie seems to indicate that Lily might not have been as faithful as everyone thought. Granted, it's been a while since I read the last book and this parenthood mystery has mostly been sparked by the film, but JK would not have allowed anything to go ahead that she wasn't comfortable with.

The evidence?

It's mostly seen at the end of the film in two scenes; first of all during the Pensieve scenes with Snape’s memories. This is the part where Snape’s love for Lily is revealed, but with one notable part: Dumbledore asks about Snape’s feelings towards Harry, and basically asks if his feelings towards the young man have changed. In response, Snape reveals his Patronus: a doe, just like Lily’s. Dumbledore asks “After all this time?”, and Snape replies “Always”.
When I saw this, Snape being Harry’s real father was the first thought to cross my mind, but I quickly rejected it because the movie still wasn’t over.

When the Voldemort section of Harry has died and taken Harry with it, Harry encounters the dead Dumbledore. Harry asks Dumbledore if it’s curious that Snape’s Patronus is the same as Lilys; Dumbledore says that the more he thinks about it, the less curious it is.

That’s not much to go on, I know, but the fact that Snape and Lily are so bonded that their Patronus is the same, and that Dumbledore knows the truth about it sparks a lot of thought.

This is all from the movie, but in the books James and Harry are said to have thin faces and untidy black hair sticking up at the back. Snape is also supposed to be thin and have a thin face, a hooked nose, and long black hair. It is also said that Harry looks a lot like James except his eyes, which are Lily’s, and his nose which is bigger. And everyone keeps saying that Harry looks a lot like his father! Hmm.

So: Snape had a love for Lily but he hated that she married James. Snape showed a lot of courage and turned against all of his friends and Voldemort to secure Lily and Harry’s protection. Snape did everything in his power to protect Harry. Snape only started being really mean to Harry when he started acting like James. Snape and Harry look a lot alike (both thin, both scraggly black hair, both big-ish nose).

It’s my thought and the thought of everyone I know who has seen the film, that there is more than meets the eye here. Perhaps we will find a true answer when Pottermore opens?

What do you think? Is Snape the real father of Harry or does he just want to be? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Kathy 

Themes: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part two, Harry Potter, Snape, Dumbledore, James, Lily, family, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, James Potter, Lily Potter, Voldemort, parents, family, Is Snape Harry's father?, Harry Potter

Movie Time! Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2

I was fortunate enough to go to one of the many midnight screenings of this film at the Event Cinenmas (more on that later), and it was well worth it. Deathly Hallows part two makes up for the failure of the first film and then some, going into the past of our beloved characters and following someone other than Harry for a lot of this installment.

Deathly Hallows part one took all of the boring bits from the book and put them into one film. This isn't so much of a bad thing when you think that it means that part two was going to be filled with all of the good bits, but they could have used the slow parts of part one to explain the necessaries of this film that were left out, say Lupins kid and Bill's scar. Nonetheless, the first part is what it is, and part two has now made its way into cinemas around the world.

Where part started with a bang and went downhill fast, part two started slow and then ramped the intencity level up to 11. The scenes in Gringotts were very well done indeed, and I liked the Hermoine/Bellatrix bits the best. Helena Bonham Carter did such a fantastic job not only playing the crazy Bella, but playing someone else playing crazy Bella. There's a reason this woman is famous, kids. Ralph Fiennes is fabulous once more as the dark lord, and Alan Rickman as Snape brought a tear to everyones eye I'm sure. But it's really Matthew Lewis who steals this one, playing the kick ass Neville Longbottom once more. Neville has always been a favourite of mine, and I'm glad they did right by him until the end. It was great to see Neville as leader for a change, rallying the troops and basically being a heck of a lot more awesome than Harry. No offence to the Harry lovers out there, but it's clear that he may have power on his side but Neville has all of the heart.



The locations are breathtaking, but with England as a back drop what else is new. While Hogwarts was never a safe place for the students, it was the safest place they had, and seeing it destroyed was almost as sad as seeing our favourite characters loose their lives. While special effects were responsible for a lot, the practical effects really drew home the horror. 


If there's any quibbles I have, it's that they didn't show the deaths of Lupin, Tonks, and Fred. They weren't shown in the book either, and it does drive home the realities of war when you can't keep track of everyone and people die, but it would have been nice to see them die heroically. I wonder what it was like for such renowned actors as David Thewlis and Gary Oldman to have two lines each. 


I wouldn't have been able to see this if it wasn't for the awesome team at Event Cinemas. They made the midnight screenings a true pleasure to attend with the lovely staff and great decorations. It's a shame to hear that some people stole a lot of the decorations, making it not as pretty for the people who are seeing the film today.


All in all, a terrific movie, and one that I can't wait to see again. What are your thoughts? Like it, love it, hate it? Put it in the comments. 


Kathy



Themes: Bellatrix LeStrange, Daniel Radcliff, David Thewlis, Deathly Hallows, Event Cinemas, Fred Weasly, Gary Oldman, hallows, Harry Potter, Helena Bonham Carter, horcrux, Matthew Lewis, movie time, Neville Longbottom, Ralph Fiennes, Reamus Lupin, review, Tonks, Voldemort