- Harry Potter Lexington: Calendar of Events: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows <http://www.hp-lexicon.org/
timelines/ calendars/ calendar_dh.html>
- The Avada Kedavra Curse is the worst of the Unforgivable Curses. This curse causes instant death that is not medically explainable. When the curse strikes a non-living object, the energy is released in a small explosion at the point of impact. If the material struck is flammable, the curse starts a fire of greenish flames. There is no known counter-curse or blocking spell, although the caster can be interrupted, the victim can dodge the green jet, hide behind solid objects, or, if the casting wizard is not sufficiently competent, the curse may be completely ineffective as performed by Barty Crouch Jr. acting as Alastor Moody in The Goblet of Fire. <http://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/ Unforgiveable_Curse> In this case the curse was probably deflected by the bars of Hedwig's cage.
- The Confringo Curse (Confringo is Latin for "I break") causes anything that the spell comes into contact with to explode. It is used by Harry to destroy the side-car in the beginning of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; later Hermione uses it in an attempt to kill Nagini and facilitate an escape from Bathilda Bagshot's house in Godric's Hollow.
This spell seems to use heat as the source for the explosion. When Hermione uses it against Nagini Harry is able to feel the "heat" of the spell as it passes him. In both cases it seems that the Blasting Curse is essentially a magical bomb, while the similar curse Expulso merely blows objects apart without using heat. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Spells_in_Harry_Potter>
The target of Harry's Confringo curse is the sidecar and that is what it contacts and what explodes - not Hedwig and her cage. When Hermione uses the curse in Bathilda's bedroom it ricochets around because it is confined. Harry used the curse outside and it hit the sidecar only, causing it to explode and the cage (and Hedwig) to be blasted free. There is no ricocheting here.
- The Snowy Owl, unlike other owls, is largely diurnal; it spends much of its time perched still and silent on prominent lookouts, waiting to make forays for prey. Cornell Lab of Ornithology: Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca)
<http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/ BirdGuide/ Snowy _Owl.html>
- The dates here are a little unclear. We can assume that the Death Eaters and Voldermort recognized Hagrid on the motorcycle during the Seven Potters escape on July 27 and that orders would have immediately been issued from the Ministry for his arrest. Harry's birthday party was July 31 and Bill and Fleur's wedding was August 1; Hagrid attended on both occasions. He would have been protected from arrest by the protective enchantments surrounding the Burrow until they were broken on the wedding evening. We can therefore conclude that Hagrid does not leave the Burrow until Kingsley Shacklebolt's patronis' warning at the wedding that the ministry has fallen, upon which he probably disapparates back to Hogwarts.
When Hagrid returns to Hogwarts, he learns that "they were trying to arrest him." He leaves the cabin immediately and goes to live in a cave with Grawp in the mountains. (DH, Bloomsbury edition, 452.) Hedwig would therefore have found the cabin empty when she arrived on 2 August.
- In the UK the Scots Pine is one of only three native conifers, along with yew and juniper, and is one of the commonest evergreen trees in Britain. Its Latin name is Pinus sylvestris. Hedwig probably chose this tree as a place of concealment because of its thick foliage, which consists of short bluish needles. The Royal Forestry Society <http://www.rfs.org.uk/learning/Scots_pine_2>
- Burn-healing Paste is an orange paste and is used to heal burns. It was used by Madam Pomfrey to tend to burns during the Triwizard Tournament (GF, Bloomsbury edition, 20)
Harry Potter Lexicon: The Complete Guide to Magic
<http://www.hp-lexicon.info/magic/ potions/ potions-b.html#burn-healing_paste>
- Bruise-healing Paste is a thick yellow paste used to heal bruises. The Weasley twins gave some to Hermione to treat the bruises caused by their prototype punching telescope (HBP6)
Harry Potter Lexicon: The Complete Guide to Magic
<http://www.hp-lexicon.info/magic/ potions/ potions-b.html#bruise-healing_paste>
- Murtlap Essence is a solution of strained and pickled Murtlap tentacles, yellow in color, which soothes and heals cuts and other wounds. Murtlap essence, or essence of Murtlap, was recommended by Hermione for Harry for soaking his hand after detention with Umbridge. Later in the school year, Harry recommended that Lee Jordan use it after his own detention, and Lee later recommended it to Fred and George to help with the boils they got testing their Fever Fudge.
Harry Potter Lexicon: The Complete Guide to Magic
<http://www.hp-lexicon.org/magic/ potions/ potions-m.html#murtlap_essence>
- Attibutes of Houses:
You might belong in Hufflepuff
Where they are just and loyal,
The patient Hufflepuffs are true
And unafraid of toil. (The Sorting Hat, HPPS, Bloomsbury edition, 88)
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart. (The Sorting Hat, HPPS, Bloomsbury edition, 88)
Gryffindor values courage, daring, nerve and chivalry above all else;
Hufflepuff values hard work, loyalty, tolerance, and fair play above all else. Wikipedia: Hogwarts Houses <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Hogwarts_Houses>
- In an interview with the Today show on NBC TV on 26 July, 2007, J. K. Rowling did not clarify whether Harry, Ron and Hermione ever return to school to finish their seventh year, but she did say she could see Harry making an appearance every now and then to give the odd talk on Defense against the Dark Arts.
J. K. Rowling Goes Beyond the Epilogue:<http://www.beyondhogwarts.com/ harry-potter/ articles/ jk-rowling-goes-beyond-the-epilogue.html>
- During a Webchat on 30 July 2007 (Bloomsbury Launch Event for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows) J. K. Rowling said concerning Hedwig's supposed death: "The loss of Hedwig represented a loss of innocence and security. She has been almost like a cuddly toy to Harry at times. Voldemort killing her marked the end of childhood. I'm sorry… I know that death upset a LOT of people!" <http://www.the-leaky-cauldron.org/2007/7/30/
j-k-rowling-web-chat-transcript>
Hedwig obviously resents this characterization of her as a mere "cuddly toy" and feels (as does the editor) that she played a much more significant role in Harry's story.