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== Analysis ==
Much that has been hidden in the series to date is now revealed. First and foremost, of course, is the matter of the Prophecy; this one item explains why Voldemort has singled Harry out, ofas all possible people, to be thehis main target of his efforts. It also explains why Harry is the hero ofin thethis series; if the Prophecy is true, and the Wizards evidentlygenerally believe thatit they generally areis, then Harry alone can defeat the Dark Lord, and the Wizarding world's sole hope rests with him. We also learn ofsee Dumbledore's love for Harry, his fear for what would happen if Harry learned oftoo soon about the burden placedthe onprophecy himhas byplaced theon prophecyhim, and to some small extent the efforts that Dumbledore has made to protect Harry and, as much as possible, nurture him.
These things, of course, are things that have affected the course of the entire series to date, and likely will affect also the final two books in the series. We also learn, regarding events in this book, exactly why Dumbledore had chosen to actacted aloof towards Harry, and why Dumbledorehe had wanted Harry to learn Occlumency. Additionally, we learn that Snape had acted correctly when warned by Harry. This seems to reinforce Dumbledore's opinion of, and trust in, Snape. Harry, however, believes that Snape had somehow engineered matters such that Sirius had died, and cannot be dissuaded of this belief. Examining what Dumbledore tells us, and the sequence of events, we can see that Snape believed Sirius to be safe at home in Grimmauld Place. It is unknown whether Snape goaded Sirius to the Ministry, or whether Sirius went entirely of his own volition; Dumbledore believes it was entirely his own decision, but Harry, if he chooses to contemplate this at all, does not believe this.
We also learn that Dumbledore can make quite serious mistakes. Up until this point, Dumbledore has seemed to be largely infallible; distant as he always was, and somewhat unknowable, still his pronouncements were invariably accurate. Here, we see hisDumbledore admitting to thehis mistakes ofin not telling Harry sooner what was prophesied for him, of attempting to have Snape teach Occlumency to Harry, and in something of a backhand way, of not properly explaining why Harry should be barring Voldemort's thoughts. TheThese latter two of these mistakes have had fairly major effects in this book; Snape's attempts to teach Occlumency to Harry, surrounded as they are with Snape's bias against Harry and Harry's distrust and dislike of Snape, serveserved only to increase the strength ofstrengthen the link between Harry and Voldemort, and Harry's being unaware that Voldemort could create fake images and project them into Harry's mind resulted, ultimately, in luring Harry's being lured to the Ministry and Sirius' death.
Very late in this chapter, almost hidden, is one particularly interesting point. Dumbledore tells Harry that the power he has that Voldemort does notcannot understand is love, and that it was that deep love, offor his parents and of Sirius, that protected Harry from possession by Voldemort. Voldemort left Harry because ''"he could not bear to reside in a body so full of the force he detests."'' This could be a factor in later books.
Harry is roiling in turmoil—simultaneously experiencing rage, grief, and guilt. Although Dumbledore explains why he withheld vital information and reveals the entire prophecy, it does little to console Harry. He now understands his ties to the Dursleys, and althoughthough his relationship with Petunia will never change, he now realizes that it is she, through their blood connection, who stands between him and Voldemort. And althoughthough Petunia has no love for her nephew, she continues to fulfill her obligation to protect him; Harry knows he must continue to endure living in her home until he comes of age. And now Harry has a new burden to bear: either he or Voldemort must die.
== Questions ==
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