|
"Are you a wizard, or what?"
The title of this article is conjectural. Although it is based on canonical information, the actual name is a conjecture and may be supplanted at any time by additional information released from canonical sources. If this occurs, please move this page to the appropriate title. |
- "Harry watched with terror and elation as Molly Weasley's wand slashed and twisted, and Bellatrix Lestrange's smile faltered and became a snarl. Jets of light flew from both wands, the floor around the witches' feet became hot and cracked; both women were fighting to kill."
- — Description of the duel[src]
This duel was fought between Hogwarts students Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood, Ginny Weasley, and ex-student and matriarch of the Weasley family Molly Weasley against Death Eater lieutenant Bellatrix Lestrange, taking place in the Great Hall of Hogwarts Castle after the hour-long halt during the Battle of Hogwarts. The duel was initially fought by all three of the formers until Molly interfered after the girls' opponent nearly killed one of the duelists involved, Molly's daughter, Ginny.[1]
After Molly cast a well-aimed lethal spell at Bellatrix, she toppled lifeless to the ground, making Voldemort scream in fury and point his wand at her. Harry Potter cast a Shield Charm between the two of them, thus revealing himself and setting the stage for the duel that ended the Second Wizarding War.[1]
History[]
Background[]
- "NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!"
- — Mrs Weasley before starting the duel[src]
After the Battle of Hogwarts recommenced, the arrival of the Hogwarts Centaur herd, Grawp, and the shopkeepers and homeowners of Hogsmeade forced the battle to move inside the Castle, with duellers being forced into the Great Hall by the charging forces.[1]
The duel[]
- Bellatrix Lestrange: "What will happen to your children when I've killed you? When Mummy's gone the same way as Freddie?"
- Molly Weasley: "You — will — never — touch — our — children — again!"
- — Bellatrix taunting Mrs Weasley during the duel[src]
Ginny misses death at Bellatrix's hands by a mere inch
Fifty yards away from Lord Voldemort, who duelled against Minerva McGonagall, Horace Slughorn and Kingsley Shacklebolt, Bellatrix Lestrange started a duel against Hermione Granger, Ginevra Weasley and Luna Lovegood, all three girls combining their best efforts to defeat her. Despite not using her personal wand, Bellatrix still proved herself to be equal in power to the three of them. During the duel, Bellatrix shot a Killing Curse at Ginny. Bellatrix's curse narrowly missed Ginny, sparing her death by mere inches.
Molly Weasley raises her wand towards Bellatrix
Molly Weasley witnessed this and, enraged at the Death Eater, ran towards her, shouting "Not my daughter, you bitch!". Bellatrix, quickly turning her attention to Molly, cackled with mocking laughter. It was clear Bellatrix didn't see her as a serious opponent. Molly proceeded to attack her with fierceness and precision, having cleared Ginny, Hermione, and Luna out of the way.[1]
Molly Weasley and Bellatrix locked in combat with one another
Realising that Molly was indeed a worthy adversary, Bellatrix dropped her jeering manner and unleashed her full strength at Molly. A fierce duel ensued, with both witches' magical abilities being potent enough to cause the floor underneath them to become hot and cracked as each tried to finish off the other. At this point, a few Hogwarts students attempted to enter the battle to help Mrs Weasley, but were dismissed with a "No! Get back! Get back! She is mine!"[1]
Bellatrix then started taunting Mrs Weasley over her son's death, proceeding to laugh at Molly's enraged response that the Death Eater "will never touch our children again!". This provided an opening for Molly to strike Bellatrix with a curse that hit her straight in the heart, killing her.[1]
Aftermath[]
- "Bellatrix's gloating smile froze, her eyes seemed to bulge: for the tiniest space of time she knew what had happened, and then she toppled, and the watching crowd roared, and Voldemort screamed."
- — Description[src]
A dead Bellatrix at Molly Weasley's feet
After her body toppled to the ground, an outraged Voldemort blasted away the three opposing duelists he was fighting and turned his wand on Molly. This prompted Harry Potter to cast a Shield Charm between the two and in the process reveal himself. Voldemort and Harry circled each other and the final showdown between them ensued.
Voldemort, attempting to kill Harry, cast the Killing Curse, and Harry a Disarming Charm. The Elder Wand refusing, to harm its true master, rebounded Voldemort's curse. Bellatrix did not live to see the end of the Second Wizarding War and her master's final defeat at Harry Potter's hands mere moments later.[1]
Behind the scenes[]
Molly's last two spells against Bellatrix
Bellatrix froze in place, seemingly turned into stone
- In the film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, this duel has some noticeable differences:
- In the film, Bellatrix casts a blue spell at Ginny Weasley instead of a Killing Curse, who deflects it using a Shield Charm. In the book she just avoids it.
- In the film, Hermione and Luna are also not duelling Bellatrix alongside Ginny as depicted in the book, as Hermione is fighting Nagini with Ron on the Grand Staircase and Luna can be seen fighting Death Eaters behind Bellatrix.
- In the film, the duel takes place atop one of the House tables, instead of on the stone floor, as specified in the book.
- In the film, after Bellatrix's retaliation against Molly's attack, Molly proceeds to cast four unidentified spells in a row, but they are all blocked by Bellatrix. The unidentified spells are fired with green lights, seeming to be the Killing Curses; however, in the books, Killing Curses are not able to be blocked by a simple Shield Charm.
- In the film, Bellatrix is briefly immobilised, breathing in deeply with an expression of shock, and after being hit by another spell by Molly Weasley, explodes. In the book she just falls over, dead.
- In the film, neither Harry nor Voldemort witness the duel, as they are facing off on the Grand Staircase, the Marble Staircase and later on a set of catwalks by The Quad battlements. But in the book, Voldemort screams about Bellatrix's loss.
- In the film, Bellatrix is not the last standing Death Eater.
- In Harry Potter Limited Edition - Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey, there is an image shown indicating an alternate death to Bellatrix, where she is blasted into the wall behind her and lying amongst a pile of crutches.
- In the video game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, this duel has some noticeable differences:
- Bellatrix starts shooting randomly before she sees Ginny Weasley. In the book Molly arrives while Bellatrix is duelling Ginny, Hermione and Luna.
- Molly uses the line "You will never touch my children again!" after Bellatrix is defeated, just like in the book; however, this does not occur in the film.
- Bellatrix shoots down a corner of the roof of the Great Hall. This doesn't happen in the book.
- Molly and Bellatrix run all over the Great Hall shooting spells and curses, while taunting each other. In the book they only stand in one spot.
- Bellatrix uses several taunts against Molly such as "You should get off your feet more" and "How is little Freddie, still not with us?". Molly says, "You'll regret the day you escaped from Azkaban!".
- In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, Molly and Kingsley duel Bellatrix on The Quad battlements, while several Death Eaters emerge from the shadows to defend her. Like all duels in the second game (apart from the Ousting of Severus Snape) the duel is waged entirely with Bellatrix firing Reverse Spells at her enemies, the target depending on the player's decision to use Molly or Kingsley. Much like in the film, Molly destroys Bellatrix by making her body quite literally explode.[2]
Appearances[]
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (First appearance)
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (video game)
- Pottermore (Mentioned only)
- Wizarding World (Mentioned only)
- Harry Potter Limited Edition - Harry Potter Page to Screen: The Complete Filmmaking Journey (Image of an alternate outcome)
- LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
- Harry Potter: The Character Vault (Mentioned only)