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of the Phoenix was expecting. Like Christ, Harry Potter is not the kingly general they wanted to lead them in their fight. Though Harry Potter has the right bloodlines and skills to be a leader, like Christ in the Gospels he faces confrontations with evil alone, not at the head of an army. Harry Potter does not attempt to overthrow the ruling class any more than Christ did: Harry saves everyone, even Malfoy.

Other characters in the Harry Potter books have Christian parallels. In the Harry Potter series, Voldemort plays the role of the Anti-Christ. Voldemort's objective is the overthrow of the government. Like the Anti-Christ, Voldemort accomplishes this through terror and the machinations of his Marked followers. Harry Potter's best friends, Ron and Hermione, also have Christian parallels. Hermione's Christian parallel is Mary Magdalene. The social outcast, she is saved by Harry Potter and becomes his most loyal follower, staying with him even at the end when everyone else has deserted him. Ron's Christian parallel is St. Peter. Though closest to Harry Potter, he denies and abandons him twice during the course of the septology, during the Triwizard Tournament and while they are in hiding in the seventh book. Ron unintentionally abandons Harry Potter a third time during the third book when he is injured and unable to use the time-turner with Harry and Hermione. Even Snape has a Christian parallel in the Harry Potter books. Like the penitent thief on the cross beside Christ, he dies but is redeemed.

Christian Plot
Throughout the Harry Potter series, J. K. Rowling borrows many episodes from the Christian Gospels. There are minor episodes in the Harry Potter series that seem to be lifted diectly from Christian Gospel. The most obvious is at the end of her first book when Voldemort tempts Harry Potter in an attempt to get the Sorcerer's Stone. The Christian parallel is Christ's temptation in the desert of Judea. The episode on the train in the sixth book, when others are shocked at his unpopular companions, parallels Christ's eating with tax collectors and other outcasts.

The entire story arc throughout the series about Harry Potter's life also follows a Christian plot. Harry Potter is prophesied before his birth as the one who can defeat evil. Persecuted throughout his life, he spends most of his energies helping others. Hermione accuses Harry Potter of having a "saving people thing." In the end he decides to allow Voldemort to kill him so that no one else will suffer. After Voldemort seemingly kills him (he does not have the power to kill Harry), Harry is tortured by the "Cruciatus" curse. The curse is cast by saying "crucio," which is Latin for "to crucify."

The Harry Potter series was intended from it's inception as a a work of Christian literature. Throughout the series, J. K. Rowling employs Christian imagery, characters, and plot in her Harry Potter books.

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