Cover Art Unveiled

by · April 4, 2007

by Josh O’Rourke

When I saw the three covers for Deathly Hallows, I knew I had to jump on writing an editorial. These days it’s very rare to find a topic that hasn’’t been discussed to death. The following are the images that jumped out at me the most. I’m sure most of my theories are wrong, but it doesn’’t hurt to try, right?

The Great Mystery

The most striking part of the American cover is that both Harry and Voldemort are not facing each other. Strange that two sworn enemies would not seize the moment to bust out the Avada Kedavra curse.

Mary Grandpré specifically illustrated the cover this way, which begs the question, “Why aren’’t Harry and Voldemort fighting each other?” Is Harry bad? Is Voldemort good? For whatever reason, Harry and Voldemort are not fighting. It’s almost as if they are uniting for some cause, which brings me to my next point:

The Veil

Since the title of Book 7 was released, fans have speculated that the veil or something beyond the veil is what “Deathly Hallows” is referring to. I think this is a valid theory and very possibly what Deathly Hallows are. And if you look at both the UK children’’s cover and the American cover, it seems even more likely.

In the American cover, we see rubble and curtains, a scene of destruction. Maybe the veil was destroyed? In the British version we see some sort of portal, which the trio seems to be sucked into. Since Jo Rowling has been so quiet about the veil so far, it’’s safe to say it will play some sort of role in Deathly Hallows. What that role is, remains to be seen, but I’’m certain we’’ll find out what really happened to Sirius. And maybe we’’ll see our favorite Headmaster too.

The Locket

On the adult UK cover, there is simply a locket of some sort, with a chain attached to it. I’’d guess, without almost no doubt, that this is Slytherin’’s locket, based on the large ‘S.’ Also, in the American version, Harry is wearing something very locket-like around his neck. Coincidence? I think not.

The Cloaks

Don’t you hate it when you wake up in the morning and pick out a favorite shirt and discover that someone else is wearing the exact same thing? I’’m sure that’s what must have happened with Harry and Voldemort.

Harry: “C’;mon! You killed my parents, my godfather and Dumbledore, now you have to copy my fashion sense?”

Voldemort: “Sorry. To make it up to you; how about we don’’t fight this time? I’’ve had a pretty rough week and I really could use a nap.”

Harry: “No, I’’m sorry; I overreacted. It’’s been a busy week for me too. How about you wear mysterious brown cloaks on Mondays, and I’’ll wear them on Fridays?”

Voldemort: “That sounds fair.”

Harry: “Same time next week?”

In all seriousness, though, I have no idea why Harry and Voldemort are both wearing the same brown cloaks. I doubt it is a coincidence, but I have no idea what they could be.

Further Madness

Not only do Harry and Voldemort have cloaks that aren’’t typical for them, but in the UK children’’s cover Hermione and Ron are both wearing strange cloaks. Also, there is something directly behind Harry, grabbing on to his shoulder with one hand and clutching a sword with the other (Gryffindor’’s sword? I doubt it, but you never know).

At first, I thought it might be Voldemort. But if you take a closer look, the creature is smaller than a human, with pointed ears. Hmm… what kind of creature is smaller than a human with pointed ears? A House-Elf, perhaps? Or more specifically: Kreacher. Since Kreacher lived in the Black house his whole life, what’s to stop him from knowing about some of the activities of the Black family? Some fans have even speculated that, if R.A.B. is Regulus (and at this point, I can’t think of who else it could be), then Kreacher was the one to drink the potion in the cave to get the locket Horcrux. If not Kreacher, possibly Dobby is helping on Harry’’s Horcrux hunt.

Other Mysteries

  • What is the treasure in the UK cover? Could this be Hebzibah Smith’’s treasures? Or an accumulation of items the dead left behind before entering the veil?
  • There’’s a snake coiled up in a glass ball of some sort in the UK children’’s cover. Could this represent Nagini? Is there significance to Harry’s (and James’’) patronus on the inside cover of the book?
  • On the American cover, people seem to be watching Harry and Voldemort. I don’t think it’’s Death Eaters, since the shape of the shadows are not typical of Death-eaters. But, who are they?
  • The scene of the American cover takes place in the outdoors. Since we can see the sky. Perhaps it’’s inside the veil. Maybe Voldemort and Harry are trying to leave the veil….

Final Thoughts

So, with only a few images, we have been given a plethora of information to speculate on. Whether any of this is true remains to be seen. But with only a few months left before Deathly Hallows is released, the time to speculate is nearly over. It’’s been a great journey so far and I can’’t wait to see where Jo Rowling takes us next.