Harry Potter & Rain & Snow

In an attempt this summer to read all the Harry Potter books before the new/last film came out as well as re-watch Deathly Hallows Part I & then, finally, Part 2, I was struck by the consistent use of rain, water & snow in both the books and the films. A few examples that seem especially significant include the, to quote Foster rather than Rowlings, "malicious rainstorm" (76) that plagues Harry's 3rd book Quidich game. True to Foster "rain falls on the just & unjust alike" so it serves as a leveler for both sides in the game, makes everyone "more miserable"(76) thus up-ing the challenge of the "quest" while refining Harry & his team capt. most specifically as well as enhancing the "mystery" (76) that follows Harry's "attack" during the game. Similarly in Deathly Hallows Part 1, Harry visits his parents' former home & graves while in snow. Ironically (chapter 26)it is Christmastime--a supposed time of celebration, yet the snow scenes seem to amplify Harry's isolation--Foster calls snow "stark, severe...inhospitable"-- & it also highlights the danger he is in. As Foster notes it is very "blanket"like (80) thus suggesting either a desire for death or the threat of it or the reality of his parents death.