I do think that's just your opinion. Firstly, a true christian wouldn't feel that HP was better because of its absence of religion, that's just retarded. Secondly, she's not trying to force anything upon anybody. Thirdly, It seems a lot of you are complaining about this happening, without this, without some sort of something after life, Harry would have died here. Or do none of you care about that? I'm just glad Harry survived, if she did it like that so be it. Finally, you said it was a bit too christian for you? Why? Are you saying no other religion in the entire world has an afterlife?

This was one of my favorite chapters, and I'm glad she put it in there, a genius writer like J.K. Rowling shouldn't even have to be defended, especially when the chapter is great in the first place.

^ I loved how you said people get what they want to out of literature. I agree completley. I think Jo wanted it to be where everyone had their own interpretation of what happened that meant something to them. I mean, she knows how close all her readers are to Harry, I bet she wanted them to relate to his journey in each individuals unique way. I know I did.

I think the fact that Jo can write something that so many people got so many different interpretations of is proof that Harry Potter will be a classic piece of literature for ages to come.

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion - being rude however is unacceptable.

I think I agreee with who ever said that King's Cross and the train meant that he had to make the choice of whether he wanted to go to the other world or remain. That's what I thought, atleast.

Also, I didn't get the whole baby thing. What was that about? Sorry if this isn't the place to post the question but I thought it would be appropriate since it has something to do with the chapter.

ha this reminds me, when I was at the midnight thing waiting for DH, a minister came up to me and handed me a Christian pamphlet. I'm Catholic, and HP is all in good fun. Anyone who actually turns to Wicca or something like that because of HP is kinda weird, no offense.

But I did think that King's Cross scene is weird - but it had to take place if Harry was going to get the answers. And what was with the baby? It made me sad...

even thought this chapter was kind of weird i am glad that it is in the book
it explained alot but why is it at king's cross station?

I can see why a lot of people would not like this chapter. However, it is clearly a very important chapter in the book as Harry here learns everything that he never knew. Like many people have said I believe that King's Cross symbolises not only the choice between two different lives, but also carries the importance that this was the place where Harry made the choice to enter the Wizarding World.

I did not dislike this chapter, I thought it held a lot of important information and in no way could I see this as a weak way out for JK. She had obviously planned the ending in much detail and thought.

this part was so confusing! its hard to decipher what place is that? like life before real death?....well i think its supposed to be misunderstood like that... and dumbledore being there as a memory well that one was explained... what are those crying things? its scary, its like mentioned three times, harry asking what are those and Dumbledore keep on saying you cant help them or theyre beyond help... its scary, freaks me out, gives me goosebumps...

I think Kings Cross was a place befpre you die. You choose if you want to go nack into the world again. I would of liked Harry to have met the other people who died there as well, Fred, Tonks, Colin, ect. I don't know what that baby thingwas though, any ideas?

I loved this chapter. I also agree Jo put a lot of thought into it. I liked the fact that she created such a foil, a completely calm place, to the hectic things and thoughts going on in and outside of Harry's mind.

I think it gave me time to absorb all that was going on. I'm not sure why it's at King's Cross. It does seem like a halfway point between life and death. I also believe it's symbolic of beginnings. That's where Harry first got on the train his first year and that's where the epilouge takes place. Plus, Jo loves train stations so maybe it just seemed like a natural place to her.

To me, the baby was Voldemort. Remember, both him and Harry "passed out" so I think they both went there.

I wasn't as moved by this chapter as everyone else, I think. I know that it put everything in context, but it just felt a little too serene in the middle of the battle of the magical world. It might be that I prefer grit and blood, or just don't like trains?

I think that it is the limbo, you're neither dead or alive, but waiting to decide on what will happen, a bit of the unknown, the undecided.

Jo has now said that she's gunna leave it open to our own interpretation but she sees it as a place between life and death.

It's not literally at there, it's because it's symbolic of journeys.

^I like that she did that. I think everyone has their own interpretation, which is great, and is obviously what Jo was aiming for.

I also think that while this chapter was greatly symbolic and moving, it was a way for Jo to kinda wrap things up and answer questions, without making the book 1,000 pages long. I was watching an interview of her (Dateline) and she said it's impossible to answer every question out there. She said she gets kids wanting to know Harry's grandparents' middle names.

All in all, no matter what your opinion is, I'm sure we can all agree that this is a unique and thought-provoking chapter. Isn't that what reading should be all about?

When I read that part when Dumbledore and Harry were in King's Cross I was completely confused and it was really weird.
But when you think about it, it was a sort of cross roads between life and death and the choices you make, determine who you are and what path you want to take in life. The baby/creature was probably Voldemort.

I read somewhere that JK said, that King's' Cross represents the "wall" between the wizarding world and muggles for Harry, and I think that's the right thing to say. King's Cross station was the first place that Harry came, after Diagon Alley, after he realized he was a wizard. The train at the station, drove him at his real home, Hogwarts, and I believe that's why he went there, when he "died".

Was harry thinking about that place nwhen he went to voldemort!Is that why Harry met dumbledore there

Its in Harry's mind.
And i think the reason its at King's cross is because its where his journey all began.

Yea, i'm not sure what to think about the whole King's Cross thing. I guess for me i saw it as the crossing over point. For Harry, King's Cross is where he first began his new life as a wizard so it seems only fit that it should be the place where it ends. Although, this is only for Harry. As Dumbledore said, it was all in Harry's mind. Kings Cross is the place where Harry would decide whether to stay or go on. Everyone had good theories though. I have a question. At Kings Cross there was some kind of whimpering creature that Dumbledore said couldn't be helped. What was it? In my opinion i think it was the part of Voldemort's soul that was also killed with Harry. Thats why Harry wanted to help it but was afraid of it for some reason. That would also explain why Dumbledore said it couldn't be helped because Voldemort was a lost cause.

It's ironic how this one chapter, jam packed with literary writing techniques (i.e foreshadow, metaphors, symbolism etc...) happens to possibly be the most disliked chapter out of the book from it's readers. Before reading the book I truly prayed that J.K Rowling would tie lose ends with this novel and ultimately create closure. The ironic part to this chapter is that it initially closes lose ends and creates closure for the series. Throughout the Kings Cross chapter, the unknown is explained and clarity is given. The symbolism of Kings Cross is that this where his magical experience begins. Platform 9 3/4 Quarters is the threshold for Harry into his new "home". Someone said previously that this is where he made the CHOICE to enter this world. No one forced him to do anything! No one said that he has to save his friends, fight Voldemort, go to Hogwarts. Everything that he's done has been on his own account. On J.K.R's behalf, it made complete sense to take us back to where the book basically started enhancing magically.

I have to admit that the first time that I read this chapter, I didn't completely understand it. So much was going on with the Dumbledore, Harry, and the little creature which could have been symbolic for Voldemort's Horcrux that was present in Harry. I'd encourage anyone who disliked the chapter to read it alone and not after reading all the previous chapters. J.K.R is a brilliant writer and with every chapter (especially this one) there's a purpose and intention behind it.

I think this chapter was extremely well written, and I really agree with MUSTANG SALLY *hear, hear* it was one of my favourite chapters in the series, because so much stuff were explained, and how Kings Cross represented so much things, like each person's opinion on why.

I too am confused about the whole baby thing. What was that about? Does it have somehting to do with what harry about he's seen what voldemort will be like if he doesn't try for remorse or whatever? someone care to enlighten me?

i'm also clueless about the baby!

This really confused me at first. I had to read it twice to understand it!
Although its tough to get your head around at first, if you read it slowly and carefully, you understand more what is happening.
Its really cleverly written!
Here is what i thought it meant:

Voldemort couldnt die because Harry is a horcrux and Harry has Lilys blood inside him.
When Voldemort came back to power, he took some of Harrys blood and put it into himself. The protection Lily gave Harry was still alive, so Voldemort had that protection aswell. Harry being a horcrux and having a distinctive connection with Voldemort helped the protection to carry on living inside of Voldemort.
As Voldemort was well over the age of 17, the protection couldnt die inside him, so he stayed living, and because the protection is still alive in Voldemorts body, and there is a part of Voldemort inside Harry, that means the protection still lives inside Harry and he cannot die. But when the Horcrux is destroyed, the connection dies and so does Lilys protection, meaning that they are both vunrebale.


If this is wrong in any way could you please correct me. But this is what I got out of the chapter.
And if anyone is struggeling to understand the chapter, I hope this helps!

The baby is the part of Voldemorts soul that was inside Harry that has now died.

Hm...I've always thought it was the crossroads between the muggle world and the wizarding world. This is where Harry has most of his anticipatory times, awaiting the train to Hogwarts. This is where he met Ron, and where he and Ron couldn't get into the gate for Hogwarts in second year, which led them to taking the flying car to school. So it only makes sense that Harry would think of King's Cross as his "crossroads" between life and death.