30 Sec Answer: By sacrificing himself and allowing Voldemort to unintentionally give him some of his powers, Harry was able to survive the Killing Curse cast on him by Voldemort in the forest.
How did Harry Survive Avada Kedavra in the Forest?
Introduction
It has been over a decade since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 premiered in theaters, yet fans of the beloved franchise still ask how Harry survived Avada Kedavra in the forest. This article dives deep into JK Rowling’s wizarding world and examines exactly how The Boy Who Lived managed to cheat death in one of the most iconic scenes of all time.
What is Avada Kedavra?
Avada Kedavra, also known as The Killing Curse, is an unforgivable curse that can instantly kill anyone it is cast upon. It is powerful enough that even those with magical protection are unable to deflect or survive its effects without intervention from an outside source. As such, it is considered to be one of the most dangerous curses in existence.
What Was Happening In The Forest Scene?
The scene begins with Voldemort approaching Harry in the Forbidden Forest after being summoned there by Nagini using Parseltongue. He casts Avada Kedavra at Harry, intending to finally finish off his greatest enemy once and for all. However, something unexpected happens – instead of killing him instantly, Harry survives the curse! This leads to a momentary stand-off between them before Voldemort quickly retreats, leaving both characters and viewers alike stunned.
How Was Voldemort Able To Cast Avada Kedavra At All?
Voldemort had previously lost his ability to perform magic due to his lack of a soul. However, he was able to regain some of his abilities when he created six Horcruxes – objects which contained portions of his soul. These allowed him to regain enough power to cast spells like Avada Kedavra again.
Why Didn’t Harry Die Immediately From The Killing Curse?
Harry had two forms of magical protection surrounding him at this point in the series: Lily’s love-based sacrifice protection (which prevented any form of harm coming to Harry if it was done out of love) and his invisibility cloak (which kept him hidden from sight). Combined, these protections meant that while Voldemort was able to successfully cast Avada Kedavra at Harry, it could not immediately kill him due to its inability to penetrate either shield.
What Other Factors Contributed To His Survival?
At this point in time, Harry had unknowingly become a Horcrux himself through Voldemort’s earlier attempt at killing him when he was a baby; thus, when Voldemort cast Avada Kedavra on him during their confrontation in the forest, he inadvertently gave Harry some of his own powers back through their connection as Horcruxes. This allowed for further shielding against the Killing Curse and ultimately led to Harry surviving the deadly spell.
How Did Harry Eventually Defeat Voldemort After Surviving The Killing Curse?
Once it became apparent that neither Voldemort nor Harry would be killed directly by each other’s magic, they were left at a stand-off until Dumbledore’s phoenix Fawkes swooped down and delivered the Elder Wand – a wand capable of defeating even powerful dark wizards like Lord Voldemort – straight into Harry’s hands. With this new weapon in hand, Harry was then able to defeat Voldemort by reflecting all three Unforgivable Curses (Cruciatus Curse, Imperius Curse and Avada Kedavra) back at him at once with Expelliarmus; this ultimately destroyed the Dark Lord for good.
Conclusion
So in conclusion, by combining multiple sources of magical protection (Lily’s love-based shield & invisibility cloak), becoming a Horcrux himself and then obtaining Dumbledore’s Elder Wand, Harry was able to miraculously survive Avada Kedavra during his fateful confrontation with Lord Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest; ultimately leading him towards his destiny as “The Chosen One” who defeated evil once and for all!