In my more recent book, more relevant to the subject of this post, *The Deathly Hallows Lectures: The Hogwarts Professor Explains Harry’s Last Adventure,* I detail the alchemical artistry and scaffolding of the series, the five keys that unlock *Deathly Hallows,* and the meaning of Harry and Dumbledore’s final words in the palatial King’s Cross. Rowling says that exchange is “the key” to her books that she waited 17 years to write. Its meaning is tied to the predominant eye symbolism of the last book, the epigraphs of the finale, and Harry’s walk into the forest, all of which are cued to the traditional symbolism of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, a body-mind-spirit triptych.

I invite SQPN readers to check out two other Harry geek web sites: my own http://www.HogwartsProfessor.com and Travis Prinzi’s http://www.theHogsHead.org. These sites, like SQPN, explore the layers beneath the surface meaning in keeping with the iconographic tradition of literary criticism a la John Ruskin.

Again, I do not argue in *How Harry Cast His Spell* that Ms. Rowling is humming “Onward, Christian Soldiers!” covertly through her books. She does address human spiritual concerns with the colors and symbols on the Christian palate of her tradition, sometimes “obviously” (as she admitted on the Open Book Tour), most often well beneath people’s radar. Thank you for letting me make this correction.

Oh I just thought of a funny story: I was at a lecture and the lecturers computer wouldn’t plug into the projector so I lent him mine. When the screen came up in front of the class, I had iTunes open to the podcasts and the secrets of harry potter was very prominent. Having been outed as one of those childish people who can’t grow up but instead insist on reading silly children’s books, the lecturer announced that he was happy to be friends with any fan of Harry Potter.