Chapters 221–230
The End of Happiness
The title of this chapter refers to a quote by George Bernard Shaw – “It is a curious sensation: the sort of pain that goes mercifully beyond our powers of feeling. When your heart is broken, your boats are burned: nothing matters any more. It is the end of happiness and the beginning of peace.”
Passing from One Bad Dream to Another
The title of this chapter refers to a quote by Albert Camus from “The Plague” – “We tell ourselves that pestilence is a mere bogy of the mind, a bad dream that will pass away. But it doesn’t always pass away and, from one bad dream to another, it is men who pass away.”
The descriptions of the Realm of Death are written according to the book “Abhorsen” by Garth Nix, chapters 21, 23 and 25.
Oh, the River is Wide …
The title of this chapter refers to the song “Boat on the River” by Styx.
The paragraph in which Death tells Severus that he’s his devoted friend is a textual allusion to Philip Pullman’s “The Amber Spyglass”, chapter 19, “Lyra and her Death”.
… And the River is Deep …
The title of this chapter refers to the song “Boat on the River” by Styx.
The homicidal psycho Hogwarts cats are naturally a homage to “Calvin & Hobbes” and Bill Watterson.
The descriptions of the Realm of Death are written according to the book “Abhorsen” by Garth Nix, chapters 21, 23 and 25. Many thanks to Ayerf for finding the right chapters for me.
The scene with the Knight Bus is based on PoA. Many thanks to britpicker Linda Hoyland for help with the Mundungus’ side of the dialogue.
You-Know-Who: Death told them that Voldemort had not gone on, but instead turned into a vengeful demon of death. Death said that he’s only one of the Lesser Dead so far and he promised to send those away, in order to help our heroes. But Severus, being Severus, rather expects the worse – and does not even trust Death.
Mercy
In Abhorsen the deep waters of the Fifth Precinct are described as having strong metamorphic effects. Anyone who spends time in its waters will find both spirit and body altered – and not for the better. And upon their return, they will not resemble their previous forms.