Why does Harry drop the resurrection stone? Hey, brother! The Harry Potter saga for all of its bright colors and whimsy, half giants, owls, selves and goblins, fantastical beasts and friendship, has at its deepest roots a deep conversation about the ideas of not just love, but love in death. I know, boy out of here right away, we're hitting some of the big stuff. We're gonna have to find a way to keep this light. Hold on, I have an idea.

Not gonna do it, nope, I don't need any help. Hitting something on the ceiling.

Oh, yeah.

Are you guys ready?

Woo!

Oh!

My eye! That would do. See in spots for a week, but just wanted to know, I've got your backs.

Anyway, death.

It's everywhere in the series, from losing beloved characters like Dumbledore series,

Lupin, Tonks, Fred, Hedwig, and Dobby.

I know, I know, I'm going back to the spots.

Ooh! Although, you know, now that I mentioned it, I know, I'm going back to the spots. Ooh!

Although, you know, now that I mention it, I feel like I'm forgetting someone.

Degrek!

But then there's the unusual shared characteristic of Harry and Tom Riddle, both as orphans who have found themselves on drastically different paths.

There's Voldemort's obsession with defying death and achieving immortality, while Harry readily

accepts death in the name of protecting others.

And the cherry, or cherries on top, are of course, the deathly hallows.

A wand that can win any duel, the stone that can return the dead, and death's own cloak

to hide you from its former owner, each with its own mystique, temptations, and dangers.

And in the end, Harry alone unites them and becomes the master of death, finding the true purpose of each in turn, and in doing so leaves them behind.

Or sort of does. He buries one in a grave, drops one in the forest, and ultimately keeps one, and in his mind,

...