"The headstone was only two rows behind Kendra and Ariana's. It was made of white marble, just like Dumbledore's tomb, and this made it easy to read, as it seemed to shine in the dark. Harry did not need to kneel or even approach very close to it to make out the words engraved upon it.
James Potter Lily Potter
Born 27 March 1960 Born 30 January 1960
Died 31 October 1981 Died 31 October 1981
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Harry read the words slowly, as though he would have only one chance to take in their meaning, and he read the last of them aloud. 'The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death...' a horrible thought came to him , and with it a kind of panic. 'Is'nt that a Death Eater idea? Why is that there?'"
I had the same question as Harry when i started researching the quote for my eventual deathly hallows tattoo...
while scouring the Internet i found the perfect answer posted by someone named Cedric on yahoo answers.... i thought i would share it with you...
James and Lily had accepted death. James accepted it when he chose to
fight Voldemort to
his death in their home, and when Lily died willingly to protect her
son. At the end of the last book, Harry was able to accept death and
embrace it for the good of those he loved, and in doing that, death was
no longer an enemy.
You conquer death when you are not afraid to die.
Also, that quote was taken from the Bible (1 Corinthians 15:20-26):
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of
them that slept.
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the
dead.
For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they
that are Christ's at his coming.
Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God,
even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority
and power.
For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."
If you look at the quote contextually, it also has further meaning. At
the end of Deathly Hallows, when Harry "conquers" death by accepting it
and submitting himself to Voldemort, and he is then "reborn", very much
like Christ.
Harry Potter has a handful of biblical allusions if you care to look.
so i thank you Cedric.. this answered it perfectly and it also added another meaning to it as well...
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