Harry Potter

In the ultimate battle between good and evil, pure at heart and downright soulless, the saga of Harry Potter has grasped both ends and everything in between. JK Rowling has mastered the art of writing, in this beautifully dangerous depiction of a young boy fighting against powers bigger and greater than him, against an enemy who is in every sense of the word ‘invincible’, a wizard whom everyone fears.

There are few books that can grab the readers by the hearts and never let go, leaving them wanting more, even after seven books! From the moment the half giant Hagrid came barreling onto Privet Drive with a tiny baby in his hands in “Sorcerer’s Stone” I was immersed. The magic of Professor McGonagall turning from cat into woman and the mystery of how the tiny infant known as Harry had gotten that lightning scar on his forehead cast a spell over me and there was no turning back.

As each book became available and the story of The Boy Who Lived continued, the characters and the magical places of Hogwarts, Hogsmead, and Diagon Alley became something more to me. A wish that there were really places like these, places that offered so much more adventure than real life. Somewhere to escape the mundane and normalcy of actual life. Everyone wishes for that at one point or another. JK Rowling has created something so wonderful with these books, this one long wonderful story, and I will always be affected by these characters.

Harry is shown to us in the first book from the moment he arrives on the doorstep of his muggle Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon and cousin Dudley as a sad, neglected boy, who is forced to live in a small space under the staircase and is relegated to playing second fiddle to Dudley. He is lonely with nobody to talk to except for a snake at the local zoo, until his eleventh birthday when he finds out that he is a wizard. From that point his life is completely changed, for the better. And although he has to deal with his aforementioned enemy – Voldemort (or he who must not be named) – a bully by the name of Draco Malfoy and his companions, and a professor who seems to be out to get him – Professor Severus Snape, his life is a happier one than that of Privet Drive.

I can relate to Harry in that sense of loneliness and wishing for something better, something magical to happen! I yearn for the adventure that Harry partakes in throughout the seven years that the book takes place. An escape from reality. Who can’t at some point in their lives relate to that?

Yes, he loses people close to him and has to deal with hardships and bullies but the good outweighs the bad. He is constantly surrounded by people who love him, care for him and who are there to protect him in every way possible. With the constant companionship of his two best friends Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, he is never truly alone. Everyone can relate to having if not two but at least one person who is your (excuse the “LOST” connection here) constant. In my life I can say I have many, and your friend and mine Mark is one of them! He is the Ron to my Harry.

Throughout the entire book series my favorite character wasn’t Harry, Hermione or even Ron. It was the professor that Harry despised, the Professor who always yearned for the position of the Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. A tall figure with long dark hair, a pointy nose and beady eyes, who for all intents and purposes was one of the key figures on Voldemort’s side. Professor Severus Snape. Up until the very end of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” the readers are led to believe he is evil, and is out to destroy Harry. We are told and shown that he killed Dumbledore and had always been on the bad side of things. He was always my favorite character, even before we learned of his true intentions, how he had always been protecting Harry in every way he possibly could. That he had always loved Harry’s mother Lily and would do anything for her even after her death. There was something deeper to Snape that I connected with. His deep inner emotions and I knew in my core that he was just misunderstood.

Harry Potter has become a franchise, books, movies, action figures, posters, wands and yes even an amusement park! And to think it all started with one single mother living on welfare, only able to write the first book on napkins she had to use at a local coffee shop. It makes me believe that anything is possible. Dreams are attainable. Whether it be to write the next great American novel or be Head Boy, you can achieve your highest wish if you can overcome the many obstacles in your life.

I think that is what this series has meant the most to me. The realization that no matter how young or old you are, if you are a wizard, witch, muggle or half blood, you can outsmart fire breathing dragons, tame a hippogriff, slay a basilisk, catch a snitch or fight Lord Voldemort and win or simply write an epic adventure of one simple boy on his journey to adulthood!

So as I sit here waiting to see the final movie of the series…the epic war between good and evil…I feel sadness at it’s departure but also excitement for the truly amazing journey that we have
all been on.

Magically yours –
Lindsay