Each time I reread any of J.K. Rowling's novels, I am awestruck by the sheer brilliance of the world and storyline she has created. It almost seems impossible that a series brimming with complex characters and fluid plot was given birth by only one person. As I write this, I am in the midst of rereading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and my stomach is gripped by the same feeling of suspense, excitement, and reluctance that I felt three years ago when I first read it.
Although there have been many love stories within Harry Potter (Harry + Cho, Hermione + Viktor Krum, Ginny + countless boys, Ron + Lavender, Harry + Ginny, Hermione + Ron, James + Lily), I am most struck by the relationship between Severus Snape and Lily Evans. Of course they never had an actual relationship, but deep down they had always cared for each other, even if Snape's love for Lily wasn't reciprocated. It moves me that after all these years, Snape is inspired to become a nobler person because of his undying love towards Lily. Throughout the series, he has always seems like such a despicable person, but there is actually some good in him. Although I'm not usually a big fan of unrequited love (like, I couldn't stand Heathcliff and Catherine in Wuthering Heights), I really think we are on to something big here.
I think love should be like this. Love should bring out the best in people and motivate them to do good.
Despite their being fictional, I also have a lot of admiration for the other characters in Harry Potter. What strongly stands out to me about Sirius, Lupin, Dumbledore, Tonks, Hagrid, George, Fred, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and others I have forgotten to name, include their unwavering loyalty to friends; ability to laugh and love in the face of such dark times; and willingness to fight for what they believe is right even when others think they're crazy. And of course they probably have sexy British accents to boot.
I remember fondly, probably like many of my peers, how I would use to playact Hogwarts. My third grade best friend and I used to spend our free time at Daycare penning fictional Hogwarts acceptance letters. Mine were always addressed to either Becky or Jenny Forest since I couldn't decide which name I liked better. We imagined decorating our dormitory with moving pictures of Chudley Cannons and mulled over which types of sweets to buy from the Trolley Witch on the Hogwarts Express (Pumpkin Pasties, Chocolate Frogs, Cauldron Cakes or Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans? I liked Bertie Bott's since the thought of chancing upon kidney-pie or booger flavored jelly bean always tickled my fancy.) We even played Quidditch on the play structure (of course my Firebolt outstripped her Nimbus 2001). Up until my 11th birthday, I secretly hoped Hogwarts really existed and that I was talented enough to receive an owl post bearing my acceptance to this prestigious institution. Of course my 11th birthday came and went with no owl in sight, but to this day, I still secretly believe that out there in the far off British isle, where no Muggle has ever set foot, stands a wizarding school by the name of Hogwarts.
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2 comments:
I imagined I would be rather fondest of the Pumpkin Pastries.
I remember feeling terribly, terribly depressed when I didn't get a letter from Professor McGonagall. When I was a middle schooler, I dreamed of going to Oxford for the sake of going to a Hogwarts-like school. And then when I hit my sophomore year, I decided that Princeton was the American equivalent of Oxford and set my mind on going there. But by the time senior year came round, I was too lazy to study for another SAT II. (Princeton requires three.)
Harry Potter does exist. And someday, I want to walk down Diagon Alley. And if I hadn't been so magically challenged, I think I would have gone for the Chocolate Frogs.
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