Harry Potter
What is Harry Potter?
Harry Potter is technically just a character in a book series created by J.K. Rowling. He starts out as an orphaned boy living with his very unkind aunt, uncle, and cousin and later discovers he’s a wizard. Harry then goes on to make new friends, learn magic, and have wild adventures. The name has also become synonymous with the franchise as it grew from book series to movie series to merchandise to theme park attraction and beyond.
Did you read the books?
Yes! The first 2 were released when I was a little too young to really enjoy them but all the rest were published at a perfectly relevant age and reading ability for me. It was not uncommon for me to fall asleep at night with a book in my hand and glasses still on my face.
My favorite is Goblet of Fire. I feel like this is when the magic really peaks before it gets into the super serious political, life-or-death, and suspenseful aspects of the story. The Tri-Wizard tournament was a great way to showcase different aspects of magic, magical creatures, wizard traditions, and wizards from other cultures.
Which house are you in?
Most definitely Ravenclaw! There’s not a lot of Ravenclaw representation in the books and movies but I love the most prominent character from this house, Luna Lovegood. She’s weird but confident about who she is. She has ideas that are really out there, which I think the world could use more of. She pays attention to what’s going on, thinks for herself, and cares a lot about her friends. We could use more Lunas in the world.
On a side note, Hufflepuffs make excellent friends! Many of mine belong to this house. So many.
Image obtained from: https://www.wizardingworld.com/features/seven-reasons-to-love-luna-lovegood
Did JK Rowling ruin the world of wizards for you?
I’m going to go with no. Her transphobic comments are absolutely not okay and, for a while, a large portion of the Harry Potter fan base wasn’t quite sure how to feel. But I kept an eye on the discussions and arguments and watched as a general conclusion developed. The world she created and the communities that have come about as a result have acted as a safe haven where many people find positivity and acceptance. Many fans do not condone Rowling’s behavior and don’t want her negativity to take away something that means so much to them, so they continue to appreciate the wizarding world and enjoy sharing interests with their fellow Potterheads while also putting in more effort than ever to teach and learn about the LGBTQ+ community.
