SPOILER ALERT: If you’ve never seen the Harry Potter movies, or read the books, I encourage you to go do that before reading this article.
I have grown up with the wizarding world of Harry Potter. If you are any sort of Harry Potter fanatic, you understand the magical sensation that comes when reading a J.K. Rowling book, or watching the popular movies. Rowling’s writing style never fails to send you into another reality, so here are a few quotes that tend to resonate with the dedicated readers.
1. “Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.” -J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
If you’ve read the entire series (or even watched the movies), then you know that the Dursley family is anything but ordinary…as much as they would like to think the opposite. All they want in life is to be seen as the “average” family, but of course that’s practically impossible when you’re raising a wizard who lives under a staircase.
2. “I am not worried, Harry,” said Dumbledore, his voice a little stronger despite the freezing water. “I am with you.” -Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
I definitely shed a few tears during this scene…
3. “You’re a wizard, Harry.” -J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Talk about trying to run away from your problems. The Dursley’s really underestimated the power of magic. Can you imagine being stuck in the middle of a thunderstorm when all of a sudden, an actual giant knocks down the door to your house? Because I can’t. That’s what happens when you try to hide from Hogwarts.
4. “But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” -J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Dumbledore never ceases to amaze me with his power words of wisdom.
5. “It’s wingardium leviOsa, not leviosAH.” -J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Wise words spoken by the great Hermione Granger, in an attempt to correct Ron in his pronunciation of a spell in class. Hermione loves to be smart, and she loves to be right. No one can argue with that one.
6. “We’ve all got both light and dark inside us. What really matters is the part we choose to act on. That’s who we really are.” -J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
7. “No, Draco, it is my mercy, and not yours, that matters now.” -J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Dumbledore says these words to Malfoy while being held at wand-point (is that what you would call it?). The night that Dumbledore died was the night my heart broke into a million pieces. This entire scene just teaches us that not everyone is born evil.
8. “It’s our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” -R.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Once again…Dumbledore never ceases to amaze me with his perfectly timed witty and wise comments. Sometimes his ambiguity makes it hard to know exactly what he means in the beginning; but by the end, it all comes full circle.
9. “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” -J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
This statement kind of reminds me of a subtweet; because we all know that Dumbledore was talking about Neville and his bravery. I love the truth in this.
10. “Chaos reigned.” -J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows
The next two quotes are juxtaposed to each other, especially within the destruction Hogwarts went through. If you’ve seen the last movie, you remember the scene when Professor McGonagall places a charm on the Hogwarts building, almost like a giant protective bubble, waiting for battle. The calm before the storm. Then, “chaos reigned”.
11. “All was well.” -J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows
At the end of the second book (or the last movie), there’s a feeling of peace and serenity when Ron, Hermione, and Harry have defeated Voldemort. All was most definitely well within the Wizarding World.
There are so many lessons to be learned from Harry Potter and his friends (or not so close friends). Your friends can be the closest to you, or they can quickly turn to be your enemies; there’s always light at the end of the tunnel; and there’s nothing wrong with being who you are. The list could go on forever, and if you haven’t taken the time to be sucked into the wonderful world of Hogwarts…what are you doing?