12 Grimmauld Place: The Three Broomsticks

The Three Broomsticks

A Harry Potter Editorial Column by Michael

Editorial 1: What's so 'Magical' about Harry Potter?

3 August 2004

I hated Harry Potter. I hated all of my obsessive fourth-grade Harry-Potter loving friends. With a passion. A very deep, long-running hatred. I had never touched one of the ever-so-disgusting Harry Potter books, and I had no intention to. They were popular, so how was it possible for them to be good?

Then one day I went to my grandparent’s house. My grandfather was a strong follower of the news, reading every newspaper he could find and watching every station’s news shows. So, after the ‘Channel 4 News at 6’, he put the television onto 20/20. About halfway through the program, they did some sort of special on Harry Potter. Not wanting to show my grandfather my hatred for this childish book series, I merely rolled my eyes and went back to reading my GOOD book. However, I soon found that my book was on the table, and my eyes glued to the television. I mean, none of it sounded interesting at all. It sounded like a childish and stupid book that was merely written to put little babies to sleep. Who would read such nonsense, much less watch some crummy special about it on 20/20?

A few days later, I and my grandparents went to the local Wal-Mart. Not interested in hearing my grandparents discuss if cabbage or lettuce was better, I ventured off to the books section. I saw nothing of interest in the two racks of books. Merely romance novels and Dr. Seuss books. I looked over a couple of books, though and saw Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Remembering how particularly stupid this series sounded a few days ago, I bought it thinking that if nothing else it would give me something more to mock my Harry-loving friends about.

We went back home about an hour or two later and I went to my futon to lie down and read. I read through the first chapter and I found it mildly entertaining. I didn’t worry though. I knew the rest of the book was going to be utterly terrible.

However, I was soon proven to be very incorrect. I sat on that futon for hours, reading chapters two, three, four and all the way to seventeen. And, I regretted to say I LOVED them all. I was so angry with myself. How could I possibly be consumed with this kiddy Harry Potter stuff? How is it even possible?

However, not until later did I realize exactly what this book did for me. I felt whole when I read this book. As if there was some kind of gap in my mind somewhere and the content of this book filled it perfectly. When I read the words my heart rate increased and my hands shook. I didn’t know why. Somehow, this book made me feel light and happy. Like there was nothing bad going on outside.

This happened around four years ago. I am now fourteen-years-old, and a full-fledged Harry Potter dork with extensive knowledge and collectibles all about ole’ Scarhead. I’d recommend it to anyone I meet, and often do. My obsession with the boy wizard isn’t very healthy, but I manage. Harry Potter still manages to do the exact same thing it used to for me. But, WHY does it do this for me? And, why will it no-doubt do it for you? I have compiled a theory on this:

One of the main reasons Harry Potter induces this feeling into young boys and girl’s hearts is the wonderful atmosphere this book has. Hogwarts school may have many sinister things going on deep within the crevices of its walls, but the strong friendship between almost all of the characters is amazing. It almost seems like the characters are going to reach their hand out for you and ask you to come in and join them in the book (and sometimes you just wish they WOULD). Hogwarts is an amazing place, be it fictional or not. There are toilets haunted by ghosts, enchanted mirrors, and elves acting as servants. There are many a wonderful things I could speak of about Hogwarts. I could write paragraphs among paragraphs of the endless beauty of this (sadly) nonexistent palace of greatness and still not truly do it justice. So much depth and thought was put into this beautiful universe that you cannot help but feel enchanted. They are able to grab and hold onto you in such a way that it is impossible not to love them.

Harry Potter also attracts a lot of younger readers in such a way because of the rather large load of action. I know that the Harry Potter books are not meant to be action packed sort of books, but even the biggest defender of this statement must admit that a large amount of the letters in the book are there to describe action sequences. As mentioned before, we are forced to care about these characters. The shear fact that they MIGHT be in danger is simply appalling to us (or… me, anyways). Common sense should put these feelings aside because we know old Harry still has quite a few number of books left to go and he can’t die before the series ends, but we still worry for him! Why? Isn’t that STUPID? No. Not at all. That, my friends, is merely the magic of Harry Potter empowering us. It enchants us to not even think that it is irrational for him to die right there. It somehow gives us a feeling that, even though we know they can’t die, if they did then the world would be a truly terrible place. Don’t get me wrong, though! This doesn’t mean Harry Potter is a negative thing at all. In fact, I believe that this is what gives our wonderful little series grace and charm. The fact that we would even care if one of the characters died in itself is amazing, but the fact that we get shaken up over it (I doubt I’m the only one who cried over the recent book five death) is utterly amazing coming from a book. Never had I cried while reading a book until that death, and I read a lot of books. It’s amazing how Mrs. Rowling can drag us into this story and not let go of you.

I also believe that this series is so wonderful because in each book there are about ninety questions answered and 10,000 questions added to the list of questions that need to be answered. I don’t think it’s possible just to read Philosopher’s Stone and not hurry out to read the rest of the series. By the third book, many theories have already been conjured up among a vast majority of the fans. This is because there is quite a lot to theorize about. Voldemort and his lackeys spruce up quite a lot of mischief, as do Harry and the gang. That trouble seems to intertwine in every single book, causing an inordinate amount of trouble. Then, quite a large number of facts are revealed and conceived. It seems like that would be something of great annoyance seeing as how it just sparks curiosity within the depths of your mind and then causes some severe disagreements between fellow Harry fans. But I like it. I rarely join on discussions, but I enjoy reading extensive arguments about theories and the like. It’s extremely fun, even though no fan in the world has come to know exactly how old Joanne’s mind seems to work and I’ve never read any prediction that has proven to be correct. Still, the fact that there are endless debates (a lot of which are completely ridiculous) on these books is just completely amazing. I know there are many debates on many other books and movies, but I can almost guarantee you that none of them get as heated as this masterpiece (except, of course, Lord of the Rings). The mysteries of this series are almost never-ending. I guarantee I can list over thirty right here, right now.

So, in conclusion, Harry Potter is a wonderful series. I suggest that all of you read it as soon as you can get your grubby little hands on it. It’s an enchanting tale which anyone can no-doubt fall in love with completely.

--Michael P. Williamson

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