I. The Courageous Harry Potter

            A. Magic and Virtue

                        1. Problems at Hogwarts are rarely solved by magic, but by intelligence, planning, courage, determination, persistence, resourcefulness, fidelity, friendliness, and other qualities.

                        2. Usually don’t use magic to solve their problems   

            B. The Virtues at Hogwarts

                        1. Gryffindor was founded for the “bravest”, Ravenclaw for the “cleverest”, Hufflepuff for “hard workers”, and Slytherin for those with “great ambition”

            C. Feelings of Fear

                        1. Students in Hogwarts experience feelings of fear throughout the book

                                    a. “Ron opened his mouth in horror”

            D. Harry’s Recipe for Courage

                        1. Courage is doing what is right, not what’s easy

                        2. Aristotle teaches that courage is the midpoint between two extremes in our reaction to danger: the extreme of too little and the extreme of too much

                        3. Courage is a fundamental virtue, or strength, without which none of the other virtues could be exhibited properly

                        4. Harry’s Recipe for Courage

                                    a. Prepare for the Challenge

                                    b. Surround yourself with support

                                    c. Engage in positive self-talk

                                    d. Focus on what’s at stake

                                    e. Take appropriate action

            E. Harry’s Big Step of Faith

                        1. Sometimes, when great values are at stake, you just have to take action, regardless of how you feel

                        2. Harry Potter shows how a young man vulnerable to all the fears that any of us ever experience can overcome those emotions and nobly press on to do what needs to be done