Harry Potter: Not the Same Once You Grow Up

​The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling is one of those sets of stories that continue to enthrall and entertain, not just new generations of readers, but also those who’ve read all the books and wish to keep living in that wizarding world even after the last page. It’s been over a decade and a half since volume 7 was released, and I can still find Harry Potter toys and products in stores and online. Popularity may come in phases, but this magical realm doesn’t seem to be fading away anytime soon.
           
Recently I reread the complete Harry Potter series for the first time since the books were released, and I must say, it is VERY different to read those stories as an adult versus as a child! The experience did not decline in the slightest – I think knowing the ending only made the story more impressive as I reread it, instead of less so. There were also elements that I noticed more this second time around. The parts of Harry’s story that revealed the child abuse and neglect he suffered at the hands of the Dursleys stood out much more clearly now that I’m a parent. When I was a child, those rough moments were merely a starting point to contrast with the magical world he would discover. As a parent with young children of my own, his suffering seemed much more heartbreaking. Part of me wonders how Harry became a hero at all – his terrible home life should have made him a bad egg. Even Dumbledore comments on how amazing Harry’s development is, in book 6: “Yes, Harry, you can love… which, given everything that has happened to you, is a great and remarkable thing.” But I suppose the miracle of fiction is that good overcomes what social science tells us about negative childhood influences.
           
My hyper-awareness of his hardships shed new light on the rest of his story, which allowed me to see the fictional miracle of his tale even more clearly. Out of the tragic came something heroic. Harry’s abusive childhood meant that he was used to suffering; he was better prepared to endure the trials of fighting Voldemort than others. His terrible backstory made finding friends and acceptance at Hogwarts all the more precious, such a relief after a decade of rejection – of course he would be willing to give up anything to defend them, to fight dearly for all he loved. His background made him the perfect choice to be a hero, because he was not afraid to make the sacrifices required of him. In short, Harry Potter was the only person who could have defeated Voldemort, because he was the only one willing to take the necessary steps.
           
Perhaps, in light of everything, Harry’s heroism is not so surprising after all. But that doesn’t make his story any less amazing. The revelation that your backstory can define you without limiting you is wonderful encouragement to those who are broken, or who live with broken people (which is to say, all of us). The complex intertwining of fate and choice make it impossible to choose one over the other for the crux of the story, and the best way to describe the interplay of the two would be to say that the story worked out well by the end. I tried to incorporate these concepts into the stories of Emer, Jesse, and Alex – that balance between what you choose and what is chosen for you, as well as a conclusion that makes the story overall feel complete. My efforts are not nearly as deep and rich as a seven-part series, but they are there, and it’s something I will continue to work into future books (though of course, what some people call “fate” I prefer to write as God’s plan).

What do you think?  Share your thoughts in the comments section!
Until the next time, keep reading!

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