"Some Are Born Great, Some Achieve Greatness, and Some Have Greatness Thrust Upon Them"
The comings and goings of Harry Potter
I am a Harry Potter convert. Just like Gilmore Girls, I did not grow up with these characters. I distinctly remember my brother getting the first book as a gift way back when and, being more of a reader than he, I casually picked it up and immediately dietly deemed it too young for me. I found it uninteresting, so I tossed it aside and moved on. It was until the tail end of high school that I finally gave the series another try.
As I age, the degree to which I was an asshole as a teenager becomes clearer. And not just asshole, but dumb and a follower. I’m fairly certain I bought into this world because every one of my friends was into it. For context, I was far more into Twilight—oh yeah, I had this Edward leather bracelet, I had a hanging fabric movie poster in my bedroom, but do know that I am fans of the books, not the movies (I haven’t even seen the second part of the Breaking Dawn movie)—and while some friends were also into these toxic vampires, Harry Potter was still the thing. While I was in high school, the final three movies released. When the first part of the seventh movie came out in 2010, and after having a super fun time with my friends at the theatre, I declared I would read the entire series before the final movie. I was successful in my endeavor and had a lovely time reading them, but of course my experience will always be different than the little witches and wizards who grew up with Harry.
Regardless, like Kayla, I also have some visceral Harry Potter memories. I’ll never forget, sitting in the backseat of the car I carpooled in, I read the final scene of the final book and cried. Yeah, probably unpopular opinion, but I love the ending. I thought it was beautiful. Harry got to have the family that was taken from him. He got the loving, father-child relationship he never got to have with his father. He came full circle at last.
So once I bought in, I was in and I’ve done all the HP things. In 2010, my family and I were in Orlando, hanging out at Universal Studios and the park secretly opened the Harry Potter World. There were barely any people there (as it had just been built and was awaiting a full opening) and I was fucking wonderstruck. While abroad, a group of us visited the Warner Bros. Studios The Making of Harry Potter tour in London (it was awesome).
At King’s Crossing, I saw Platform 9 and 3/4s. When visiting Edinburough, got a drink at The Elephant House where J.K. penned a good part of the story and I saw the gravestones that inspired her characters of Thomas Riddle and Professor McGonagall. I own the blu-Ray collectors’ box of the movie series and a special edition paperback set of the novels with Hogwarts on the spines. I have every illustrated edition so far (including the illustrated Tales of Beedle the Bard and Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them). I fully intend to read these illustrated editions specifically to my metaphorical children. One could even say I have a Harry Potter tattoo, though the “Some are born great” quote is technically from Shakespeare.
It’s strange that something so all consuming ten years ago as softly floated to the side in my brain. As Aimée said in her piece, I haven’t given the three wizards that shifted our childhoods much thought lately. It’s strange how things can take over and then blow over. I didn’t know what I wanted to write for this piece; what do I say about this story that hasn’t already been said? My favorite characters are (unsurprisingly) Luna and Hermione (another Shakespeare reference!) and Professor McGonagall. I think Ron is absolutely adorable and that this cruel world never deserved Fred and George. I love Hagrid’s big heart and love for all creatures. I love Hogsmead and Platform 9 and 3/4 and the hidden townhouse. I cried when Dobby died. I cried when Sirius sacrificed himself. I cried when Dumbledore and then when Hedwig fell. I cried when Lupin and Tonks lay together, forever at peace. I forgave Draco and I reconciled with Snape. I lived in the stories just as much as the next. They were and still are spellbinding.
As I wrote this, I snagged the illustrated Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone off my dedicated Harry Potter shelf for some inspiration. Zack gifts me these editions for Christmas the year they come out, so we are building our own relationship with the books. Flipping through the thick, glossy pages, I remembered the magic. The story is young—part of Rowling’s prowess is the maturity of her writing parallel with Harry’s growth—but it’s full of wonder. On the pages where Harry steps into Diagon Alley the first time, we’re hit with the overwhelming detail of crowded shops, their wares spilling out onto the street, into the air. The isolated house that the Dursley’s purchase as they attempt to escape Hogwart’s persistent letters is featured on a two-page spread. It’s dark and cold, gray watercolor bleeds down the page, as if the painted rain damaged the page.
At the end of the tale, there’s a full page portrait of Harry. He’s worn out, bruised, but recovering from his encounter with Voldemort. But in this portrait you see that Harry is simply a boy. He’s a boy with messy hair and a tie that’s not perfect. His glasses are newly mended and he’s just so small. He’s a child. A child who was almost killed multiple times with many more attempts to come. A child that was dealt a traumatic life but still chooses to overcome. Still chooses good over bad. You made him stronger than you think, stronger than you are.
J.K., you penned a magnificent story. One that will live on for decades to come by its devoted fans—myself included. It is too bad that you’re an asshole. What’s funny is you created a world where love is love, where identities are created, dismantled, and changed. A world where literal hopes and dreams are given life. A world of magic and community. And no matter how much you’re opposed to it, Harry Potter and his wonderful wizarding world, will always be open to everyone.
Shit We’re Loving: LISTEN
Shelby’s Pick: “Sticky” by The Maine and “Michelle Pfeiffer” by Ethel Cain and lil aaron
Okay, SWL: Listen, whew, I can do this. I listen to things! Mostly things Zack has shown me, but still! That being said I’m pretty big on listening to the same song over and over and over again, really never tiring of it. I don’t need new all the time. Sometimes songs are great and I wanna listen on repeat. For these two songs in particular, I have turned on the
Anyone else remember The Maine? Talk about a high school throwback—the girls I carpooled with, whose backseat I read the final scene in the HP series and cried, loooved The Maine. “Sticky” is going to be my summer anthem. Is it a “great” song? I mean, no, it’s catchy, it’s boppy, one might even say it slaps. It’s orange juice in song—tangy and sweet, perfect for sunshine. It’s sticky!
I’ve been into a female ethereal lately—I have a whole playlist dedicated to this dreamy, smokescreen, hazey and slightly drunken vibe—and said vibe started with this song. I have no clue who Ethel Cain is (and lil aaron only vaguely), but when the first few strums of her guitar, somehow sounding underwater and far away, I was hooked. “And everythings easier way out west” Cain croons like an old rock star, I imagine her mouth barely forming the words as she sings through clenched teeth. Her tingly chorus instantly struck me as how I feel about mine and Zack’s relationship: “And home's not home unless you're there / And I'll never be ready but I don't care.” 💖
Show Your Support: Environmental Defense Fund
With Earth Day falling at the end of April, this month’s supported organization is one of our country's most influential nonprofit boards: the Environmental Defense Fund or EDF. For more than 50 years, EDF has been the pioneer, using science and different perspectives, to make the environment safer and healthier for all of us.
Rigorous science is our bedrock. It drives everything we do.
So far, thanks to EDF’s efforts, 4 million acres have been protected, ensuring 63 rare species have a safe place to live. On top of that, EDF Climate Corps fellows have uncovered $1.6 billion in energy savings for top companies. And 28 countries around the world have worked with EDF to prioritize and solve the most critical environmental problems. Their concerns lie with the climate, renewable energy and resources, protecting ecosystems, cleaning the oceans, and overall health for us and our planet.
In the Our Trust Fund fashion, this month we will donate $100 to EDF and encourage you to learn more about EDF and give too. Click the button below to do both!
Daily Intention
Today I will…
Buy every illustrated version of the books. Find them on Bookshop here with our affiliate code!
Here’s some nifty buttons for you to press, enjoy: