Compassion - Blog Posts
Books for ourselves
It is important to remember that books are not always about just telling a story. Books can show us how others live--whether they be Stormtroopers, drug addicts, slaves or someone that has another different story from all the ones that are different from us.
Yes, we learn about people from their stories, but it doesn’t have to stop there. In understanding one’s life and one’s struggles--we can choose to act, we can choose to push forward, we can choose to help, we can choose to learn more.
In 15 days it’s Halloween, in 16 days it’s a day of really cheap candy and chocolate, and in 21 days you have the power to vote and make the world how you think it should be. But I hope that’s not your one day of using your voice, your power and the power of listening to someone else’s story. You may not have the best or easiest life, everyone struggles but “a rising tide lifts all boats”--be that tide, raise the condition for everyone
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was the final book of the series, creating a different and more pronounced impact than probably all but Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. It was also different for me than the rest of the series as it was the only book I got at midnight, it was the only book (I ever) jumped ahead with—seeing that at the end “All was well” and that this was the only book I read after the movies, having been dismayed by the 4th movie, I didn’t read it for almost 8 years. Reading the book then I was an adult and not a pre-teen or teenager and it, therefore, has a separate place in my heart and in my mind even though I read it after just rereading the entire series. The fact that Deathly Hallows all fits in one book is majesty itself, so much explained and told but not overwhelming.
One of the main themes through the series and highlighted in the Deathly Hallows is how much Harry has to due by himself and how much of the burden he can share with others. As we have grown up with Harry, Ron and Hermione we experience this as well albeit with less dramatic stakes. This is true in both the physical battles of the Seven Potters and the Battle of Hogwarts, but also just in terms of Harry leaning on Hermione and Ron in trying to figure things out but in other times letting them take charge while he rests or sometimes becomes distracted by the Deathly Hallows and not the task at hand: finding and destroying the Horcruxes and also when they all joke around, comforting each other and themselves. This is also true emotionally, in the way we can best understand when Harry leans on Hermione and Luna while burying Dobby.
Another theme throughout the Deathly Hallows is how complicated relationships and individuals can be. Looking past Ron and Hermione and Harry, I mean Harry and Dudley, Draco Malfoy and Xenophilius Lovegood. For Harry and Dudley it happens for both of them; while Harry despises them, he makes sure they’re safe and while the Dursleys have always had disdain and repulsion for Harry, Dudley is worried and angry that they’re not sticking together and helping him, and we know Petunia’s recognition of the final loss of her sister shocks and somewhat destroys her. With Draco, as we saw in the Half-Blood Prince, he reminds us there’s a difference between a bad boy or bully, and a truly bad person. Yes, he’s a bully and elitist, but just like his father he mostly just likes to complain and pump up his ego; he’d do very little actual damage or harm to others, that type of evil or hatred is outside of him. Xenophilius Lovegood, in my opinion, had his best and worst moments in trying to sell Harry and his friends to the Dark Lord. It wasn’t cowardly, it wasn’t weak; there is a difference between sacrificing yourself for a cause or for someone else and sacrificing your child. Xenophilius fought alongside and supported Harry until for him, there really was no more purpose in a better world, an okay world or any world.
The Deathly Hallows also nicely tidy’s up the series with the Chapter “King’s Cross” by referencing for us how just because the Harry Potter Universe was in books and in our minds didn’t make it any less real and for showing us as well as Harry how death, adulthood and life are all things we must accept and how choosing acceptance will help us move forward even if not always easy or instantaneous.
Dolores Umbridge
I was wondering what I could write about what we learned from Umbridge, did I really need to write about all the characters, did I learn from them? How people in power can be corrupt and self-indulging, how people can use their greatest insecurities or fears and inner hate as a foundation against others, these are things we know already from life and can see from other characters so why write about her. Well, there are two things—one is just a quandary. It is interesting that as she became more and more in power, more absolute in her hatred of others that she also became more ‘polite’ (a false-politeness as most is) and more ‘girly’ focusing on a love of kittens, the color pink and attempts in being fragile. Why? She didn’t want to come across as fragile or dainty.
Secondly, there are many characters that are hated for the level of pain or evil they caused: the Dursleys, the Malfoys, Pettigrew, while Voldemort, Bellatrix and Umbridge are usually at the top and considered the worst, Voldemort has never been considered high above Umbridge in this aspect, and for many falls beneath her. Here is the man who split his soul into seven pieces (then accidentally eight), had Cedric murdered just because he wasn’t useful (seriously, just knock him out), tried to kill a baby who might one day kill him (good job on that one), murdered his entire family (both sides), he’s just an evil guy. So how is he not automatically the big villain Umbridge is? Why is she even able to compete? It’s a personal opinion, and choice, and one that fluctuates for most. Umbridge is so hated I believe, because of how much power she was allowed to have, and how she was able to slip in, remain and grow within the Ministry and be seen as someone with intellect, someone who should be compassionate, engaging and encouraging was narrow-minded and without individuality. In comparison, Voldemort had to fight for his power and to promote his beliefs, and people fought against him and disrespected him for it. Being forced to respect either Umbridge or Voldemort will make them hated, but as Umbridge was considered by many adults as one of the ‘good guys’ or that her crimes and hatred against others weren’t important enough to be obliterated and that she was supported makes us hate her and the system more.
The respect, power and approval by the ‘good guys’ she was given is similar to my earlier point in how her affection for kittens and delicate things was in opposition, and a falsehood, of who she really was. I cannot speak for others, but I do feel that giving someone with the same hatred and cruelty in her as Voldemort, giving her the power and respect he wanted is what makes her so hated—what she does is approved and while teachers under Voldemort’s rule would torture students, they did it as it went against their beliefs and because that’s who they were. They didn’t pretend it was for the benefit of the other students or under the guise of someone else. With all her arrogance and self-importance, she really had no confidence or true pride.
Percy Weasley
I liked Percy, enough, in the beginning. Similar to Hermione he was ambitious, smart, and just wanted to do well. In a family of seven children it’s understandable when one is different from the rest, and as close to the middle of the pack, it’s understandable he’s even more out of the loop, and we don’t know what his relationship with Charlie or was, or with Ron or Ginny when they were younger.
But there are a lot of things not to like about Percy: he couldn’t relax, he thought too highly of himself, and tried to appear better than he was (the type of person who uses a more ‘sophisticated’ word, but it doesn’t come naturally from them or in the sentence). Being ambitious and following rules are good, but the expression “rules are meant to be broken” has a point. There are exceptions and you shouldn’t follow the rules blindly, another major issue with Percy, he was narrow-minded and couldn’t see the bigger picture. It’s interesting, as in some ways this might have been what impacted his future at the Ministry the most, a lack of spine and compassion, I don’t see how he could have moved up into the Ministry that had Kingsley and Hermione in tow.
The thing that sticks with me is that he seemed to only reconnect with his family in the last moments, thou that could make sense if he was trying to keep a separate watch on things from the inside or was in fear for his life. But, after the battle, he wasn’t that close with his family either (at least not Harry) and it seems their children weren’t close with each other, so I doubt they saw much of each other. This hold on pride is what I don’t like the most, 20 years later, he’s still holding on to shame about being wrong.
Mommas
They are two characters that couldn’t be more different, they are also two characters who couldn’t have more in common: Molly Weasley and Fleur Delacour.
While Fleur started out (and on some level remained) snobby and shallow, even when knowing her as a Triwizard Champion there were glimpses into someone who was more than that. For starters, she was a Triwizard Champion and showed to be brave, intelligent and talented. She would loudly talk down about Hogwarts’ decoration and education, but I feel there were reasons underneath for that, while she held herself to high regard she also wasn’t arrogant as when she did poorly she didn’t blame others but herself, usually being a harsher critic of herself than anyone else. Long before Bill, she proved to be loyal to those she considered her friends in going what she could to help them and showing distraught when they were killed. A rarity, she was also able to separate competition from competitors, making life-long bonds with Victor Krum and Harry Potter, and probably Cedric had he lived.
While always the parent to be afraid of, Molly Weasley was generally seen as this strict for fair Mom. She hadn’t had a professional career of her own, focused on having many children, and took pride in the domestic chores that allowed her children and husband to have as easy and comfortable lives as possible. Tere are many things to adore and look up to in regards to Molly Weasley, she was never ashamed of being poor, always tried her best to help her children while not allowing them to be snobs (I’m sure Draco would still be Draco even if they didn’t have a Knut to their name) and of course, was the one who wore the pants in the family and outside and inside the home made sure others knew it was a wizards talent, nature and heart that made them good or bad, not their bloodline.
During the Second Wizarding War, Molly joined the Order of the Phoenix, but still in a way that stayed true to her nature of being the natural caregiver by taking care of things on the home front (EXTREMELY IMPORTANT BTW--just a different type of person) instead of going out and battling. We all knew she was a badass, and not a woman to mess with but it is how she chose to use that badassery that blasted thru when she obliterated Bellatrix. Here, Ginny, Hermione and Luna, all (female--important) wizards who are noted at the top of their class and have fought in many battles before cannot destroy Bellatrix, but a mom? Momma Molly, easy. This was such an important element of her because for the most part it’s hidden and it is in this case that I connect her so much with Fleur. People have layers, they’re complex, they all react to things and show different aspects of themselves at different times. This is such an important thing to understand when it comes to being a human and connecting with others.
Happy Birthday Harry
Harry Potter…..eh. No, I do love Harry, I do and there is a lot we can learn from him and a lot we can appreciate, it’s just odd as the central character of the story one of his best and most important qualities—is that he’s like everybody else. But that’s also so crucial, that he’s not special. Yes he’s got magic (but so does everyone), he’s skilled at Quidditch (but Voldemort could actually fly), he wasn’t particularly smart (Hermione) or charming (Cedric), but he also wasn’t a complete lost boy (Neville), he was average—and yet he changed and saved the world in ways big and small. So he’s a bit underwhelming, which made him so powerful.
While some of the biggest aspects of his life were not his choice, others were. One of the biggest and most crucial choices he made was his being kind and in his friendships with others. He didn’t like Draco early on, and liked Ron; he maintained a friendship with Hagrid once he was more settled into his Hogwarts life and while not particularly close, would hang out with Neville and didn’t lash out at Ginny or Colin (Colin!!) or Dobby, even competing against Fleur, Krum and Cedric (who he had a personal, one-sided rivalry against), he still was kind and friendly and always tried to do the right thing.
Harry was never perfect. He didn’t always listen, let his emotions get to him more times than there are pages in the series, he didn’t think things thru and he could be very close-minded. While he did not mature in all these accounts by the end of the series, overall he did mature and learn to see the world outside himself; being there for Hermione when Ron was with Lavender, sacrificing himself to save a world he would never get to be in. Over the series Harry grew and learned from (most of) his mistakes. This is crucial as it is important for us to know that one instance won’t ruin your life, and that people are always making mistakes and how to own up to them.
PS My favourite thing about Harry, and one of the things I love the most about the series, is how throughout it, even in his fifth year (as I remember it), every once in a while Harry would pause and meditate a bit on the world around him, how great and beautiful magic is. I love that so much
So Happy Birthday Harry Potter and Happy Birthday JK Rowling
Neville Longbottom
Oh my goodness Neville, while I connected with Hermione and Luna in love of books, wit, and oddities; my personal experiences always aligned more with Neville, which is why for the majority of the story I was disheartened to find him not having better luck. Regardless, Neville is the character that teaches us the most in the series showing us how words matter, you need to be your strongest supporter, you should do what’s right regardless of others, and how persistence can make all the difference.
“Stick and Stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”
False. The constant pressure and negativity from his grandmother, Snape and peers held Neville back. Confidence, kindness, respect for different people’s strengths can make all the difference for the individual and for the world. We know all the example I could go thru, but we see as Neville begins to ignore the taunts of others that he continues to improve.
“If You Judge a Fish by Its Ability to Climb a Tree, It Will Live Its Whole Life Believing that It is Stupid”
It took some time, but Neville eventually found himself. While he wasn’t good at potions and his fear of McGonagall held him back in Transfiguration, his love of Herbology eventually led him to a dream career as a Professor who will be the new generations Lupin I’m sure. While he felt down on himself, he didn’t feel bad about what or whom he liked and sought out relationships that he deemed worthy. This success also comes from his showing of persistence (slug club, defeating Voldemort), while not in a zealous way, he constantly tries to better himself and handles rejection well, he also doesn’t give up; even at the end of the first year when Harry, Ron and Hermione say they’re going out he doesn’t let them pass, but vows to stay there blocking them off.
While there is a lot we learn from Neville, what I love the most is how he’s a pure, true, good guy. He’s strong, the ultimate underdog and this is also one of the ways I find myself linked, he’s very moral—always trying to do the right and respectable thing. Even as “a nobody”, he would stand up for others and put others ahead of himself as he told Harry to let him be killed to make sure Voldemort and other’s didn’t get what they want, he also wouldn’t give in during the final battle and showed loyalty and trust in Harry beyond the end. Side point with this, his care with his mother and children who have parents are disabled or impaired, it was beautiful and to show how his grandmother was the opposite was very crucial, she might not have known who her son was, but she recognized this sweet boy and I love how he cherishes the wrappers she gives him.
Neville is the character I have the most “what/if” about
What/If he was in Hufflepuff (added points in letting us know a Hufflepuff so it doesn’t have the reputation it does); he also would have had a better connection with Professor Sprout (if that's possible)
What/If he had been closer to Harry, Ron and Hermione earlier on. I get that they were the core 3, but they didn’t even hang out with him as much as I feel they should have, and even when they did it became: Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville, Luna and Ginny.
Of course, the biggest, What/If is if Voldemort had chosen him instead of Harry, who would he have been? Harry would have been the same if he lived with his Aunt and Uncle, or just like James, if he ended up with Sirius (eck)
Alastor Moody
Alastor Moody is, of course, a difficult character to think back on because most of our experiences with him--weren’t actually him
Regardless, he was still an important character, one of the few characters who was in the Order of the Phoenix during both Wizarding Wars. A brave and skilled wizard he was also a good judge of character (Igor Karkaroff), giving (Tonks was his protégé) and he didn’t care too much about what others thought of him—only considering the opinion of those he deemed worthy.
What I think most about him, is he gives us a glimpse into some mental illness, disillusion and how Ron would be in his later years with PTSD. Even as a high-ranking Auror, people mostly avoided him as he had become a bit paranoid
Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you
after all his years serving as an Auror and all those he had put away. He had limited friends he felt he could trust and had shown to have many scars showing all he had been thru. In the brief moments with him, he showed to be sentimental and trying to form human connections where he could and appreciating them: giving Harry the original Order of the Phoenix photo and his relationship with Tonks
PS Very glad Harry worked to get his eye back
Dobby, the Great House Elf
In the beginning, the middle, and I’m sure to his end, had his final moments not been so serious and painful, Dobby could easily be considered very annoying. He wouldn’t listen and didn’t fully think things thru, making things a lot harder and sometimes more dangerous for Harry. But while I would consider him an adult, just with all the pitfalls of hanging out with a toddler, Dobby was fantastic and a great role model for those who are trying to accept themselves.
While at first Dobby loves Harry for being the boy who lived, his admiration for Harry grows more overtime for the simplicity of Harry treating him as an equal, something that Dobby didn’t experience in his life before and wouldn’t experience much in his lifetime at all. Overtime Dobby begins to love and appreciate himself more, becoming someone who stands up to bullies and is always there for his friends but he shows how rough of a battle it is. While he has always wanted his freedom, he wasn’t able to take the 10 galleons a week and weekends off provided by Dumbledore for wages thinking it to be too much, and wasn’t able to easily tell Harry about Umbridge considering she was his temporary master. While we can easily see Dobby’s friendship, loyalty, and equality with Harry Potter, it is the struggle to change and be yourself that is a lesson less shown or seen that we can grasp with Dobby as while Hermione and Luna were always confident with their intelligence and didn’t care for others, Dobby knew who he was and was proud but still struggled, something that is much more common, especially for young kids and teenagers.
Dobby knew what he was worth, was kind and giving, and did what was right—even against his friends. He struggled with his place in the world but knew to really only care about the opinions of those who matter
World Refugee Day, من از زندگی تو سپاسگزارم ( I thank you for my life--google)
صلح (Peace)
Pomona Sprout
Professor Sprout was the embodiment of Hufflepuff, mostly pertaining to her love of Herbology, sweetness, and lack of need to be worshipped. Plenty of potions need the careful, dedicated and complicated treatment of plants that is based in Herbology; something that Professor Sprout hints at but does not boast about. Her brilliance was shown not only in her famous care of Mandrake’s to help petrified students be restored, but the year before when she used Devil’s Snare to help protect the Sorcerer’s Stone so that the one who tried to get it would not need only intelligence but the ability to remain calm in a panic.
Similar to her brilliance, Professor Sprout also showed her generosity as the many lessons she taught the students in harvesting she gave to Madam Pomphrey to help students with all types of ailments from being petrified, to common acne or used for other aspects of her class (unlike other Professors). She also showed her loyalty and bravery not only to what was right in protecting her and other students in the year that Death Eaters had control of the school, but also to Albus Dumbledore in her agreeing that the school should be kept open after his passing. Most importantly, she didn’t care whose house you were in—she loved you all the same
Draco Malfoy and Sirius Black
First, I know she has come to the understanding that people are more crushing on Tom Felton than Draco Malfoy, but I cannot understand why JK Rowling is so unnerved by it. Yes, Draco Malfoy is a shitty person, but it’s so typical that it really is quite a gift. Be glad we’re wasting our ‘fall for the bad guy’ on a literary character over an actual guy who smokes cigarettes in 2018.
There are a few core things we could learn about from Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter. Two of the main ones being how people change, and that the world isn’t black and white. But the biggest understanding I think can be gained is comparing his life and struggles with Sirius Black. Whether Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor first and then got a deeper understanding of how his beliefs and morals were different from the majority of his family or if he knew he had these beliefs before starting school, Sirius’ showed us the result fighting for what is right and against your family when your family doesn’t have the same moral standing you do. In comparison to when Percy either let himself be blinded or was just obsessed with power, his family continued to try and connect with him and love him, while Sirius’ family disowned him.
Both Draco and Sirius at points were bullies, but there is a huge difference between being a bully and being evil. When it came down to it, neither was evil, and at times I’m sure both were scared in trying to do what was right under extreme pressure and thru their stories we got to see both sides. While Sirius’ story focused on the results of his fight he was abandoned, depressed and obsessed with fighting against the Voldemort and the beliefs of those who abandoned him. During the struggle we see Draco, who once demanded and forced to do the wrong thing, couldn’t handle it as it wasn’t him. As Dumbledore remarked he cowardly tried to kill Dumbledore and even when push came to shove and his life depended on it, still couldn’t. He was frozen and like Sirius he overtime became depressed and alienated himself from all around him. It’s tricky, but I don’t know if Draco would ever had been able to choose either side by himself, he seemed unable to go against his family and what was a burden on him to protect them; only ending up morally okay when his mother realized how the battle would end.
Thru their parallel struggles we see what happens when you are able to go against your family and when you cannot. While Draco was able to live a fuller life and Sirius had a truly supportive family in his friends, both suffered and arguments for both can be made for against when we remember these characters were children at the time of this crossroad. It’s hard, it’s heartbreaking, and there are so many people in the world who while they should be themselves and are accepted by others, we need to be reminded that since your family is supposed to love you unconditionally—you can turn yourself into a Horcrux with the pain and fear of what may happen if they don’t and be more open-minded with those struggles.
Hagrid
Rubeus Hagrid; Half-giant, great giant, great Gryffindor, great man, great brother, great friend, great everything. The two things I love the most about Hagrid both have to do with his love, (1) his love for Harry, and (2) his love of everything else
We all know that Sirius loved Harry, but he wasn’t the only one and on another note, I feel part of Sirius’ love for Harry was connected to James. When I think of Hagrid’s love for Harry I think of Molly (and Arthur), who loved him unconditionally. I think of someone who saw Harry as an equal, as a friend, as someone with their own reactions and thoughts; not as someone to be manipulated, convinced or as a child.
One of the biggest issues I will always have is that none of Harry’s children were named after Hagrid, mostly, because Harry never truly appreciated Hagrid. While he did care for Hagrid, he never had all the respect for him that he should have, some of the respect that he gave to Dumbledore should have been with Hagrid. This is a shame for both of them, as they have a lot in common that Harry didn’t with anyone else. For starters, they both had terrible childhoods and adolescence that related a lot to their loss of parents and community. when they were both young Hagrid’s mother left him and Harry’s parents died. In their teens, Hagrid’s father died and he was kicked out of school and Harry would consistently have to deal with the Dursleys and would become an outcast whenever the admiration of the wizarding world turned to disgust or pettiness (not a very strong bunch). This is in addition to being a standout; Hagrid for being a half-giant and Harry for being “the boy who lived”.
These are also only a few of the reasons why both end up like lost boys in the wizarding world, whom both turn to Albus Dumbledore as a guide. Hagrid, like Harry, was given a very rough deal early on, but so was Lupin who I also deeply treasure but must point out did not handle it as well as Hagrid. Unlike Harry and Lupin, who both managed to get great friends in their youth, part of what I love and think we can all learn from Hagrid is how he so strongly persevered thru everything. Without all the skulking and pity-parties. At any point in his life he could have run off to be with the other giants, or just hid out by himself with his little bit of magic, but he didn’t, he continued to try, do good and be good. Obviously, he found and had reasons to stay, Hogwarts was his home, but there was an easier way, a path with less rejection and side-glances (just think of him being out in the world will all the different creatures he could be with and care for); regardless of everything Hagrid not only persevered, but he was so, so kind, almost always trusting there to be good in people, giving people the benefit of the doubt and even when he got a bit of temper, he never got mean.
Another thing with Hagrid that was so amazing giving his upbringing was how much he loved and was king, to himself. While he kept it quiet in the beginning, he was never ashamed of being a half-giant, and while he wasn’t happy about getting kicked out of school, he knew he hadn’t done anything wrong and just wished he could learn more magic. When he made mistakes, he owned up to them. Finally, the most endearing thing sounds like all the others but is truly unique: he loved everything. Every creature, he found beauty in it, regardless of everything he saw beauty, believed in love, friendship, the truth and the good. How can anyone not completely admire that, love that
So again, Hagrid is someone to be honoured and admired and to try and live up to, for he never gives up, is incredibly kind, loves himself and loves everything else
Lavender Brown
Happy Valentines Day everyone!
While some may adore this holiday, others find it grotesque, so to honour both the day and the feelings everyone relates to it (both good and bad) today is the perfect day to relate and explore Lavender Brown
Lavender Brown was just so god-damn annoying. I hated her, I still hate her, rewatching and rereading I still hate her and while for some it might be because she was “between Hermione and Ron getting together”--Lavender wasn’t, Ron was; there isn’t that level of dislike for Victor Krum, because he’s not a pain in the ass. In class we saw her barely paying attention or whining (you’re learning MAGIC girl, focus!), was very overdramatic, gullible and influenced (relationship with Trelawney), didn’t trust Harry or Dumbledore about Voldemort, infatuated with Lockhart (weird, that’s what they have in common) and Trelawny, had no independce or confidence and for us who had been growing up with Hermione, Lavender was always a contrast (and a bit of a bully to Hermione) and we just saw more of what we didn’t always like about her in Year Six. With Ron she’s in that (and from what we feel would always be) someone who is having their first boyfriend/girlfriend, OMG I totally love you even though it’s only been 3 days, we’re going to get married, live happily ever after, middle school romance...but at 16/17, and incredibly one-sided. Would they have lasted forever? No, from the beginning it was clear, to those he told, that Ron was more about being in a relationship than the relationship itself (yeah, asshole move). And, while Lavender was right that there was something going on between Ron and Hermione, it wasn’t right to act on it as 1) they weren’t acting any differently than they used to and 2) no romantic relationship should replace any friendships. Yes, over time people split up, but as an ultimatum, it’s the first step of the romantic relationships quick demise (and true with friendships where one tries to rid other friendships). She was just a whiny, petty, privileged American, ugh.
Now, what did we learn? Regardless of her judgement and attitude she joined Dumbledore’s Army and fought in the Battle of Hogwarts, reminding us that everyone has layers. She also was a great friend to Seamus and Pavarti. Who knows, maybe had Harry, Ron and Hermione not been constantly busy saving the universe they would have all been friends, or at least friendlier and found they had more in common than we thought because we know a lot about Lavender’s annoying traits and her personality, but little else because it was easier to see her more dramatic side. So, Lavender Brown, you do remind us that not everyone is the same, not everyone will get along, not everyone is going to best your very best friend but that everyone still deserves respect, understanding and compassion
Luna Lovegood
There are many, many, many reasons to love Luna Lovegood as well as lessons about how we should be:
she’s honest
she’s conscientious, and not the center of the universe
she’s confident in herself
she’s brave for herself and others
she’s supportive and understanding of her friends and others
she's not prejudiced and address’ it in others
this list can go on for pages and pages of a tumblr article.
Along with all Luna (and Evanna Lynch) taught us, and was a role model for those who didn’t feel like they belonged or were considered less than, she taught us a lot with the unexpected relationships she had with two characters: Hermione and Harry
Hermione, seen as a brilliant, kind and caring Witch, was cruel to Luna at first as she was opposite, but not opposite, of Hermione. Luna showed us with her relationship with Hermione a few flaws of Hermione along with growth and with Luna, what it meant to be truly open and accepting. Both intelligent, heroic and compassionate, their core similarities ended there. While important, Hermione let the values of acceptance and appearance overshadow curiosity and open-mindedness; which are both very important and defining characteristics of any person. It is so, so, so important to not only be open-minded and interested in the world around you, people’s beliefs, but also people in general. Even the villains in Harry Potter weren’t all evil or heroes all good.
Harry, this is one of my biggest umphs, Luna was the best character we knew for Harry romantically, because of how natural they were together. Sure, like all relationships Luna had there was a bit of a warming up period, but once they met and interacted, she just got him. When he wanted to hide after the battle, she could recognize him even when disguised with Polyjoice Potion, how it felt to not know one’s parent(s), she just got him. It’s rare, and doesn’t have to be romantic, but is such a beautiful relationship and connection that some people have. That without words or
Bill Weasley
I went back and forth with doing a “what I learned from Bill Weasley” because I feel like I barely know Bill.This is especially apparent in comparison with the rest of the Weasleys (sorry Charlie--ha). I know he’s a good son and husband. A werewolf and a hard worker. But not so much of Bill, as Bill.
But, while we don’t learn much about Bill directly, he does remind us of some things quite prominently. From his relationship with Fleur, we are reminded that relationships are deeper than appearances, the importance of being a good person and son with his relationship with his parents (and especially his mother), and from his experiences with Goblins and at Gringotts the importance of deep respect and politeness. Finally, do not be a prat. as he was so excited to join his mother at Hogwarts to wish Harry good luck before the third task of the Triwizard tournament.
So thank you Bill, we might barely know you, but you still have taught us well.
Tonks!
Nymphadora Tonks (can definitely understand why we went with the later name). While Hermione and Luna are polar opposites each taught us how to accept ourselves for who we are, Tonks was just, different. Maybe it was because she was older and more established, maybe it was just because she was the epitome of cool, but she was always, from the moment we knew of her, knew she was cool and who she was. She didn’t care about her flaws because they were just part of who she was and she was awesome and continues to be the only person who wears their flaws with pride and confidence as how they are
While re-reading and knowing about her live and difficulties with Lupin, I get pissed of at him of course, but just want to tell her that I know she’s right and to just told on because it seemed for once she was afraid of not knowing, of not being that confident person and not because she might be wrong or lost or confused but because of living without love. And how horrible a life that would be
“Don’t pity the dead, Harry. Pity the living, and, above all those who live without love”
Oh, and what a true werewolf at HEART
Professor Flitwick
Professor Flitwick, my Head of House, was all I love about Ravenclaw. A proven underdog, he was passionate about learning, studied hard and had some serious talent. While we didn’t get to interact with him much, he was ecstatic by Hermione’s 112% in her first year and graded it as such, which to me showed how he didn’t care about whose house you were in and pushed for all to excel. From this, I would believe that he would have been a great supporter of Hermione’s efforts during her third year to try with the time-turner and learn as much as she could, would have worked with Neville so he could exceeds with getting a N.E.W.T. in Charms after the pep-talk from McGonagall and of course was in awe of Fred and George’s final salute to Umbridge and traditional education. So thank you Sir for your true intelligence about the type of learning that is truly important, how we learn in matters of personal exploration, kindness and individual creativity.
Bonus Points: Hogwarts School Choir!!
Mr. Ollivander
Today is Mr. Ollivander’s birthday, the wandmaker who sells Harry his wand on his 11th birthday, measures the wand’s of all the Champions in the Tri-wizard Tournament and is held prisoner during the Second War at Malfoy Manor. According to Pottermore he was influential to the wizarding world as he completely transformed wand making when he took over his family’s business. While I would have also liked the previous method of bringing something personal to have a wand made out of, Mr. Ollivander’s method of creating wands from selective materials and selling them to the wizard who had a connection with the wand is both a more logical approach and produced a noticeable change in strength and beauty for the wand holder.
But there is more to his story....
As with the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Mr. Ollivander was Harry Potter’s, and our’s, first taste of magic. In his wandshop is where Harry first gets to perform just a bit of magic and, as he repeats throughout his years, how much he loves it. While Harry Potter might have been a special case, I believe that Mr. Ollivander was passionate and caring about each new (or older) wizard who came in for a companion in their wand and enjoyed being with them as they started their journey and full embracing the beauty that is magic. So thank you Mr. Ollivander for your passion, compassion, brilliance and heart.
Hermione Granger
Hermione Jean Granger. Holy Crap, what can’t I say. You were EVERYTHING to me. Brilliantly confident, fierce, strong, brave. You were the first. Before Tris, Katniss, you were the diverse, WHOLE package. True and Strong.
First, you were the best friend anyone could ask for. Almost every year Harry and Ron fought with you, exiled you, one thing or another, real or BS. But it didn’t matter, you PERSISTED, stayed strong, stayed with them. You saved there asses more times than JK Rowling could ever count. You are the golden standard of friendship and bravery. Seriously, I think he knew this as get got older, but YOU were Harry Potter’s best friend. Yes, Ron was there as someone who would go out with him, go on adventures with him, but you always knew what was going on his head and how to get to him, what he needed; again, you are the standard of true friendship we should all aspire to.
Second, you are inspiring and compassionate and open-minded. Emma Watson has your influence to be grateful for in becoming who she is. Not only were you compassionate about House Elves but you didn’t care what anyone thought. You proudly and loudly kept fighting for their equality, fought when even your friends kept attacking you, and when you found out Dumbledore had house elves at Hogwarts you lost some respect for him, even thou he was doing the best he could with them.
Third, you were just you. Luna was also unique and fascinated by the world around her, but you were also someone separate. You loved books, loved learning, always were intrigued and believed there was more out there than you previously thought (GIRL TOOK MUGGLE STUDIES--to be fair I probably would too). You re-awakened the part of me that loves the world around me, that’s curious and un-apologetically so.
We could all go on forever, but these were the main things. You taught us how to be true friends, true to ourselves, and kind to all. While the Harry Potter Series has been a key component in the millennial outcry against hate and separatism, you were the reason we actively, loudly and strongly spit it in the face. Thank you so much Hermione Jean Granger, we did not deserve you, but we hope we are doing you proud.
r u capable of compassion?
depends