Jk Rowling - Blog Posts

Potterhead! Loving my illustrated Harry Potter. 

HBP is truly the beginnings of a Drarry fanfic. Harry starts obsessing over Draco, realizes he isn’t all evil and instead complex, breaks up with Ginny...

JK Rowling was so close to greatness. Just a litttlllleeee more Draco character development and Drarry fans could have had it all.

(Maybe then Ginny and Luna could’ve gotten together)

Rowling isn't denying holocaust. She just pointed out that burning of transgender health books is a lie as that form of cosmetic surgery didn't exist. But of course you knew that already, didn't you?

I was thinking I'd probably see one of you! You're wrong :) Let's review the history a bit, shall we?

In this case, what we're talking about is the Institut für Sexualwissenschaft, or in English, The Institute of Sexology. This Institute was founded and headed by a gay Jewish sexologist named Magnus Hirschfeld. It was founded in July of 1919 as the first sexology research clinic in the world, and was run as a private, non-profit clinic. Hirschfeld and the researchers who worked there would give out consultations, medical advice, and even treatments for free to their poorer clientele, as well as give thousands of lectures and build a unique library full of books on gender, sexuality, and eroticism. Of course, being a gay man, Hirschfeld focused a lot on the gay community and proving that homosexuality was natural and could not be "cured".

Hirschfeld was unique in his time because he believed that nobody's gender was either one or the other. Rather, he contended that everyone is a mixture of both male and female, with every individual having their own unique mix of traits.

This leads into the Institute's work with transgender patients. Hirschfeld was actually the one to coin the term "transsexual" in 1923, though this word didn't become popular phrasing until 30 years later when Harry Benjamin began expanding his research (I'll just be shortening it to trans for this brief overview.) For the Institute, their revolutionary work with gay men eventually began to attract other members of the LGBTA+, including of course trans people.

Contrary to what Anon says, sex reassignment surgery was first tested in 1912. It'd already being used on humans throughout Europe during the 1920's by the time a doctor at the Institute named Ludwig Levy-Lenz began performing it on patients in 1931. Hirschfeld was at first opposed, but he came around quickly because it lowered the rate of suicide among their trans patients. Not only was reassignment performed at the Institute, but both facial feminization and facial masculization surgery were also done.

The Institute employed some of these patients, gave them therapy to help with other issues, even gave some of the mentioned surgeries for free to this who could not afford it! They spoke out on their behalf to the public, even getting Berlin police to help them create "transvestite passes" to allow people to dress however they wanted without the threat of being arrested. They worked together to fight the law, including trying to strike down Paragraph 175, which made it illegal to be homosexual. The picture below is from their holiday party, Magnus Hirschfeld being the gentleman on the right with the fabulous mustache. Many of the other people in this photo are transgender.

There was always push back against the Institute, especially from conservatives who saw all of this as a bad thing. But conservatism can't stop progress without destroying it. They weren't willing to go that far for a good while. It all ended in March of 1933, when a new Chancellor was elected. The Nazis did not like homosexuals for several reasons. Chief among them, we break the boundaries of "normal" society. Shortly after the election, on May 6th, the book burnings began. The Jewish, gay, and obviously liberal Magnus Hirschfeld and his library of boundary-breaking literature was one of the very first targets. Thankfully, Hirschfeld was spared by virtue of being in Paris at the time (he would die in 1935, before the Nazis were able to invade France). His library wasn't so lucky.

This famous picture of the book burnings was taken after the Institute of Sexology had been raided. That's their books. Literature on so much about sexuality, eroticism, and gender, yes including their new work on trans people. This is the trans community's Alexandria. We're incredibly lucky that enough of it survived for Harry Benjamin and everyone who came after him was able to build on the Institute's work.

As the Holocaust went on, the homosexuals of Germany became a targeted group. This did include transgender people, no matter what you say. To deny this reality is Holocaust denial. JK Rowling and everyone else who tries to pretend like this isn't reality is participating in that evil. You're agreeing with the Nazis.

But of course, you knew that already, didn't you?

THANK YOU finally someone reasonable. Do you know how hard it is to find something like this in the whole jkr discussion on tumblr?? Like 1) If you haven't done sufficient research DONT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT 2) Even if you did research shitting on people who support/don't support jkr is not right either- RESPECT PEOPLE RESPECT.

You don't agree with JKR's views...do you?

I’m indifferent on the subject, I don’t have strong views on things I have not researched. I’ve had conversations with wonderful people that describe themselves as trans & non binary, and they have been kind enough to share their experiences with me, and so have people that do not agree with gender theory. I don’t have enough information on gender dysphoria or gender theory as a whole to fight for the “war” on any side, really. But I do not enjoy anyones voice being shut or lives being destroyed either for identifying with being transgender or non binary or with challenging gender theory.

Jkr doesn’t seem to me as if she is set to destroy transgender people, but she has voiced her opinions on:

Being fired for practicing your disagreement with gender ideology.

The degrading of woman being raped in jail by men making a cynical use of gender theory to commit rape in female holding jails.

Both of those opinion do not seem aphorant to me at all, but I never bothered to look deeper into them to give them a seal of approval or disapproval.

In conclusion, it really goes as deep as me listening to both sides whom I’ve dug deeply enough to make sure they don’t threat any side & my standing of the almost universal right of free speech, and of course my personal view of respect.

just me feeling philisophical

y'all rmb you shit on bad books too before shitting on people who shit on books you like

My opinion on the moral discourse surrounding certain celebs or authors Part I

will include links to Part II and III when posted

I love social media. But I hate the backlash that comes every time someone has a different opinion than the generally accepted view. I hate how when someone decides not to take a stance against things like the lgbtq community they get hated or shammed. I hate how we can't just like a certain celebrity but we have to care about whether they have a good background. Supporting black people, supporting the lgbtq community is important, but if your tactics are going to be to shame people who don't support you, then how are you any different from those who oppressed you? This is a small account, and I don’t know how many people would read this. But if you did, thank you for taking the time to do so, and feel free to comment your views, as I know there will be many. I will try to respond to those I could (if any). I believe that our world is changing, and we can't do anything but to accept it. But I also believe that accept doesn't equal support, and while I may not buy rainbow t-shirt, I believe that as long as I don’t insult these people, it is okay, and I shouldn't be shammed because of that. Nor should I be afriad to say I don't wholly support the generally accepted views. I have to believe that, because if social media has become a place where I get insulted or get called racist or homophobic simply because I like certain author or certain celebrities, then social media's original goal of allowing everyone to expres their opinions as long as it doesn't hurt anyone is no longer there.

oh no I accidentally intentionally reblogged

btw the thing she couldn’t ignore was someone calling her out for saying anti-depressants/hormone therapy are only perscribed by lazy doctors

Reblogging this due to uhh...recent events.

JK Rowling is a mental bitch.

Can't believe they put JK Rowling in my Mario game

Personally, I’m starting to think fake allies are worse than outright bigots.

Sure, some asshole in a park will call me a faggot and it sucks, but there’s something so insidious and cruel about someone who claims to support you but who won’t do the bare minimum for your community’s pain. Someone who tweets ‘trans rights are human rights’ again and again like mantra but won’t stop supporting the Worst Person Alive in favour of continuing to read a kids’ book about wizards. Someone who wears ‘Ally’ t-shirts and ‘love is love’ pins with every outfit but won’t stop eating a fucking chicken sandwich brand. Someone who claims to fight for your rights but actively contributes to the harming of those same rights, despite how fucking easy it’d be not to. I’d rather you just call me a tranny fag or whatever at this point. If you’re gonna be a piece of shit, at least grow a pair and go all the way.

I have been through this shit too many time

“never meet your heroes” is about how you shouldn’t look at your favorite writers’ twitter accounts

Preach, sister

not to be harry potter on main but i honestly think the fantastic beasts series would have been so much more interesting if it was just about the beasts. i don’t give a fuck about grindelwald, just give me a movie about an eccentric wizard travelling the world looking for magical animals and teaching us the power of friendship

Dementors

"Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope and happiness out of the air around them....get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory, will be sucked out of you...you'll be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life.’

It is with our introduction to Dementors that we really feel inside JK Rowling, even for those who dealt with depression, the aspect of it being temporary and out of ones control made the connection difficult--but is becoming more accepted overtime. While some stories show us new worlds, and other stories draw connections from different worlds to our own, others open our eyes to living a better life and all the different ways stories and books and conversations, sometimes we read to find ourselves as we look for ourselves in others. This is one of the best examples, of how JK connected us and brought us forward within ourselves as those right next to us. Her ability to openly and honestly portray pain, loneliness and loss are some of the most crucial elements that people needed to feel connected with in order to survive.

"You do care" said Dumbledore "You care so much you feel as though you will bleed to death with the pain of it"--and we did, we have survived

Our Shared Universe: Human Experience

What is truly beautiful and most show by JK Rowlings’ Harry Potter series, but also by many other books (Sakura and the 1,000 paper cranes and the new book-to-movie adaption To all the boys I’ve loved before, is that while our cultures are different, part of us are all the same. WE ARE ALL HUMAN. While some believe in the human being split and others believe in the red string; most of us all have similarities with those very different from ourselves and even if we cannot meet these people face to face, we meet them in the stories that reflect ours, but are just slightly different.  

At the entrance to the Peace Park people filed through the memorial building in silence. On the walls were photographs of the dead and dying in a ruined city. The atom bomb—the Thunderbolt—had turned Hiroshima into a desert. Sadako didn’t want to look at the frightening pictures. She held tight to Chizuko’s hand and walked quickly through the building. -- Sakura and the 1,000 paper cranes 

Is this not how the US currently deals with September 11th, there is respect, there is honor, there is fear and confusion. 

"Words are, in my not so humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic, capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it."

JK Rowling

Words, like books, are everything. Every experience, almost every emotion that we experienced can be told to others with the use of words and we understand each other by reading and listening to the stories of others. The most beautiful love song, the worst phrases that turn a friend to an enemy.

Act with kindness, speak with compassion, and keep reading

JK Rowling

Harry Potter and the Sorcerors Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blooded Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I literally grew up with the release of the books and films. From September 1st 2018 to midnight, July 21st, 2007 I grew up with Harry, Ron and Hermione. But even 20 years later children and adults around the world are growing up with them, learning from the characters, the books, the films, their friends, their families, their teachers, and their stories. 

We have learned about compassion, friendship, empathy, inner strength, how to persevere; we have learned about activism, to fight against inequality, to fight for more than just ourselves. It has been scientifically concluded that these stories have increased people’s humanity and lessened the possibility of hate from taking over. The generation that grew up with these stories, those who read them to us and those who have read them since believe and have a new understanding about those around them that aren’t like themselves due to religion, race, politics, economics, immigration and all the other things that make us beautifully different. What we learned from Harry Potter, what we learned from you over these past 20 years today (in the states), in these 19 years and counting, thank you JK Rowling. Thank you for the world you created in these stories, and so much more

Thank you

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

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Any possibility of Harry having a nice life, died, mercilessly, with this book, starting with him again not being to just be on the sidelines and ending with the full return of Voldemort. Okay, so it starts off with a horrible scene but actually the beginning is quite lovely as Harry writes to Sirius for help because he finally has someone he can write to with his problems that’s like a parent and then following the silliness of the Weasleys sending a letter with about 10 thousand stamps (why did no one give them basics after the phone call and really, Muggle Studies should be mandatory for everyone, is there really that little contact) and then of course, the Quidditch World Cup (see—Muggles).

But quickly the main themes of Harry being cursed (seriously—why did he keep going back) and teenage drama (Ron v. any and all sensibility) took over, but with some new dimensions. This was the beginning of true social justice for Hermione, something that she would stick with the rest of her life, and I love how it a) was for those who weren’t fighting for themselves, and b) wasn’t based on blood status. The choice and dedication she had to fight for equality and for others made sense as it was an extension from her fight the year before for Buckbeak and wasn’t for her, but something for others that was not related to school, but important, and a part of her and would’ve come out eventually, one way or another. In relation to the parallels created, the introduction of Rita Skeeter, her rumors, and the brainwashing of the media we later also see in Year Five are important parallels to our non-magical world. This extends to how we shouldn’t always trust those we believe we should and we should remain skeptical of those we don’t truly know (Alastor Moody, Lugo Badman, Molly Weasley with Hermione and Rita and others). These are lessons that we understand adults have not all mastered. Additional lessons can also be shown in the three tasks. The First Task reminds us to be creative with your knowledge as Krum hadn’t thought of summoning a broom to help him. The Second and Third Task make me think of moral fibre and compassion, and to not let the competition take over what you know is right. 

This book was long, and had a lot, but most importantly it stood as the midpoint, the break between young Harry Potter and older Harry Potter as the coming years would get even darker, and the lessons he learned this year and previously (along with the friendships he gained) would be more valuable in coming times than expected. Unrelated, the beginning chapter of this was so anti-Harry Potter, it had no magic, was complete mysterious and dark but not overdone, it was beautiful and sucked me in so much; truly showed how JK Rowling was a brilliant writer even outside the magical world she created. Also, would’ve loved a scene with Hermione showing Draco she captured Skeeter, once again showing how completely brilliant she is in having figured it out, also, badass!!

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.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

There are quite a few things that come to mind when I think about this book. First and foremost, is that I recall this is the edition I was reading (whether for the first time or reread I don’t know) when I discovered JK Rowling wasn’t a man, how I ran back to look at the book and wondered why I thought she must have been from the title, and understood why she wrote her name so as not to be identified and turn others off (oy! how nothing has changed). 

Next, while I was young at the time I do not know what I anticipated but following the events of their first year we expected Harry, Ron and Hermione to either be dealing with Voldemort again or not--and I love how we got both. While in some ways the fact that they were all included again makes no sense, but again it all does. Harry can speak Parseltongue and therefore gets more information and gets Ron and Hermione involved, Ginny comes from a family with morals and is the exact opposite of the Malfoys and Death Eaters so Lucius trying to frame them, being the coward as he is, all makes sense and while seems a bit stretched is just coincidental. As Minerva McGonagall and Ron later discuss, however, why it is always them? Must just be their fate. 

Relatedly, we continue to get depth with our main trio: Hermione, Ron and Harry and the wizarding world in general while they continue to grow. While in the previous year Hermione broke some rules, they were only in regards to emergencies (stopping Snape from getting the Sorcerer's Stone, lighting him on fire) or to stop others from breaking rules (stopping Harry from getting in trouble with the dragon). But in her second year she sees breaking the rules as more of a means to an end; even when the end isn’t as near or dire. She becomes less rule-obsessed or rigid in this sense and tries weighing the options and looking more at the big picture (both with stealing the ingredients of the Polyjuice Potion and just in making it and knocking out Crabbe and Goyle). With Ron, we learn more about who he really is as we see him interact more with his siblings, with Hermione (my uncle caught onto that one, not me) and learn about how he feels about himself overall even if we don’t realize it all in depth at the time. Finally, We also learn more about Harry and, with him, the wizarding world in general; how there is a class system, the downfalls of being a hero or celebrity, what it actually means to be a hero or role-model and many other somewhat small things that create a deeper meaning combined.

Finally, holy hell was this the novel with annoying people; see Myrtle, Dobby and Colin. While Dobby and Colin grew on me, and I believe all of us, they both just wouldn’t shut up or listen and you would cringe with Harry as he deals with all their drama. But on both, Harry changed; growing to be broken by Colin’s death in the final battle and of course Dobby, one of his best friends. Both of these characters represented innocence, kindness, friendship, truth, honesty and so many other admirable qualities before even getting to the fact that they risked their lives for others. 

Myrtle? No, just creepy; I mean she was a younger teenager at the time. Do ghosts get older? Ugh, sorry, no love there. 

Teddy Lupin: New Generation

We know nothing about Teddy Lupin (except he’s a Metamorphmagus like his Mum and is a fan of PDA). But while we know very little, he is such an important character. Another child like Harry alone in the world because of a war (and a main reason why we got the Epilogue) he represents, and reminds us of, the continuous and generational effects war, violence and inaction have on individuals, families and society. But also, the impact that we can make when we make changes to those evils in the world. 

I originally chose February 19th as the day for this entry as with other entries whose birthdays aren’t available, as it is the birthday of the actor who portrayed (or in this case was cut from portraying them. So the timing for the rest of this piece, related to the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School) is somewhat a coincidence, as in the States we would always be coincidentally close to a school shooting. 

The students from Stoneman Douglas High School have had enough, and regardless of age are refusing to be bystanders or that these are things outside of their control. It reminds me of the old Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,        Courage to change the things I can,                                                            And wisdom to know the difference

now includes Angela Davis’ quote

to change the things I cannot accept

I didn’t expect Teddy’s post to be more than the first paragraph about how there are always unexpected tragedies of war, and how far those tragedies spread.But JK Rowling and Harry Potter taught us, reminded us that anyone can be a force for change, for a better world and with that, I am just simply loving this younger generation, I am in awe of their strength, courage and high moral standards 

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!!

Professor McGonagall

Today is the birthday of Professor McGonagall, our stern but motherly figure while attending Hogwarts, especially for those in her house, Gryffindor. While off topic, as JK Rowling stated she wanted English actors only to portray the Hogwarts students, she also stated that she always wanted Maggie Smith to portray Professor (Minerva) McGonagall who not only played the part but held it as dear to her heart as we do, as she continued to film both Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part II. 

Professor McGonagall was always a great mother figure to me as she was clearly an independent woman; she was also strict and fair: important qualities for someone who is going to need to guide young wizards, teach, and be a guardian at a boarding school. She was also a role model, maybe not directly as Hermione Granger was, but she taught all of her students (readers included) to stand up for themselves, believe in themselves, and be honest and truthful about yourself, to yourself, and your surroundings. 

Some of my best moments with her will always be in regards to Neville, who throughout his years as a students at Hogwarts she repeatedly told him that all he needed was confidence. She further pushed this when after the O.W.L.S. she stood up for him to himself, reminding him that he should be proud of his accomplishments and not base his happiness on his grandmother. With these developments, and her change from guardian to friend as our Hogwarts friends grew older, there was much to admire and adore and want in a personal relationship with Professor McGonagall, all before getting to her history and heartbreak pre-Hogwarts years and her odd relationship with Dumbledore. She was force to be reckoned with, her and her Maggie Smith, and I encourage all to re-read the books and explore her history more to understand how truly Brave, Clever and Kind she was. 

OH MY GOODNESS and her AND her patronus was a Cat!!! <3

Professor Quirrell

Professor Quirrell, Harry Potter’s Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher (the first of many) that turned out to be trying to help Voldemort return to power. There is not much to say about this character; as he played dumb so well, he kind of was very easily forgettable. I don’t even remember much of what they learned from him. (Also thou, it’s upsetting that there is a specific Defense Against the Dark Arts class that children are required to take for 5 years--why aren’t there more prevention for this, why do kids have to be SO prepared).  While definitely not the best person to learn from, unexpectedly he can be a great lesson to all of how (1) book smart is not the same as street smart and (2) to be careful, cautious and not overconfident about who you are

But I will say that while it was unfortunate it was him, I always loved how excited Harry was to meet him. All of these wizards finally get to meet “The Boy Who Lived” and here Harry is just as excited to meet Professor Quirrell because to Harry THIS is someone important, someone, he can and will learn from about magic. I always loved that.  

But, there are a few things that bother me as going back in history, the main two are: 

1. Why didn’t Voldemort mention to Quirrell (he was there) that he could ask Snape for help to get the Sorcerer's Stone? Voldemort always trusted Snape! 

2. Why didn’t Snape share his concerns with Dumbledore? I know that Snape’s concerns with Lupin held more to the story, but I feel like he still would have mentioned it, especially considering how much he pursued Quirrell. Did he not bring it up, or was he ignored?

** Bonus moment: Obviously the later fact how Fred and George were hitting Voldemort with snowballs <3<3<3

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. 

20th Year of Harry Potter

Nineteen years ago in the US (September 1st, 1998) Harry Potter was released. Hearing of it’s success in the UK, my mother ran out and got it for us to read together. While It would not become more common in my community for another few years, it quickly became very important to me. My mother read it to me at night the first time around, miss-pronouncing Hermione until my dad who grew up for a time in England corrected her, and then I read it many times over to where the book started to fall apart. 

The Harry Potter series is a big deal for many reasons, and has shaped our world and helped us connect with more than just the theme parks, midnight book releases, Emma Watson, movies and expansions such as Quidditch Throughout the Ages. The story of Harry Potter has shown the ridiculousness of racism, the promotion of helping those less fortunate, of doing what is morally right and reminding us that what we see is not always accurate as with depression or social differences. The Harry Potter world created by J.K. Rowling (who I also first assumed was a male) was the first apocalyptic universe where everyone was fighting to survive, but also win the world for good; and make the world better. Hermione Granger might not have been the main protagonist as with following series that all became about the sole female heroine, but she was the first to be brave regardless of her fears, rely on her smarts, and always be there for her friends. In studies the Harry Potter series have been noted as a large influence on combating race and social-class status as the absurdity of separation on these qualities were shown in the books with werewolves, elves and with half-bloods and muggles. While not the sole supporter or eye-opener, it is a reason why younger generations believe it is their responsibility to make sure everyone is treated with equality and respect. 

September 1st is widely known in the Harry Potter Universe as the day that those who were fortunate enough to receive their Hogwarts letters would get on the Hogwarts Express and get to begin their official journey into the wizarding world, and while intended enough, it is when those in the US were able to join as well with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. In this story, we were Harry, we were learning everything as he did--something that would continue for the rest of the series (very eloquently referenced with each new book I might add) that entranced us. But more than with the wizarding world, we were like Harry in learning about the problems arising and feeling that we had to stop it, how it was our duty to stop it, part of what has spread outside the pages to common activism and empathy in our day to day lives. Again we were Harry Potter, we were young, new to this world and with our humbled experience prior, we wonder if this world we were growing into was as magical and perfect as we were led to believe. This is what this Harry Potter journey taught us and continues to remind us, that not everything perfect or fair but that we can all, individually make a difference 

I feel pity for people who still like Harry Potter, they almost universally starve themselves of other media on purpose it’s crazy

You’re a Winter Soldier Harry

So I have some cute Harry Potter socks from my bff

Cute right? Til you turn em around…

IT’S THE FUCKING SPAWN OF SATAN WTF

Remember when Ursula K. Le Guin called JK Rowling a nasty basic bitch back in like, 2004? We should have listened

so glad that Rowling levels up the amount of stupid shit she does so nobody never feels guilty about not liking her, one would feel proud actually.

the bs just snowballs and it keeps ROWLING