Mischief Managed: Rereading the Harry Potter Series
If there has been one thing getting me through the past few weeks, it has been Harry Potter. There are definite upsides to quarantine, and one of them is undoubtably the extra time that we have on our hands. I decided to use mine to reread the entire Harry Potter series cover to cover, and it has been one of the best decisions I’ve made all year. I love to read, but before quarantine, the time just got away from me. I’d be able to read a chapter a night if that, and it would take me months at a time to finish a single book. How long had it been since I spent an entire afternoon getting lost in a book, suddenly finding that I had read over 500 pages without realizing it? Revisiting my favorite book series seemed like the perfect place to start.
To call myself a fan would be a serious understatement. I’m the former president of the middle school Harry Potter Club, I’ve attended a real-life Quidditch match, and I can probably recite the dialogue from every single movie word for word. Since my mom read the first book aloud to me because I was too young to do so on my own, the series has been an integral part of my life and who I am as a person. I’m a firm believer that J.K. Rowling’s story is meant for all ages, and that its themes of friendship, love, bravery, power and choice, are as universal as they are timeless.
It has been more comforting than ever before to revisit something familiar and constant. But just because I know what’s going to happen does not mean my reading experience has been the same as when I was a kid. In fact, rereading the books as an adult has given new meaning to the series and opened my eyes to things I completely missed growing up.
I’ve broken my journey down book by book, highlighting the complex themes and ideas I picked up on, as well as timeless quotes that to me, are touchstones for the entire series.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
There is no better word to describe this book other than magical. From Harry learning he’s a wizard, to the first description of Hogwarts, I couldn’t help but feel ecstatic to be back at the beginning of this story. I was really struck by how the foundations of courage and friendship that will come to define the entire series are really laid out here.
Reread: The Mirror of Erised
When I was younger, I don’t think I ever fully appreciated what a cool concept the Mirror of Erised is. When you look into the mirror, you see not yourself, but the deepest and truest desire of your heart. According to Dumbledore, many people have wasted away in front of the mirror, consumed by their dreams and ambitions. Now that I’m older, I can better understand the fine line between dreams and reality that this mirror conveys and how we can sometimes get lost in a “perfect image” of our lives. It is in this chapter that Dumbledore delivers one of his hallmark quotes: “It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”
Favorite Quote: “From that moment on, Hermione Granger became their friend. There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them.”
It’s funny to remember that Harry and Ron were not initially friends with Hermione. I love how this quote not only introduces their relationship as a trio, but also captures how some of the strongest and deepest friendships begin as accidents.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
This book sets up one of the best and most chilling mysteries in the entire series: The Chamber of Secrets. You’re almost a detective while you read this, and Rowling masterfully provides you subtle clues the entire time that make the book’s ending revelations all the more shocking because they were right in front of your nose. This book emphasizes the power of choice, as Harry, noticing more and more similarities between himself and Voldemort, begins to question who he is. It ends up establishing the crucial differences between them that dictate their intertwining fates.
Reread: Mudbloods and Murmurs
The idea of a mudblood and the wizarding concept of blood status indicating one’s worthiness completely went over my head when I was younger. Now I see what a clever allegory this is for our own human history of discrimination and tendency to deem certain irrelevant characteristics as indications of superiority. I love when Ron, a pureblood, leaps to Hermione’s defense in this chapter.
Favorite Quote: “It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
This is my favorite quote of all time, not just of the entire series. It shows just how much of who we are is in our own hands. We’re the results of our own decisions and not our circumstances, and sometimes in your 20s you really need to be reminded of that.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
This book seems to be the outlier of the bunch, since it’s the only one where Voldemort does not make an appearance. There’s no real climatic “showdown” and at the end, the only thing really achieved is learning the truth about Sirius Black. Instead, it’s a multilayered read on families and the ties that bind us. Not only does Harry learn the identity of his godfather, but the bonds with Ron and Hermione, the family he has chosen, are tested and strengthened as well.
Reread: The Bogart in the Wardrobe
A majority of this book focuses on fear; how it affects us and how we overcome it. You have Dementors, who are the embodiment of horror and despair, and then the Bogart, which transforms into whatever you fear most. This object captures how personal and crippling our fears can be. However, visualizing something funny, or in the Dementor’s case, thinking a happy thought, is enough to conquer it. This is a powerful notion that gives us a sense of control over our deepest fears and anxieties.
Favorite Quote: “You think the dead we love truly ever leave us? You think that we don’t recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble?
Reading Harry Potter has given me really important insights on relationships and loss, none perhaps more valuable than this one. It expresses the eternal quality of love which can be felt long after a person is gone, and that we carry their legacies with us, forever impacted by the influence they had on our lives.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
This might be my favorite book of the entire series (although that answer seems to always change for me). The plot is structured around a thrilling wizarding tournament and has perhaps the most climactic ending in the series: Voldemort returning. During my reread, I picked up on the fact that this is a “loss of innocence” book. Harry is fundamentally changed after witnessing his first death, and the books get much darker from here.
Reread: The Parting of the Ways
This chapter explores how different leaders react when presented with conflict. Dumbledore prepares to face Voldemort head on, while Fudge chooses to remain in denial of his return. It brings into question the mark of a true leader: Is it a position of authority, or rather a trait all of us possess when we decide what to do with our own power? This sets up the tension with the government that will drive the next book, and establishes the idea that those in power are not always those who are fit to lead. This chapter also contains a great clue to Harry’s ultimate fate. When he tells Dumbledore that Voldemort used his blood to return, Harry thinks he sees “a gleam of something like triumph in Dumbledore’s eyes,” which of course proves that Dumbledore had a plan for Harry all along.
Favorite Quote: “If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”
Looking back now, this quote feels a little ironic coming from Sirius, whose treatment of Kreacher was extremely cruel. Still, the sentiment behind this is important, especially as you get older and take on different positions of power, be that boss or parent. This quote expresses that there is always something to learn from another person, no matter how different they may be from you.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
This was by far the most difficult book for me to get through. I know Harry is reeling from the effects of Cedric’s death, as well as dealing with the Ministry intent on discrediting him, but he is just so unlikeable here. His mistreatment of Ron and Hermione was especially hard for me to stomach. Harry digs himself further into isolation, and you begin to see just how little he would have if he did not rely on his friends; how his ability to love them is what makes him so different than Voldemort. Through his gradual possession of Harry throughout the year, Voldemort does his best to control Harry, but ultimately Harry’s mind is too loving for Voldemort to bear. With the formation of Dumbledore’s Army, and the introduction of Dolores Umbridge, this book expresses some really poignant themes about distrust in the government and hope of rebellion.
Reread: Snape’s Worst Memory
Harry’s exploration into Snape’s worst memory, which shows him being bullied by Harry’s father James while they were at school, demonstrates the ripple effects of the damage from a previous generation’s mistakes. Snape is largely a product of bullying and his chapter challenges our perfect image of James. When I first read this, I think I resisted holding James accountable for his actions; afraid this would turn him into a “bad” person. However, I now know we all make mistakes we regret, but we do not have to be defined by them forever. It’s possible to grow beyond them as James eventually did, although that regrettably never involved apologizing to Snape.
Favorite Quote: “But as they left, Harry was sure he saw Neville slip the wrapper into his pocket.”
Neville Longbottom is my favorite character in the entire series. His bravery and loyalty were always there since the first book, but he took a while to come into his own. What happened to his parents is a terrible tragedy, perhaps even worse than Harry’s, as Neville’s parents are alive but don’t recognize him. Neville holds onto the wrapper given to him by his mother, deemed “trash” by his grandmother, and although on a first read this seems really sad, it also shows how Neville holds on to hope. He remarkably never gives up, and eventually becomes an inspiring leader of Dumbledore’s Army, continuing the fight in Harry’s absence from Hogwarts and ultimately destroys the final Horcrux.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
This is the most beautifully written book of the entire series. Completely pivoting away from the despair of book five, this new year at Hogwarts brings revelations and romance. Dumbledore’s lessons with Harry prep him for the crucial journey ahead, and show a deepening of their relationship. Outside of the classroom, Harry struggles with newfound feelings for Ginny, while Ron and Hermione’s relationship strains as they try to navigate (and hide from) growing feelings of their own. So much of this amazing book revolves around the theme of identity: Harry explores Tom Riddle’s past in an effort to understand the monster he became, all while the mysterious origins of the Half-Blood Prince loom over his head. Harry also explores his own identity, learning that it is truly his destiny to defeat Voldemort.
Reread: The House of Gaunt
Truthfully, I had completely forgotten all about this chapter, and I’m so glad I was able to revisit it. For me, it added dimension to the almost tragic tale of Tom Riddle. Perhaps even he could be a product of circumstance as well. Reading about his abused mother and her deranged family made me wonder what Riddle’s life would be like had things been different. With her warped understanding of love, Riddle’s mother bewitches his father into falling in love with her, rendering their son a product of this artificial relationship. Even before his birth, Riddle never knew real love, and would go on to live an entire life without it. Keeping with the book’s theme the power of identity, this chapter proves you really need to understand where someone came from to know who they are.
Favorite Quote: “’I am not worried Harry,’ said Dumbledore, his voice a little stronger despite the freezing water. ‘I am with you.’”
Something about this quote is so heartbreaking. It shows just how much Harry has grown and how much trust Dumbledore has in him. There’s a beautiful role reversal happening here where Dumbledore, always the pinnacle of protection, is now leaning on Harry, both literally and figuratively, for support.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:
For a book that reveals so many truths, it also instills a lot of doubt in the reader; doubt in the success of Harry’s journey and doubt in who Dumbledore really was. Dumbledore’s entire life is brought into question here, and we finally get to peer behind the god-like façade and see the damaged man underneath, making us wonder how much do we really know about our heroes? This book is also the most spiritual of the bunch, expressing religious themes like resurrection and self-sacrifice. Mostly it is a mediation on death; accepting it graciously as another part of life, rather than living in fear of it. The Deathly Hallows give the one who wields them the power to conquer, manipulate, and hide from death, and Harry becomes their only worthy possessor because he does not fear the unknown
Reread: The Prince’s Tale:
Reading this broke my heart. It seems as though the series was leading up to this beautiful chapter, and everything sort of clicks together after. Severus Snape is a character to simultaneously pity and admire: Terrible mistakes in judgement cost him the love of life, but he has spent every moment since trying to be a better person. I don’t know why I never fully appreciated how great his sacrifice must have been to lead a double life and disguise the best of himself from those so desperate to hate him. It’s crazy to think how much of this entire story is a result of the unwavering love Snape had for Lily; a love so strong that he would spend the rest of his life protecting her only son. For me, this is the chapter that truly drives home the series’ strongest theme: the power of love. I used to wonder if Snape actually cared for Harry, and rereading this a second time, I finally feel I have my answer. I think no matter how hard Snape tried to resist, he could not help but care for Harry, the living reminder of James and Lily’s love, despite how painful it must have been for him. That is real love and sacrifice.
Favorite Quote: “Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”
This is such a special callout to readers who have stuck with the series and cherished it for years. It speaks to the effects that fiction, especially books, can have on us, and the things that we take away from these stories are just as real as the book we hold in our hands. This story has touched my life in so many ways, and this small line seems to validate that connection we all felt while reading these books.
“‘He must have known I’d run out on you.’ ‘No,’ Harry corrected him. ‘He must’ve always known you’d always want to come back.’”
I have to add another favorite quote here, because despite all of the death in this book, the hardest part for me to stomach was the cataclysmic fight between Harry and Ron. Their friendship had always been one of the most untouchable constants in the series. It was heartbreaking when Ron left Harry and Hermione, but now I also realize, kind of necessary. Ron had to address the inadequacies he felt his entire life, and Harry had to realize how strong they were together by seeing how weak they were apart. I like this quote because it demonstrates the power of forgiveness and friendship. Harry is able to look past their fight and remember the kind of incredible friend that Ron has been to him his entire life and they unbreakable bond they share.