25 Lessons I've Learned from Harry Potter

The Harry Potter saga begins its ending today as the last movie finally comes out. The members of our family have been Harry Potter fans from the beginning, and for over a decade we have loved the books (and liked the movies).  I was writing a newspaper column on children's books when the first Harry Potter book came out.  This is the beginning of my column about Harry Potter:  "Once in a while you read a book you know will become a lifetime favorite.  My new treasure is Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling."

In honor of the last movie coming out this week, here are 25 lessons I've learned from Harry Potter.

    

1.  Kindness is never wasted. 

• Harry was kind to Dobby, and Dobby was so loyal to Harry he was willing to risk his life. 
• Harry and Ron rescued Hermione from a troll, and began a seven-year friendship.  (It helped that Hermione took the blame for fighting the troll.) 
• Luna, who had never had friends, was loyal to those who were kind to her. 
• Fleur Delacour never forgot that Harry had saved her sister. 
• Hagrid was loyal to Dumbledore his whole life because Dumbledore was kind to him. 
• Griphook agreed to help Harry break into Gringotts because he saw Harry's kindness to Dobby. 
• Even Dudley quit bullying Harry--after Harry saved his life.

2.  Leaders who love power are loyal only to themselves.  This often proves their downfall.

• Voldemort was cruel even to his most loyal supporters--Malfoy and Bellatrix.  He shamed them in front of the other Death Eaters.  Voldemort would do anything to stay on top.
• Voldemort was willing to let Draco die in the attempt to kill Dumbledore, and he lost the Malfoy's loyalty.
• Voldemort had no qualms about killing Snape to get ownership of the elder wand.

3.  Societies that oppress some people, enslave them or treat them unfairly hardly ever prosper.

4.  Apathy and a desire for comfort are a great detriment to overcoming evil. 

• Most people don't promote evil; they simply stay comfortable far from the fight.
• The Minister of Magic refused to believe Voldemort was back because it would cause people to feel nervous.
• Many of us are like Slughorn, more concerned about our crystallized pineapple than about fighting evil.
• Dumbldedore said apathy is often more hurtful than hate.

5.  There are good and bad people in every walk of life, whether they be muggles, witches or wizards.  

• Bullies come in kid sizes like Draco and Dudley.
• Bullies come in adult sizes like Voldemort, Snape, and Umbridge.
• Heroes come in kid sizes, house elf sizes, and adult sizes as well. 

6.  It is essential to continue fighting evil.

 "While you may have only delayed Voldemort, if people keep delaying and delaying, he may never return."  (Dumbledore to Harry in The Sorcerer's Stone.) 

Aberforth continues to fight after Harry encourages him.

7.  Things are not always as they seem.

•  Snape seemed like a villain throughout The Sorcerer's Stone, but saved Harry from falling off his broom.
• Sirius was thought to be a vile killer when he was actually framed by Wormtail.
• When the ministry is overthrown it looks like Thickness is in charge, but Voldemort is really calling the shots behind the scenes.
• Wicked people throw suspicions onto others to deflect from themselves.  Evil leaders and misinformed officials planted doubts about Harry's character.
• Harry was named Undesirable #1 so people wouldn't have a rallying point,.
• Voldemort told the people at Hogwarts that Harry was running away from the last battle when he actually was offering himself as a sacrifice.

8.  Most people have a secret sorrow. Be compassionate.

• Throughout his life Dumbledore was sad about the fight that ended his sister's life.  I think he kept his crooked nose so he would never forget.
• Ron lived in the shadow of his popular and talented older brothers.
• Snape lived with the guilt that he had caused the death of his truest friend.
  

9.  There is power in using the strength and talents of many.

• To get the sorcerer's stone Ron won a critical game of chess, Hermione solved a logic puzzle, and Harry faced Voldemort.
• In The Chamber of Secrets, Hermione figured out what the monster was, and Harry fought it.
• In The Order of the Phoenix, it took a group effort to get Harry into Umbridge's office.
• To get rid of the Horcruxes, Dumbledore, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville each destroyed one.
• Neville saved the day when he called Dumbledore's Army to help with the final fight.
• When you need someone, there are usually good people (or creatures) to help out
• Fawkes came to help Harry in The Chamber of Secrets and brought exactly what was needed.
• Aberforth kept watch over Harry in The Deathly Hallows.
• Dobby saved the day with his apparating abilities at Malfoy Manor.

10.  Good can come from disasters. 

• Harry and Hermione were almost killed at Godric's Hollow, but they got Dumbledore's biography which led them to the deathly hallows.
• Harry, Ron, and Hermione were almost captured at Lovegood's, but they learned about the hallows.
• Harry, Ron, and Hermione were captured by Fenrir Grayback, but while at Malfoy Manor, they learned the location of another horcrux and gained Draco's wand.
• Harry's wand was broken, but that led him to seek another wand, and he got one that had defeated the elder wand.

11. "It is our choices that show what we truly are far more than our abilities."

 

• Harry was put in Gryffindor because he asked to be there.  He always chose to fight against the dark.
• Being a pure blood family doesn't mean you are better than others.  Barty Crouch's family, an old pure blood family, fell apart. (Our pedigree isn't nearly as important as our behavior.)

12.  Wise adults listen to children and teenagers.

•  Dumbledore told Lupin and Kingsley, "Harry is the best hope we have.  Trust him." 

13.  Being idolized can be as difficult as having everyone hate you.

• It's hard to know if people really like you or just want to be with you because you are famous.  Many people enjoy reflected glory.

14.  Thoughts about death.

• "To the well-ordered mind, death is the next great adventure." Dumbledore
• We have the same personality after we die as we have in this life.  If we're annoying in this life, we'll probably be annoying in the next--look at Moaning Myrtle.
• Those who love us are never very far from us--even in death.

15.  Friendships may struggle as they evolve, but can become stronger for the struggle.

• Ron left Harry during The Goblet of Fire because he struggled with being second fiddle, but their friendship became even stronger.
• Ron and Hermione struggled over differences with their pets, and jealousy over Ron liking Lavender Brown--and they eventually married! :) 

16.  We often have more ability than we think.

• Harry thought he was "just Harry,"  but he became the youngest seeker in a century and the salvation of the whole wizarding world.
• Even Neville, the seemingly least capable person at Hogwarts, became a courageous leader.

  17.  Very few people are good at everything, but everyone is good at something.

•  Neville stunk at potions, but excelled at herbology.
• Hermione was great at bookwork, but wasn't a very good flyer.

18.  There are many different types of courage.

• Being focused on ridding the world of Voldemort enabled Harry to have raw courage.
• Neville had courage to stand up to his friends when they were sneaking out.
• Standing up against injustice gives other people courage to stand up too.

19.  Living in difficult circumstances can make us stronger.

• Harry could handle the lack of food in The Deathly Hallows because he'd experienced a lack of food before.  Ron struggled with it because he'd always been well cared for.
• Harry could handle persecution because he was used to being mistreated.
• We often cope better with hard circumstances when we've felt them before.

  20.  All character traits have good and bad sides.

• Harry's curiosity got him into trouble, but he also solved problems others hadn't been able to solve.
• Dumbledore kept secrets.  This made Harry's quest extremely difficult, but it also kept Voldemort from figuring out Harry was after the horcruxes.
• Harry's kindness made others loyal, but it also revealed him to the Death Eaters when he didn't kill Stan Shunpike.
• Harry's dad chose to trust his friends, but he ended up being betrayed by one of them.
• Dumbledore trusted people and saw the best in them which caused people to doubt his judgment sometimes.

21.  Spoiling a child is detrimental to his character.

• Spoiled Dudley Dursley became selfish, grasping, and self-centered.
• The Dursley method of spoiling Dudley:
• They gave him too many material things.
• They didn't expect him to interact properly with others.
• They made excuses for his behavior.
• They gave in to his demands and tantrums.

22.  You can never have enough books. Hermione Granger

23.  Timing is important.  Sometimes you must act immediately.

• Dumbledore returned immediately from London in The Sorcerer's Stone and saved Harry.
• In The Deathly Hallows, Harry headed for Hogwarts without taking time to figure out a plan and was able to begin the resistance for the final battle.  

24.  Someone growing up in difficult circumstances can become a productive person--even a hero. 

• We all have a destiny and the talents to achieve that destiny--if we work toward it and let others help us along the way.

25.  Love is the deepest magic of all.  Family is the strongest bond.

• The Malfoys looked for Draco in the final battle rather than fight for Voldemort.
• Percy Weasley's loyalty to the ministry was treacherous because he wasn't loyal to his family
• Xenophilius Lovegood abandoned being loyal to Harry when it endangered Luna.
• Hagrid risked everything to rescue his brother.
• Harry's parent's deaths kept him fighting Voldemort.  Neville's determination came from the same source.  
• At the end, when Harry needed them most, his parents were with him.

 Harry Potter--the classic tale of the fight between good and evil.
It has been a fun ride.  Thanks, Harry and J.K. Rowling!