The Battle of Hogwarts was a definable turning point in wizarding history as defenders of freedom and justice–ordinary students, teachers, parents, ministry employees–brought about the downfall of one of the greatest dark wizards of all time, toppling his despotic pureblood reign. It was a brief moment in the grander scheme of time which memorialized in …read more!

Harry stares at Griphook keenly, dead serious. He’s already sorted through a handful of plans in his head, and he knows they’re all rubbish. He needs Griphook’s expertise, desperately. And Griphook knows it. But he’s taken aback by Harry’s sheer nerve, that he would propose the doomed endeavor at all, so he sits there silently. …read more!

Horace Slughorn was a man of contradictions. He was, at times, both cowardly and brave, naïve and shrewd, uninspired and ambitious. But he was at all times an immensely talented and powerful wizard, and his inherent idiosyncrasies made him an interesting contribution to the Harry Potter story, which would be most gratifying to him. As …read more!

In “No Man is an Island,” Thomas Merton said, “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” This is the magic of art. It is the magic we all experience when we read Harry Potter. We tap into that magic through the art of prose and painting. Both are expressions …read more!

“Dogs are a man’s best friend.” Or so the aphorism goes. But devoted pet lovers well know their most beloved of companions come in all shapes and sizes–and from a variety of species. Dogs, cats, fish, bunnies, snakes, hissing cockroaches, pigs, hamsters, ferrets–whether furry, fluffy, slimy or scaly, there is a pet to be found …read more!

J.K. Rowling knew what she was doing–has there ever been any doubt?–when she chose April 1 as the unforgettable day Fred and George Weasley were welcomed into the world. It may be known as April Fool’s Day, but Fred and George were no fools. They loved a good laugh, and the more the better. But …read more!

“He didn’t realize that love as powerful as your mother’s for you leaves its own mark.” ~J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Today, we celebrate mothers of the UK, and in doing so, we also honor the mothers of our favorite book series, Harry Potter, created by literary genius J.K. Rowling. As a mother …read more!

“I am sorry too… Sorry I will never know him… but he will know why I died and I hope he will understand.“ Today, we celebrate the birthday of Remus Lupin, one of the more tragic characters of J.K. Rowling’s invention. It’s important to acknowledge and remember this, the pain of his journey, because it …read more!

“[Dumbledore] knew what he was doing when he gave me the Deluminator, didn’t he? He – well,” Ron’s ears turned bright red and he became engrossed in a tuft of grass at his feet, which he prodded with his toe, “he must’ve known I’d run out on you.” “No,” Harry corrected him. “He must’ve always …read more!

Let’s be honest, most of the time we’re envious of our fictional wizarding counterparts. Charms, potions, Floo Powder, port keys! Life would be so much easier, wouldn’t it? So it’s quite satisfying to realize that when it comes to love, we’re on a level playing field. When the calendar flips to Valentine’s Day, the magic …read more!