Love Potion No. 9? Be Mine!

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 affects us all–it’s just as crazy, unpredictable, exhilarating, confusing, infuriating and consuming in the wizarding world, and J.K. Rowling certainly knew what she was about giving us a realistic portrayal of the highs and lows of love!

Who can forget Harry’s awkward first date with Cho Chang on Valentine’s Day? He pined after her for a year, watching her go out with his Triwizard rival, then watched her mourn his devastating loss. When Harry finally summoned the courage to ask her for a date–set for the most romantic day of the year, no less–it all went horribly wrong. Cho was threatened by his friendship with Hermione and responded in jealousy. She casually mentioned other interested boys, then changed tact with a pointed line of questioning over Cedric’s death. A flabbergasted Harry refused to give her the details she craved, and the date ended in tears. It was the beginning of the end for the couple, and we could relate to all the awkward tension and frustration.

Harry wasn’t the only one thwarted in love, however. Romilda Vane went so far as to procure a powerful love potion in hopes of wooing Harry, and the stunt backfired completely. Harry dismissed the suspicious spiked chocolates after an astute warning from Hermione, and an unknowing Ron happily consumed them. This led to a comedy of errors in which Ron was cured, unexpectedly poisoned, revived and then hospitalized.

It was during this stay that Ron doomed his uncomfortably-obsessive relationship with Lavender Brown. After whispering Hermione’s name (and revealing his heart’s true allegiance), a devastated Lavender ran from the room in a fit of pique. It would have been wonderful if Hermione and Ron’s complicated will-they-or-won’t-they relationship finally clicked after that but, alas, it was not to be so easy. It never had been.

Hermione and Ron’s friendship had always been contentious and amiable by turns. From arguing over invitations that didn’t come to persistent poor timing to pernicious jealousy, all underpinned by genuine affection, devotion and desire, we knew they were meant to be early on in the series, and the fact that they took seven long books to get there was, in many ways, true to life. But in that, we found a semblance of hope. While many relationships will burn out for one reason or another, enduring love, the kind that overcomes odds and obstacles, is possible.

And if one Valentine doesn’t work out, it doesn’t mean you won’t find your “chosen one.” Harry and Cho’s relationship was short-lived but, not long after, Harry’s attention turned to Ginny, and he finally realized she was, in every way, far better suited for him. Their love was not without its own challenges (none is), but it was right and it was worth it.

So, Potter fans, whether you find yourself deliriously in love this Valentine’s Day, still looking or happily single, take heart knowing that this thing called love which enchants and enlivens is a magic available to us all–no charms or potions required.