What does friendship mean to you?
What can you take from this particular story? What does Harry Potter teach you and me about friendship?
This popular series about a boy wizard who battles demons of the wizarding-world demonstrates some important values including courage, friendship, perseverance and unselfishness.
What really stands out for me is friendship.
Without friends, life can be pretty sad. Having someone to side with, share with, and study with; someone who has your back, and who needs you to cover his/hers.
For Harry Potter, making real friends is only possible at wizards’ school.
Wizard friends are lifesavers: who else can you join with to defeat three-headed dogs or dark lords? By making friends, the characters get to work together, learn from each other, and accomplish more than they ever would have on their own.
Throughout the 7 books, you see how Harry, Ron & Hermione become the best of friends. As the storyline gets darker and the situations they are in become more dangerous, they prove to be there for each other when they’re needed the most.
However, you do find Harry on his own in some situations, such as when he faces Professor Quirrell in the chamber. When he battles the Hungarian Horntail, the most dangerous of dragons. When he is fighting with Voldemort, trying to remove him from his thoughts (when Voldemort “possesses” Harry).
What battles have you had to face on your own?
The reason I think the author puts Harry on his own in these situations and yet, emphasizes the theme of friendship throughout the series can be to demonstrate a vital point.
The point is that you must cherish your friends and not push them away. You must open up to them and seek comfort in them when you need to. However, they cannot fight your battles for you. They are your support and your source of encouragement but they can’t do everything for you.
In the three situations mentioned about Harry above, notice the support his friends offered him.
The battle with Professor Quirrell: It was Ron & Hermione who travelled through the chambers with him, initially planning to go together. Ron willingly almost died to allow Harry to continue. Hermione tried to come with Harry but she was urged by him to stay with Ron, as he was in critical condition.
The battle with the dragon: Before the battle, Hermione had privately visited Harry to give him advice after she researched about the dragon. Both Ron & Hermione were in the audience for the battle, supporting him.
The battle with Voldemort: When Voldemort tries to corrupt Harry’s mind, the thoughts of friendship, love and unity are what help Harry defeat him and remove him from his mind. Harry emphasizes that it is those things that separate good from evil and thus, defeats Voldemort.
To summarise, remember to cherish your friends, to call them when you need support, to not push them away. To do things together and bond. You may be aware of the need to do these things but it can be easy to overlook them in hard times and hard times are when they are needed the most.
However, sometimes there are things that you have to face yourself but with the support of those around you, you can succeed!
“Go on, have a pasty,” said Harry, who had never had anything to share before or, indeed, anyone to share it with. It was a nice feeling, sitting there with Ron, eating their way through all Harry’s pasties, cakes, and candies.” ― Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
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