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On June 27 1997, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released in the United Kingdom (in the U.S. it was titled Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone). The story about a young wizard attending a school with other young wizards significantly changed the lives of millions of young people around the world forever. After the first book, the series would go on to have six more books, eight accompanying films, and a play called Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which continues the story after the seventh book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
As of today, with over 500 million copies of the books sold worldwide, it’s safe to say that the fandom is one of the largest to ever exist. For many millennials during the peak of the series’ popularity, being a fan wasn’t just a part of your life, it was a lifestyle. Here are some valuable lessons you can learn as a fan.
1. You Will Love Fan Fiction
Many people’s first introduction to fan fiction was through the Harry Potter series. The book series ended in 2007, and the movie series ended in 2011, but to this day people write fan fiction by the hundreds of thousands online, proving the generational impact of the beloved fictional world of witchcraft. It is nearly impossible to find a story you will find enjoyable because there’s an abundance of topics you could read about.
There are stories that contain original characters not part of the original story, but made up by the fan fiction writers. If you want to read about an alternate universe where Harry and Hermione Granger or Harry and Draco Malfoy are dating, there are thousands of stories to choose from. If you’re an aspiring novelist, writing fan fiction can be a great way to hone your skills. You can receive constructive criticism that will help your writing style from many people if you upload them online.
2. You Might Not Like Every Part Of The Series
When you’re a kid and you’re joining a fandom for the first time, you might think that everyone likes everything about the content they’re a fan of. That is not the case at all. Not everyone who loves a book loves every aspect of said book.
For example, some have an issue with the one-dimensional depiction of Harry’s love interest, Cho Chang. The books do not offer a lot of details about her outside of her relationships with boys. Even though there are so many characters, there’s a lot of information about them and Cho should have definitely had the same courtesy.Some also felt unsatisfied with the epilogue of the seventh book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. There have been criticisms about the ending being cliche or leaving little to the imagination. Regardless of any criticism a fan may have, their love for the story remains.
3. You Might Like Other Characters More Than The Protagonist
What makes the books great is that there are a plethora of well-rounded, fascinating, memorable characters that leave an imprint on your brain. Characters that stir conflicting emotions in you indicate that the author is doing their job right. Harry is someone that is loved by many because of his kindness towards others and bravery in the face of danger, but some fans prefer other characters in the books more.
Some fans preferred Harry’s enemy, Draco Malfoy. Although he was a bratty, disrespectful bully who believed he was superior to others, some appreciated his unapologetic, alpha male, bad-boy personality. Others loved Hermione Granger, who is celebrated for being an above average intelligent, witty young woman who has a lot of empathy for others. In many books, women are merely depicted as love interests, but what makes Hermione fantastic is that she’s not merely the protagonist’s sidekick, but his equal.
4. You Might Be Inspired To Become A Better Person
There are so many lessons to be learned from the Harry Potter series. Possibly the biggest lesson is the ability to overcome adversity. Harry has had to overcome many struggles that the average kid does not go through.
He grew up without his parents around because they were killed by his arch-nemesis Lord Voldemort, he was abused by his aunt and uncle, he was bullied by his peers, and that’s just to name a few of the struggles he’s had to go through. Other characters have had to go through their own misfortunes as well. This series can be comforting to those who are going through their own personal issues and might help you deal with them.
5. Your Experience Will Be Unforgettable
Even though the series came out over two decades ago, the memories of being part of the Harry Potter fandom forever linger in the minds of every person who was (or still is) involved in the fan community. Many will remember the times they waited in line with their friends and/or family at book stores for the release of the books, or at movie theaters to watch the premiere of one of the movies.
The story has been so inspirational that many people feel motivated to get tattoos in honor of it, which makes sense when you develop an attachment to something. The best quality of the series is the timelessness. A book that mostly revolves around the lives of children getting accustomed to conjuring spells and riding brooms has been enjoyed by adults and children alike. People of all ages respect the book series because of the themes that transcend age such as building lasting relationships, overcoming adversity, and learning who to trust.