7 Years with Harry.

I read Harry Potter in Grade 7th, for the first time. It was the first time that I was reading a novel, and was not sure whether I will be able to read 250 pages of the book or not. I first read Chamber of Secrets, as it was the book that was available in my School library then. I have always considered my school library to be inadequate, yet our school had been very generous in buying Harry Potter novels.

It was Shruti who had at first recommended me the book, and all I knew was that it is a story of some wizards! It took me several days, around a fortnight to read the book, and no matter I had my exams hovering over my head, I still could not stop reading it. Harry was in the seventh grade(second year) and so was I. Such a great time to read the book!

I am one of those lucky kids who belong to the Potter generation, who are at the center of the entire Potter mania. I have always read the books, either at the age that of Harry or else when I was at most an year old. The only exception is the first book that I read when I was 18.

Growing up with Harry Potter has been a great adventure. Rowling captured the child’s mind in an extremely spell binding way. While reading the book, I felt like being a young wizard studying and exploring things in Hogwarts. I had the same worries during the exams, and the same excitement during Quiddich, as anyone else at Hogwarts.

Life without Harry would have been much more different. Reading the novels has not been just a mere fun read. It has been a great lesson, all through my teenage life. Teenage years are precious for anyone and Hogwarts and the Potter world has been an integral part of my teenage life.

I learnt the true meaning of friendship and loyalty, and with Dumbledore being there as a guide, I learnt one of the most important lessons of life. “It is all about choices.”

I don’t know whether I am as brave as Harry, Ron and Hermione or not, yet I think I have become a lot more braver person after reading the books. Harry Potter books have been one of those few hands that have molded into the person I am.

When I look back, I understand how many different characters I have resembled.

In my 6th and 7th grade, I was much like Fred and George. Trouble makers. I used to be one of those few guys in class that intentionally disturbed the whole class. I have held the record of being the first person to be punished in class, from class 3rd to class 10th. Being nice in studies, I was always liked by teachers and they used to consider me as a nice naughty boy instead of a being a menace. My Trouble making character gradually eroded when I went to college. Ever since I have been in college, the fun of mischief making has ended, partly because there are no rules and no one enjoys petty childish acts now, not even my college friends.

It has rather been an irony that some have considered me to be like Percy. Even some teachers thought me to be a nice obedient boy though I was not, and some guys in college do consider me to be like him. Just last time when I went to school one of my computer teachers said “You were unnaturally obedient in school.” It was very surprising for me and I always wonder, in how many different ways people look at me.

I was not at all like Hermione, as was never a know it all. But one thing that might have made me like Hermione is her SPEW. I would have out and out supported Elf Rights just like Hermione.

I was not like Ginny either as I was not as bold and outspoken as Ginny is. I will like to add though, that Ginny is a very beautiful and a strong woman.

I might have been at times be like Ron, a bit confused. But was I such a great friend as Ron? That’s a big question. I can be a great friend. That’s for sure. But risking my life for rescuing the philosopher’s stone… I am not sure about that. I would have stopped Harry from going inside, but if he would have been stubborn, then I might have accompanied.

Now comes Harry. Was I as brave as Harry? Being in his shoes I would have had great hatred for Voldemort and would have been as revengeful as Harry. I don’t think I have such a great presence of mind, as Harry has, and probably I would have preferred to let teachers deal with the important matters instead of taking them in my own hands. But this character of Harry might be because of his parentage, he has done all the things by himself and has never depended on anyone. Instead of comparing myself with Harry Potter, I will like to add that, Harry has been an inspiration for me. He is a figure who helps me in difficult times, when I have no one else to help. Its my pleasure to add that a large number of people do say I look like Harry Potter and some kids do consider me to be like him. Great! Isn’t it?

A part of my brain says that I was earlier a bit like Malfoy and Snape. I some times enjoyed bullying kids and demoralizing guys around. Some times the wicked inside me arose and it started to speak foul, and deflate guys(who failed in spite of working hard, or were extremely short of fat!)whom I disliked. But after my 9th Grade, I had left this habit and had become much more compassionate and supportive.

I was never like Crabbe and Goyle, as I have never followed anyone brainlessly. I was more like wicked Draco, and not like the his fool friends.

I was not like Lupin as he seems to be a very sensible and responsible person in school. I never was and would never be like Peter Pettigrew as he is the foulest person I have ever come across in my life. Nor I was like Sirius as he seems to hate his family. No matter what happened, I would have never done that.

I some times feel I was like James in school. Mischievous yet loved. A kind of a wicked yet a nice person.

I might resemble Lee Jordan too, he is mischievous, but not a big prankster like Fred and George. He seems to be a nice guy, a good speaker and a pleasing personality.

Coming to college changes a person a lot. Now neither I am mischievous, nor am I wicked. I am a lot more serious person now and am trying to discover myself. What am I like? I have changed, but I do love what I was in the past. I has always been an irony. Some guys considered me to be selfish and wicked, while for some I am a kind of hero(very few people though.) Self discovery is becoming more and more important for me as I need to know what I really want in life and how do I want to get it. Now I have devoted my life in creating a Utopian world, but how am I going to contribute in its creation, I still don’t know…All I want is that my contribution is leaves an impact.

With love
Prateek
21st of July, 2007