Harry Potter Is (Still) Magical

How to celebrate your Harry Potter fandom while wrestling with its author.  ♦

Like so many others, I grew up with a love for Harry Potter, the series that sparked a generation of children’s interest in reading and reminded adults that reading could still be fun and exciting. When you read the books, you were immersed in a magical universe where characters could fly on broomsticks and cast spells. Harry Potter represented the carefree days and happiness of being a kid, and as I read the series as a child--I would have enthusiastically stated that my favorite book was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone–I wanted so badly to join the wizarding world.

But as time passed and I became older, I struggled to reconcile my love for the series with the views of its author, J.K. Rowling, who has become controversial for her comments against the transgender community and professing other anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments. In fact, I’ve even felt embarrassed and apologetic for loving something that was created by someone whose views I disagree with. The magic and happiness that I and other fans felt for the series began to go dark, tinted with sadness and hurt. Can one completely disagree with Rowling’s views while still appreciating what the series has meant to so many?

These were questions I’d already been asking myself, but I had to consider them even more directly this summer, as I spent six weeks in London studying abroad.

All over London, you’re surrounded by reminders of Harry Potter, and this sparked my interest back in the series. There are locations throughout the city that were used as inspiration for the books, used in filming, or which paid homage to the fandom. I made it my mission while in London to rekindle my love and find enjoyment in the series that made my childhood so special.

This mission was no easy task, but I was determined to reclaim the magic that Harry Potter had once brought me. I started researching sites and locations used for filming while being conscious of avoiding places with direct monetary connections to Rowling. My finalized list included Platform 9¾, Claremont Square, House of MinaLima, and Leadenhall Market. All were free to access, making them guilt-free ways to indulge. Hopping on our Hogwarts Express for the day, the London Tube, a couple of my friends and I embarked on our Harry Potter day trip.

The famous Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station has become a symbol of  enter-

A running start at King's Cross Station

ing the wizarding world, so it was only fitting that we started our journey there. It was a thrilling experience to see the varying ages of Harry Potter fans standing in line to get their picture taken in front of the platform. While in line, we all bonded with the people around us over Harry Potter, discussing our Hogwarts Houses and which books and movies were our favorites. Getting to the front of the line and having your picture taken with your house scarf and a wand was a moment that my younger Harry Potter-obsessed me would have died to experience. Everyone was buying into the magic, and it felt so real that I could have walked through the wall and into the wizarding world.

Our next stop was the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, 12 Grimmauld Place, or as the Muggles know it, Claremont Square, where the exterior shots for 12 Grimmauld Place were filmed. As we were looking for the specific address, we bumped into another Harry Potter fan looking for the same building. It was funny, because we all automatically knew what the other was looking for on a random London street in the middle of the day. We chatted about our Harry Potter-themed activities or the places we had visited or were going to visit. It was also amusing to see an acknowledgment from the owners of the flat, who had put a cloak and Gryffindor scarf in the window. In that moment, several groups of strangers had all come together and shared a connection, because of Harry Potter.

A selection of props from House of MinaLima

The House of MinaLima was our next stop, and for the Harry Potter nerd in me, this was especially cool. The design studio MinaLima created all of the graphic design aspects for the Harry Potter movies, and for Diagon Alley at the Univeral Orlando Resort. They showcase the props they designed in their London store, and I loved turning each corner and recognizing items and artifacts that were used. There were so many Potter fans going through at the same time, pointing out hidden details of designs you miss when watching the films.

Our last stop was at Leadenhall Market, which was used in the first film when Hagrid and Harry are entering Diagon Alley. All of the shops there were closed, so the market was quiet and offered space for reflection. As Harry walks into Diagon Alley, he is introduced to the wizarding world, and he looks on in amazement as he witnesses the magic. This perfectly reflects how people feel about the series. People find so much enjoyment that they, like me, go visit locations and sites related to the series, and they feel some of that magic for themselves.

Throughout my Harry Potter tour of London, I was able to witness firsthand the joy that the series brings to people, and I was reminded of the happiness it brought to me. The magic of reading the books or watching the movies for the first time came back and made me feel like a kid again. Not once during this trip was there ever a discussion about Rowling or her views, which I think proves that it’s the series, and not the author, that has cemented itself in the hearts of people. The fans will keep the series alive, and the series will keep encouraging reading, keep inspiring imagination, and most importantly, keep the community that it built feeling connected and supported. The magic is still in Harry Potter, and it won’t be extinguished by hate.

About the Author

Abby Baumann is a rising junior at Miami University of Oxford, Ohio, studying English Language Arts Education. She is currently studying abroad in London and rediscovering the magic in books.