My initial reading of the Harry Potter texts placed me within the same age bracket as our three heroes, a fact ad stroke of luck that furthered my attachment to the characters and the series as a whole. Additionally, my disposition and the nature of the triad’s relationship allowed me to empathize with one character in particular. It wasn’t until high school that I made many friends, partly due to my reserved nature and partly due to my near obsession with schoolwork. It didn’t cross my mind that maybe I should make attempts to further friendships with kids at school because, quite frankly, I was there to work, not make friends. In this way I have always related with Hermione and her obsession with schoolwork.
Growing up, my two best friends were my two younger boy cousins who still tend to drag me into trouble, trouble that I still follow them into in an attempt to look after them and lessen the devastating effects of their escapades. The two of them looked up to me for wisdom and brains and the three of us developed a kinship and love for one another that will endure throughout our lives. For obvious reasons, I still empathize with Hermione and her role as caretaker, friend, mother, protector, brains, and partner in crime to Ron and Harry.
Eventually I began dragging the two of them into trouble but I can still confidently say that the two of them have drug me into far more stupid and dangerous situations than I have them. There have been several circumstances when two of the three of us have had to protect the other from physical and mental abuse inflicted by his parent. Due to abounding similarities and Rowling’s sheer talent, I’ve grown up with Harry, Ron, and Hermione and their story has been internalized with my own.
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