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 There is somebody else who must be mentioned in connec-
tion with Cedric s death, Dumbledore went on.  I am talk-
ing, of course, about Harry Potter.
A kind of ripple crossed the Great Hall as a few heads
turned in Harry s direction before flicking back to the face of
Dumbledore.
 Harry Potter managed to escape Lord Voldemort, said
Dumbledore.  He risked his own life to return Cedric s body
to Hogwarts. He showed, in every respect, the sort of bravery
that few wizards have ever shown in facing Lord Voldemort,
and for this, I honor him.
Dumbledore turned gravely to Harry and raised his goblet
once more. Nearly everyone in the Great Hall followed suit&
When everyone had once again resumed their seats, Dumble-
dore continued,  The Triwizard Tournament s aim was to fur-
ther and promote magical understanding. In the light of what
has happened of Lord Voldemort s return such ties are
more important than ever before.
Dumbledore looked from Madame Maxime and Hagrid, to
Fleur Delacour and his fellow Beauxsbatons students, to Vik-
tor Krum and the Durmstrangs at the Slytherin table&
 Every guest in this Hall, said Dumbledore, and his eyes lin-
gered upon the Durmstrang students,  will be welcomed
back here any time, should they wish to come. I say to you
all, once again in the light of Voldemort s return, we are
only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.
Lord Voldemort s gift for spreading discord and enmity is
very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong
bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and lan-
guage are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our
hearts are open.
55
Hou r of the Witch
 It is my belief and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken
that we are all facing dark and difficult times. Some of you
in this Hall have already suffered directly at the hands of
Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asun-
der. A week ago, a student was taken from our midst. Re-
member Cedric. Remember, if the time should come when
you have to make a choice between what is right and what is
easy, remember what happened to a boy who was good, and
kind, and brave, because he strayed across the path of Lord
8
Voldemort. Remember Cedric Diggory.
An objective analysis of this section should leave no doubt in any
candid mind that Joanne Kathleen Rowling is definitely attempting to
teach certain values and ideas to young people. There s no question
about it. There s also no question that many of the words within Dum-
bledore s speech, taken by themselves, are true, valid, and insightful.
The Headmaster emphasizes the importance of truth above lies, extols
bravery, and sets forth the virtuous qualities of a dead boy who  was a
good and loyal friend, a hard worker, who valued fair play. The Head
Sorcerer also urged his students to choose  what is right above  what
is easy  a lesson much-needed today.
By now you should be able to discern something of Potter Power
and why millions are convinced that these novels should be incorporat-
ed into the United States public school system. The idea is: They re
great teaching tools to instill values into mixed-up young people. Yet
once again this very argument proves that people recognize that the
Harry Potter books do teach things to kids. I agree. They surely do. I
also agree that being a loyal friend, a hard worker, practicing fair play,
and being good, kind, and brave, are virtues needed by our youth today.
(I m sure Mrs. Rowling wants to teach these good things.)
But wait a minute. Once we are honest enough to admit that the
Harry Potter books do teach values, here s that same sober question we
asked before: Is it reasonable to assume that the only values kids will
learn from those witchcraft-made-funny pages are good ones? I don t
56
THE S PELL: It Is Only Fiction!
think so. The truth is and you ll see this soon the Harry Potter
books teach much more than what appears on the surface, such as the
value of being a good witch and the importance of occult practitioners
sticking together with those who are like-minded.
In that very same speech Dumbledore confessed that  The Triwiz-
ard Tournament s aim was to further and promote magical understand-
ing& . Could this be one of J.K. Rowling s purposes as well? Of
course, I know there s no such thing as a Triwizard Tournament. Yet it s
equally true that around the world there are real witches now seeking
 to further and promote magical understanding about Wicca witch-
craft and Dumbledore s words fit nicely with their goals. Dumbledore
also encouraged his Hogwarts students not to let any differences, dis-
cord, or enmity prevent their unity, declaring,  We are only as strong as
we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lessons learned: (1) Unity
is good, and (2) Witches should be united.
Albus Dumbledore says,  Truth is generally preferable to lies.
This isn t right. Truth is always preferable to lies. Soon we ll look at
what the Bible says about truth, lies, wizards, sorcery, and about a bril-
liant yet fallen angel named lucifer who has become a master of min-
gling truth with error to accomplish his infernal purposes.
ENDNOTES
1. Rowling, Sorcerer s Stone, p. 298.
2. Rowling, Sorcerer s Stone, p. 299.
3. Rowling, Sorcerer s Stone, p. 297.
4. Rowling, Chamber of Secrets, p. 333.
5. Rowling, Prisoner of Azkaban, p. 427.
6. Ibid.
7. Rowling, Goblet of Fire, p. 598.
8. Rowling, Goblet of Fire, pp. 721-724.
57
CHAPTER 7
THE POTION:
Mixing Fantasy With Reality
You have to learn the subtle science and exact art of
potion-making [to] understand the beauty of the softly sim-
mering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the
delicate power of liquids that creep through human
veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses& .
1
 Professor Snape to Hogwarts students
hose who constantly repeat the Harry s-fiction-thus-harmless
T
argument often overlook these basic, incontrovertible facts:
1. Fiction is a powerful communicator of ideas that influ-
ence beliefs, character, and behavior, especially in
young readers.
2. Mrs. Rowling s books do teach values even spiritual
ones. Some are good, but others are now causing great
concern to those who believe what God s Word teaches
about witchcraft and sorcery.
3. The entire Harry Potter series is permeated with refer-
ences to real-life, non-fiction places, persons, and com- [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]