Question.
“I aim to be someone who imparts passion to my friends, colleagues, and the ones I hold dear.”
-A question from the Hogwarts House sorting quiz.
“I aim to be someone who imparts passion to my friends, colleagues, and the ones I hold dear.”
-A question from the Hogwarts House sorting quiz.
When the Sorting Hat was placed upon Harry’s head, it suggested that Slytherin might be the best fit for him. Yet, Harry ultimately found his home in Gryffindor, a house that holds courage in the highest regard.
In my heart, I had always hoped to join Gryffindor, the very house where the renowned trio, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, roamed its halls. However, after undergoing the test thrice, I found myself having to gracefully accept the consistent results. The esteemed online sorting quiz indicated that Hufflepuff, a house known for its emphasis on honesty and integrity, was my true calling.
The badger is the emblematic animal of my cherished house, Hufflepuff. While it often comes across as gentle and benevolent, it possesses an undeniable stubbornness when challenged. Given my own tenacious character, might I relate even more closely to its feisty cousin, the honey badger?
Let me introduce you to my friend, “Honey Badger Timmy.”
When the franchise theater was a local theater, I held my mother's hand and went to see Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
What made both the movie and the novel exceptionally dear to me was that the actors were of my age group. Watching the series, I felt a parallel growth with Harry and his friends, as though they were my own childhood buddies from back home. These early resonances evolved into treasured memories, whether it was savoring every page of the book while cozied up on the floor under a blanket or clutching my mother’s hand during that inaugural movie viewing. These recollections extend to the poignant moment just before my military enlistment when I watched the final installment, “The Deathly Hallows.”
As time went by, the realization that owls don’t deliver dormitory letters filled me with a longing for magic.
In these magic-starved moments, I imagined myself as a squib, revealing the secrets of the trio—Harry, Ron, and Hermione—to the journalist Rita Skeeter. As time progressed, I saw myself evolving into Hufflepuff’s successor, creating a series titled “In Search of Neverland.” In this series, I navigated my dreams, love, and life’s journey as an artist. This creative process became my own version of the Mirror of Erised, showing me my deepest desires. Confronting this mirror, I faced countless reflections of myself, occasionally in denial of reality and at other times looking away. This path had its highs of immense joy and lows filled with tears. After navigating through this long, tunnel-like phase, I eventually embraced positivity and sought hope.
Reflecting on the past, my connection with Harry Potter spans from cherished childhood memories to the challenging moments of my early twenties when I felt compelled to lay down my brush. Yet, much like magic, Harry Potter found its way back to me, maintaining a close bond as I transitioned into my thirties.
Even now, as I embark on Harry Potter-inspired projects, particularly those centered around the honey badger, I recognize that reality can be harsh. But through my endeavors, perhaps I’m casting my unique shade of violet spell, symbolizing my determination to manifest all that I dream with the very hand that wields my brush.
From the days of my youth through all the changes to this very moment, thank you, “my lifelong friend,” for always being there with me.