Believe in Magic, you Muggle.

While the world of Harry Potter itself is over a decade old, the series remains timeless. The books are about the journey of a young boy in the wizarding world, beginning when he was 11 all the way up to when he is 17. However, it is relatable at the age of 10, 30, 50 or as Alan Rickman (Severus Snape in the movies) so eloquently put, “When I’m 80 years old and sitting in my rocking chair, I’ll be reading Harry Potter. And my family will say to me, ‘After all this time?’ And I will say, ‘Always.’”

The books and movies have the power to make you believe in magic – whether it is simple, goofy stuff like making objects fly with the words ‘Wingardum Leviosa’, or realizing that J.K. Rowling wasn’t just thinking of random gibberish when she wrote that; the word ‘wing’ means to fly, ‘arduum’ (Latin) means steep, while ‘-ium’ is a common Latin suffix. Leviosa is derived from the Latin word ‘levo’ meaning to raise, lift up. Together, the incantation means ‘to lift up high’ – exactly what the spell does.

Harry Potter will make you believe in magic, and here’s how:

1. "It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends."

No one but Albus Dumbledore could have said this, the genius who had to stand up to his best friend & source of inspiration – Grindelwald when the latter turned evil.

2. “We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are.”

Harry Potter’s godfather himself, Sirius Black, makes it easy for us to understand the complexity of human character. Nothing is ever just black and white, no one is ever all good or pure evil. 

3. “Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect.”

The quirky, offbeat character Luna Lovegood unknowingly offers a wise insight to life to Harry, when she finally finds her shoes that were missing all year long.

4. “Anything's possible if you've got enough nerve.

Ginny Weasley, Ron’s little sister and Harry’s eventual love interest is the only girl Weasley child having 5 older brothers. That doesn’t stop her from being fiery, strong and an independent, level-headed girl.

5. “If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.”

Another one from Sirius Black, who tries to teach Harry that a man’s true character shines when is kind to even those who can do nothing for him.

6. “Wit beyond measure is a man’s greatest treasure.”

The motto behind the Ravenclaw House, this is the inscription on Rowena Ravenclaw’s historic diadem (tiara). It is JK Rowling teaching us, yet again, that learning to laugh at a situation can help you go a long way. 

7. “What’s comin’ will come, an’ we’ll meet it when it does.”

Hagrid, the widely-recognized half-giant in the series, has some experienced advice to share. There’s nothing we can do about the future – least of all worry about it. We must let it come and learn to tackle things step-by-step. 

8. "Well, he should have some chocolate, at the very least."

One of the best things has ever said, chocolate is well-know antidote for Dementor (dark prison guards) attacks. JK Rowling plays upon this as metaphor: for chocolate is a natural anti-depressant in real life as well! 

9. “Don’t let the Muggles get you down.”

While this is a piece of advice Harry’s best friend Ron is offering to Harry, true Harry Potter fans know it is JK Rowling telling all of us out there – to not let the disbelievers and haters bring you down in life. There will always be people who don’t believe in your dream, but we mustn’t let that discourage or stop us. 

10. “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

Our favourite Dumbledore quote, this perfectly tells us what we need to remember in troubled times. We all face low periods in life that bring us down, but it is then that we must remind ourselves to look on the bright side – even if there is none.