20 years of Potter mania

As the first ‘Harry Potter’ book, ‘The Philosopher’s Stone’, turns twenty, here’s a look at some trivia and a quiz to sort out your house at Hogwarts

TABLOID!

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here was desperation in those days. A need to prove that it was real; the sorting hat, the endless cauldron of magical fun that a school like Hogwarts could provide, the unicorns, the ‘greatest wizard of all time’ headmaster Albus Dumbledore.

I don’t know what Harry Potter’s first book, The

Philosopher’s Stone, did more: make me daydream or hurt my sentiments when I grew past 11 — along with my cousins, who had introduced me to the name — the age you are supposed to be headhunted for magic school, and no Hagrid came.

Twenty years ago, when the tome first made its way to bookshelves, it cast a wide spell.

But it wasn’t just about the potions or unicorns; the story jangled with life lessons that still resound. J.K. Rowling imbued the series with the word choice. Harry grew up abused and ignored, but he didn’t let the fame and money he suddenly found taint him. He chose to make loyal friends rather than go with the powermad crowd. He chose to be in Gryffindor, literally begging the sorting hat to keep him away from the zealous Slytherin gang. He also chose in the end to protect the philosopher’s stone even if cost him his life.

The books themselves were born in pain, nursed by tragedy and steeped in yearning. Rowling is quoted by Pottermore, the official Harry Potter website, as saying she wrote the book as a way to deal with her mother’s death. “If [my mother] hadn’t died, I don’t think it’s too strong to say that there wouldn’t be Harry Potter. The books are what they are because she died.”

But even in pain, there is hope, for life is all about choice. And that’s the great lesson the magical tale has for muggles. I just wish it also had the way to the Ollivanders wand shop.