I’m not one prone to much silliness, but I do get fairly silly over Harry Potter. I went to the midnight showing of Order of the Phoenix. I’m going to a book release party tomorrow night. Heck, I’m volunteering at a book release party tomorrow night! And yes, I’m making myself a costume. With lots of help from my much-more-competent-with-a-needle-and-thread mom.

Originally, I was going to go as Minerva McGonagall in her PJs (remember that scene in one of the early movies where she’s wearing the tartan sleeping hat? Complete with ear flaps? I was going to do that), and so I picked out this lovely tan-brown-and-forest-green wool with a tiny diamond-like pattern. Which I loved and looked very McGonagall-y. But then when making my witch hat (without a pattern, out of wire hangers, masking tape, drawing paper, the fabric, and thread) I decided that it would be much cuter without ear flaps and instead making something that looks like a Wizarding World version of a 1940s women’s hat. Especially since I’m wearing it tilted over one eye.

That’s when I decided I was going to go as a generic working witch in the Wizarding World (that’s a lot of Ws). Or McGonagall 50 years ago (judging by Maggie Smith’s age, she would have been in her twenties and it would have been the 1950s). *smile* Whichever.

I’m also making a matching short cloak (though Mom’s doing most of the work; I’m going to end up just hemming and attaching the collar, I think) that comes about to my knees. Or rather, will, once it’s finished.

The rest of my costume will be a puffed-sleeve short-sleeved white cotton button-up, a brown A-line skirt, and brown tweed pumps. And my silver Celtic cloak pin, of course.

I’m so ridiculously excited.

People, fanatical evangelicals and the Pope in particular, claim that Harry Potter “turns” kids to witchcraft. I don’t think anything could be farther from the truth. Like all fantasy-based tales, the magic is purely fantasy (not the magick of those practicing the “Craft” as some call it). Even in the nature of the world of Harry Potter there is a clear deliniation between what is “real” and what is “magic.” The Wizarding World is completely apart from the Muggle (or ordinary) world. Witches and Wizards go about in disguise. Hogwarts students are not allowed to practice magic in the Muggle world, especially not in front of Muggles, without facing expulsion from school (unless they are in a life-and-death situation).

There is an equally clear deliniation between right and wrong. The deliniation between good and evil is not as clear, especially when dealing with figures of public authority. Take Professor Severus Snape, for example: is he good or evil? Perhaps a bit of both? What about Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge (the Wizarding equivalent of the British P.M.)? Is he good or evil, or perhaps just paralyzed by fear? Is Delores Umbridge evil (I think she probably is. *grin*)? Or just a prejudiced control freak? Lord Voldemort is clearly evil, but he is to be pittied as well, as he will never know love nor friendship.

Albus Dumbledore is clearly good, but even he makes mistakes. Harry is good, but is rebellious, makes lots of mistakes, and in general flies by the seat of his pants. His shared traits with and connection to Lord Voldemort make him uneasy about whether or not he is a good or bad person. He feels isolated and is impetuous and sometimes seeks revenge instead of being angelic. But for all he is a wizard, he’s human, too. As Sirius Black says in Order of the Phoenix: “The world is not divided into good people and Death Eaters.”

So the capacity for both good and evil is within all of us. Something that few Christians recognize. At least not publicly. Perhaps that is where the fear comes from, because Pagans have known that both dark and light exist in all things for quite some time (even if some refuse to admit it *smile*).

Perhaps Christians also fear the tolerant themes in the Harry Potter books: racial tolerance (for Muggle-born, merpeope, centaurs, giants, werewolves, etc.), fairness (in Quidditch, the Tri-Wizard Tournament, in classes), equality (of all races and magical beings and creatures, including house elves), respect for nature (the Forbidden Forest, Herbology, Care of Dangerous Creatures, the Whomping Willow), etc. There is also a current of anti-authority running through the books (they are, after all, about a teenaged boy with no parents and oppressive guardians). The Ministry of Magic, once benevolent, is not to be trusted by book five. Harry even questions Dumbledore’s authority from time to time. The three friends (Harry, Hermione, and Ron) certainly break the rules at school often enough. But authority is never flouted just for fun; there is always a reason, often a pressing one, often when someone or something is in mortal danger.

I think perhaps Christians don’t fear the witchcraft so much as the “moral” ambiguity. I for one, have troubles imagining that anyone could magick a car into flying. But they might be able to magic one into doing so.

Fearful Christians would do better to read the books with their children and discuss the themes that arise, putting their own spin on it if need be. Banning and burning are not the answers. They are signs of ignorance. Particularly when those who decry the books the loudest are often those who haven’t read them. Which is just being ridiculous.

Now, off to hem my cloak and listen to some Potter rock! Or maybe some Malfoy rock? *grin*