Sometimes, it takes a magical world revisited after nine years to make us accept the beauty of the imperfections of being human.
It was nineteen years ago that a British author weaved a magical world for a generation to grow up in. With the boy who lived, JK Rowling captured our hearts and dreams, making us yearn for the letter to Hogwarts. From the adventures of the trio in the maze that Hogwarts is, to an international wizardry competition, the politics of the wizard world, culminating in the greatest battle of all, we have grown up loyal to the boy with a lightining shaped scar. We all felt his pain at losing his godfather and were shocked into sadness at the loss of the best headmaster of Hogwarts. But we also silently rejoiced when our dear Miss know it all finally followed her heart, when the twins followed their passion, and when the forces of evil were finally defeated. Perhaps we most revered Rowling when the best kept secret was revealed and an evil professor turned out to be the most loyal friend ever.
So for most Potterheads (as we are known worldwide) it was a glad moment when we learned that we’d have a chance to know the futures of our heroes. With Rose and Hugo, taking forward the banter of Ron and Hermione, and James, Albus and Lily carrying the legacy of the Potter name, readers across the world hoped for a sequel to quench their curiosity. And JK Rowling delivered in the form of the play, ‘Harry Potter And The Cursed Child’ that released amidst great anticipation and euphoria earlier in the year. The icing on the cake was the simultaneous release of the script as the eighth in the series, to satiate potterheads who couldn’t view the play. But perhaps the intent was lost in translation as the book released to lukewarm response with most readers surprised that it read completely like a script. Divided into two parts and four Acts, ‘Harry Potter and The Cursed Child’ is a publication of the script the actors must have followed as the footnotes and stage directions render evident.
And yet, from the Boy Who Lived to the Cursed Child, JK Rowling’s magic weaved another heart warming tale. From the last pages of The Deathly Hallows, it was clear that the Potter children have a legacy to carry and the Cursed Child opens on the burden this has become for young Albus Severus Potter. Carrying the names of the beloved headmaster, ‘Albus Dumbledore’, the great wizard, ‘Severus Snape’ and the legend, ‘Harry Potter’ has taken a toll on Albus as he begins his schooling at Hogwarts on the wrong note. Sorted into Slytherins and lacking any of the natural talent his father possessed on the quidditch pitch, Albus soon starts to resent his father’s name. He finds solace in the friendship of Scorpius Malfoy, a child followed by rumors of his birth and trying to shun the dark past his name carries.
The book follows the adventures of Albus and Scorpus as they try to rewrite history and bring back Cedric Diggory, the teenage heart throb who was killed for being at the wrong place upon the rise of Lord Voldemort at the end of Goblet Of Fire. We revisit the Tri Wizard Tournament through the escapades of our young rebels only to realize that they are being played by one of the most evil witches of their times. As the book follows the struggle of the two unlikely friends, it reveals many a delightful developments for our beloved characters. Even with the constraint of only dialogues, Rowling has not only retained the essence of our characters but been able to amplify their struggles at parenting, their love for their families and the stress their professions have brought. It was a moment of pride to know Hermione Granger is now the Minister of Magic and Ron diversified his talents to Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes. While being head of Magical Law Enforcement comes naturally to him, Harry continues to struggle as a father with Ginny using tough love to guide him. But perhaps the most touching progression is that of Draco Malfoy. From a selfish wizard fascinated by dark magic and scared into the Dark Lords bidding, to a loving father who is willing to fight the world for his son’s well being.
Though JK Rowling doesnt fail to mesmerize and wow her audience once again, the stark lack of description and narration leaves a lot to the imagination. Potterheads may have to visit the original stories to truly understand the depth with which Rowling has inter woven the latest edition, keeping the integrity and details of the entire series intact. The controversies and secrets revealed might be too much for some to handle and with no basis for them in the original storyline, they comes as quite a shock indeed. In comparison to the entire series, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child delivers exactly what it promised, but nothing else- it satiates the readers curiosity on the futures of Harry, Ron and Hermione and a few other major characters including Professor McGonagall, Draco Malfoy and even Albus Dumbledore (posthumously). But it disappoints in giving any major storyline involving the other Potter and Granger-Weasley children as well as progressions of some very beloved characters like the Weasley family, Neville, Luna, or even Hagrid. Even though its easy to connect with young Albus and Scorpius and live their pains, triumphs and revelations, the nostalgia for the original characters grips you at times.
And through it all Rowling once again delivers a simple message on how the greatest of heroes can still be flawed. In the words of the famous Harry Potter, “Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape…they were great men, with huge flaws, and you know what – those flaws almost made them greater”. And sometimes, it takes a magical world revisited after nine years to make us accept the beauty of the imperfections of being human.
