The End of an Era (?)

My 7-year-old self, heck, even 25-year-old me, would not believe it if I told her that I'm not doing anything deliberately "Harry Potter" on my imminent trip to the UK (a trip I've been planning informally since 2021, formally as of last year, but wanting to do for as long as I can remember). As I'll be at the heart of London and doing a day trip to Oxford, I will naturally come across some connections to the series, but none of the itinerary is specifically related to HP.

This would come as a great surprise to young me, someone who lived and breathed the series for over 20 years (this is not an exaggeration). It was, and still is, a safe space for my imagination, and I hold a lot of fond memories of it. Over the last few years, however, I have distanced myself from any new content, as I refuse to fund the hatred pedaled by the author I once so deeply revered.

I work at a Library, a place where I used to proudly hand children copies of this series. I've even displayed my extensive merch collection there on multiple occasions. Recently, a co-worker of mine wanted to do a Hogwarts House Back to School display. She was pointed in my direction as I am the 'Harry Potter guru' on staff. Or at least, I was. I ended up convincing her that putting a hometown spin on what she'd come up with would be a better option. She brought up days later that she wishes people could separate art from the artist. Trust me when I say that I tried.

I will never understand where all of JK's hatred has come from. People point to the books and say, "It was always there!" While I agree that, looking back, there were some questionable choices made, I don't see it. The overarching power of the series was showing children how love could conquer all evil and how being different should be celebrated. I still believe this even though she constantly proves that she has, in many ways, become the villain of her series, brought to life.

If you needed any convincing that JK has turned into "She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named", look no further than her recent quoting of Hitler in her twisted defence of why people should be mourning Charlie Kirk. Am I celebrating his death? No. But am I mourning him? Also no. Differences in opinion are related to ice cream flavours and favourite Pokémon, JK and CK, not people's rights. Free speech does not include hate speech.

Am I going to burn down my collection? No. Am I going to suddenly stop feeling like Hogwarts is my home? No. I'm just coming to terms, more and more every day, that the Harry Potter series was made what it is by its fans. Yes, its creator put pen to paper, but the story took on a life of its own when it reached the hands of readers. That, I hope, will be the series' legacy, not now, but eventually.

Until then, Harry Potter is my past. A treasured memory I can return to if the feeling ever calls. In the present, I strongly denounce all the author's vile transphobic, misogynistic, and xenophobic statements, and I will stay away from anything she produces. A piece of literature does not outweigh the worth of people's lives, and I will forever stand by that.