Daily Prophet - Letter from the Editor; evening edition
*bordered in black*
The disaster site, just after the explosion
Goodbye Harry
I would like to pause our news coverage for a moment to remember the person behind the Boy Who Lived. Sunday's tragic incident has brought all of us together in mourning the loss of one of the Wizarding world's shining lights. I remember how I first heard of Harry Potter, almost exactly twenty-five years ago. I was a young reporter then, first making a name for myself in the pages of the Prophet. Little did I expect to be the one to break the news of a baby boy who had defeated You Know Who.
The Potter family
That first description of Harry Potter, a helpless infant with a bloody, lightening bolt scar, crying over the fallen bodies of his parents, stayed with me for the next decade as he was raised in Muggle obscurity. Who was Harry? Where did he live? Who were his friends? And most of all, how did he survive? Little could we know that our hero, that precious child, was living with heartless Muggles who hated the sight and presence of Magic. Deprived of care and comfort, his family lost and himself lost to the Wizarding world which hailed him as a hero, Harry nonetheless grew strong and proud, untouched by darkness.
Harry begins Hogwarts; Harry with his friends
We may all give thanks for the wholesome, nurturing atmosphere of Hogwarts which would become Harry's beloved home. Never have those hallowed halls sheltered a more deserving Wizarding son. Hogwarts has mentored many, but only a few have been as great or done such great things in such a short life. The youngest to join his house Quidditch team in a century, Harry made Gryffindor, and indeed all of us, proud in his very first year. And who can forget his heroism even at that tender age of eleven when he battled a mountain troll to save fair maid from foul creature. And in that adventure friendships were forged which have outlasted time, war, and even betrayal. And too, the seeds of love were begun there that very first year.
Each year, despite adversity and even, yes, poor public opinion, the Boy Who Lived triumphed over his enemies and his tender years to become stronger and more able. Many a heart would be broken as young Harry grew to manhood, and those who meant him ill would discover just what a young man he would grow to be. Who can forget his death-defying triumph at the Triwizard tournament and his grief at the death of a fellow student and friend, all before his fifteenth birthday. Little did we know at the time that this and his other adventures would all be training for his final defeat of You Know Who.
For his greatest deed of all was to virtually single-handedly save us from the wild schemes of a madman. I remember the dark times and the fear as I flooed home each night, so reminiscent of the first war and yet so much worse. The second war came upon us all as a shock, and the fear was nearly tangible. And yet! And yet we had something new this second time, we had a hero. We had a strong lad with determination in his eye and a powerful wand arm to see us through the trouble. We had Harry Potter.
And yet, more than Harry Potter the hero, we have had Harry Potter the boy and man. Who can forget that he loved treacle tart for pudding after so many years of privation, or his carefree delight in The Weird Sisters after the dullness of Muggle life? And who can forget his love for flying, even after a war injury grounded his broom and made catching the snitch an impossible dream? And who can forget the tortured young man who struggled with his purpose in life after destroying You Know Who... no, Harry always said to say his name. Who can forget how Harry struggled after he destroyed Voldemort, and tried to take his own life not once, not twice, but three times? Who can forget how this courageous young man found his feet, lifted himself up and learned to laugh and love life again.
Harry spent years scouting for Puddlemere United despite repeated offers of high ranking Ministry positions, doing what he loved. He was five years finding the best fliers in the league because his heart still belonged to the game. He even collected brooms though he couldn't fly them, and never once was bitter that the sky was now out of reach. And then three years ago, he went home. Hogwarts needed her greatest son, and Harry heeded her call. A simpler task this time, and a gentler imperative; teach the children to appreciate rather than to pity. And despite his Muggle relatives disowning him, the generosity of this great man was such that he did. He returned to Hogwarts to take up the mantle of Muggle Studies and teach the children tolerance.
And the children responded. Professor Potter is adored by his students; his youth, good humour and experience standing him in good stead. He was a mentor to them, and a friend. And so we thought, we hoped, perhaps this would be enough for Harry, that he would settle down and realize he is loved by so many. And that this would see the end of his perpetual search for someone to love in return. Disastrous relationship after disastrous relationship, we rooted for Harry to find that special person who would love him as he deserved. Little did we know or understand that he had found him long ago and merely waited to be seen in return.
How could he not succeed? True love finally blossomed, and though not without its trials our Harry was finally happy. A loving partner who put him before all others, a warm and joyous home, so many close friends, a successful career, and even a child to adore; nothing could be further from his lonely childhood in a cold Muggle house. Finally, finally our Harry had everything.
The cruelty of fate to strike down such a young man in his youth is incomprehensible. 26 is not even the prime of life for a Wizard of such gifts. He had struggled so long for his happy ending with no idea the finis would come so soon.
For twenty-five years, Harry Potter has been a constant in my life, in all our lives. We have watched him grow from boy to man, and I know I shall... I know we all shall miss him.
Goodbye Harry, and thank you.
-Barnabas Cuffe
Editor in Chief
Harry the boy, and the man.
The disaster site, just after the explosion
Goodbye Harry
I would like to pause our news coverage for a moment to remember the person behind the Boy Who Lived. Sunday's tragic incident has brought all of us together in mourning the loss of one of the Wizarding world's shining lights. I remember how I first heard of Harry Potter, almost exactly twenty-five years ago. I was a young reporter then, first making a name for myself in the pages of the Prophet. Little did I expect to be the one to break the news of a baby boy who had defeated You Know Who.
The Potter family
That first description of Harry Potter, a helpless infant with a bloody, lightening bolt scar, crying over the fallen bodies of his parents, stayed with me for the next decade as he was raised in Muggle obscurity. Who was Harry? Where did he live? Who were his friends? And most of all, how did he survive? Little could we know that our hero, that precious child, was living with heartless Muggles who hated the sight and presence of Magic. Deprived of care and comfort, his family lost and himself lost to the Wizarding world which hailed him as a hero, Harry nonetheless grew strong and proud, untouched by darkness.
Harry begins Hogwarts; Harry with his friends
We may all give thanks for the wholesome, nurturing atmosphere of Hogwarts which would become Harry's beloved home. Never have those hallowed halls sheltered a more deserving Wizarding son. Hogwarts has mentored many, but only a few have been as great or done such great things in such a short life. The youngest to join his house Quidditch team in a century, Harry made Gryffindor, and indeed all of us, proud in his very first year. And who can forget his heroism even at that tender age of eleven when he battled a mountain troll to save fair maid from foul creature. And in that adventure friendships were forged which have outlasted time, war, and even betrayal. And too, the seeds of love were begun there that very first year.
Each year, despite adversity and even, yes, poor public opinion, the Boy Who Lived triumphed over his enemies and his tender years to become stronger and more able. Many a heart would be broken as young Harry grew to manhood, and those who meant him ill would discover just what a young man he would grow to be. Who can forget his death-defying triumph at the Triwizard tournament and his grief at the death of a fellow student and friend, all before his fifteenth birthday. Little did we know at the time that this and his other adventures would all be training for his final defeat of You Know Who.
For his greatest deed of all was to virtually single-handedly save us from the wild schemes of a madman. I remember the dark times and the fear as I flooed home each night, so reminiscent of the first war and yet so much worse. The second war came upon us all as a shock, and the fear was nearly tangible. And yet! And yet we had something new this second time, we had a hero. We had a strong lad with determination in his eye and a powerful wand arm to see us through the trouble. We had Harry Potter.
And yet, more than Harry Potter the hero, we have had Harry Potter the boy and man. Who can forget that he loved treacle tart for pudding after so many years of privation, or his carefree delight in The Weird Sisters after the dullness of Muggle life? And who can forget his love for flying, even after a war injury grounded his broom and made catching the snitch an impossible dream? And who can forget the tortured young man who struggled with his purpose in life after destroying You Know Who... no, Harry always said to say his name. Who can forget how Harry struggled after he destroyed Voldemort, and tried to take his own life not once, not twice, but three times? Who can forget how this courageous young man found his feet, lifted himself up and learned to laugh and love life again.
Harry spent years scouting for Puddlemere United despite repeated offers of high ranking Ministry positions, doing what he loved. He was five years finding the best fliers in the league because his heart still belonged to the game. He even collected brooms though he couldn't fly them, and never once was bitter that the sky was now out of reach. And then three years ago, he went home. Hogwarts needed her greatest son, and Harry heeded her call. A simpler task this time, and a gentler imperative; teach the children to appreciate rather than to pity. And despite his Muggle relatives disowning him, the generosity of this great man was such that he did. He returned to Hogwarts to take up the mantle of Muggle Studies and teach the children tolerance.
And the children responded. Professor Potter is adored by his students; his youth, good humour and experience standing him in good stead. He was a mentor to them, and a friend. And so we thought, we hoped, perhaps this would be enough for Harry, that he would settle down and realize he is loved by so many. And that this would see the end of his perpetual search for someone to love in return. Disastrous relationship after disastrous relationship, we rooted for Harry to find that special person who would love him as he deserved. Little did we know or understand that he had found him long ago and merely waited to be seen in return.
How could he not succeed? True love finally blossomed, and though not without its trials our Harry was finally happy. A loving partner who put him before all others, a warm and joyous home, so many close friends, a successful career, and even a child to adore; nothing could be further from his lonely childhood in a cold Muggle house. Finally, finally our Harry had everything.
The cruelty of fate to strike down such a young man in his youth is incomprehensible. 26 is not even the prime of life for a Wizard of such gifts. He had struggled so long for his happy ending with no idea the finis would come so soon.
For twenty-five years, Harry Potter has been a constant in my life, in all our lives. We have watched him grow from boy to man, and I know I shall... I know we all shall miss him.
Goodbye Harry, and thank you.
-Barnabas Cuffe
Editor in Chief
Harry the boy, and the man.