Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

July 27, 2011August 21, 2011 / nicholasdaletaylor / 7 Comments

Fear begins to take many shapes in J.K Rowling’s third in the series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Time travel comes to mind as it was exactly four years and five days ago when I was sitting in the courtyard of Theatre Memphis, wand in hand, finishing the last book in the series.

Harry Potter

Sirius Black has escaped the most unescapable of prisons, Azkaban itself. Harry is lead to believe that it is Black who is responsible for handing his parents over to Voldemort resulting in their death. Coupled with Potter’s encounter with an ominous black dog, it is clear this will not be the best year for our young hero.

Funny thing time, for it is now when the genius Hermione meets a subject she doesn’t enjoy. Professor Trelawney teaches the fine art of Divination; in the first day of class she notes Ms. Granger to be lacking the needed gift of foresight, scares the wits out of a number of students and reads Harry’s grave misfortune through the most horrific omen, the grim. Ironically, it is in this installment where Hermione truly does play in with the future but not through prophecy, through time. She is given a time turner by Professor McGonagall allowing her to attend multiple classes simultaneously. Within this gift of time travel, her and Harry set off in the recent past to save not one but two innocent lives.

Loving Hagrid growing ever fond of Buckbeak must say farewell to the giant creature. Yet, this giant flyer isn’t the only large, magical creature on the grounds. A new addition, Professor Lupin hides his identity as a werewolf with the help from a very difficult potion concocted by Severus Snape and in a dramatic twist we see the two confront along with other characters from the past as it becomes increasingly clear why the head of Slytherin house loathes the Potter name. Speaking of, Harry is allowed a glimpse of his father through his rigorous training with Lupin. Due to the Sirius circumstance, Dementors are allowed to patrol the grounds and give our scarred lad more than a jolt of fright. Countering, Harry masters the patronus charm, a highly advanced spell for his age. Taking the form a stag is nothing but poetic considering the revealed animagus and creators of the invaluable Mauraders Map.

Yet, let’s not jump a head, in fact, let’s go back. Earlier and much to his bitter-sweet-delight Harry receives an anonymous gift, the Firebolt. This gift is sure to give the Gryffindor’s the edge to win Quidditch and no doubt the house cup. However, it is suspect. Nonetheless, our heros are able to uncover the real rat behind all the wrong doing.

Perhaps most important in this book is Professor Trelawney’s trance, delivering this message:

click image to buy Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

The Dark Lord lies alone and friendless, abandoned by his followers. His servant has been chained these twelve years. Tonight, before midnight … the servant will break free and set out to rejoin his master. The Dark Lord will rise again with his servant’s aid, greater and more terrible than ever he was. Tonight … before midnight … the servant … will set out … to rejoin … his master. . . (pg. 324)

As dark as his past may remain, with the light of the patronus and memories of his family’s undying love, our favorite protagonist continues to grow ever stronger in the pages of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

July 15, 2011August 21, 2011 / nicholasdaletaylor / Leave a comment

Truths come out, friends are petrified and lessons learned as our unsuspecting hero returns to Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Harry Potter

Dobby, a house elf, attempts to foil Harry at every corner insisting it is for Harry’s own good. His good falls into question as his return is stained with negative happenings. First, he and Ron miss the train only to commandeer the Weasly’s flying car, smash it into the whomping willow and nearly face expulsion. Next, students become petrified as word spreads about the mysterious chamber and the monster which dwells therein. Rumor of the heir to Slytherin’s return leaves Harry falls highly suspect after he unknowingly reveals his parseltounge gift. Polyjuice potions allows for the team to further their investigation; Ron, Hermione and Harry infiltrate Malfoy’s circle, discover Hagrid’s involvement and after Hermione is taken out of the equation the two young men follow the spiders towards the gigantic Aragog.

Dumbledore is more than aware of Harry’s distress and has reminded him that help will come to those who ask for it. He asks the young man if there is anything he needs to share. Potter is found at the scene of nearly every attack due to his following voices which only he can hear. His friends warn that this is never a good sign. Reluctantly, he ventures on without telling the headmaster a word of troubles.

Click here to purchase Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets

Troubles once again surround the position for Defense Against the Dark Arts as celebrity and pseudo-hero Gilderoy Lockheart takes his place among the staff. While most useless, he is the first to enter the chamber itself where (after a backfiring memory charm) our young protagonist continues alone. Finding Ginny victim to a mysterious power he himself has witnessed, a highly important item’s dark energy is revealed to be a diary. Surreptiticiously placed in Ginny’s possession by Malfoy’s Father, Lucious, during the traditional trip to the bookstore which so happens to be Gilderoy’s signing, it proves a journey of vital importance.

Sadly, not many bookstores are left in our muggle world, making it less of a magical place. I know of no better ice-breaker spell than seeing a familiar cover on the bus. “Didn’t you love that series?” I ask. “Oh, yes, I’m rereading them all. Year two is the best one.” And so I am comfortable talking with a complete stranger. As magical as they are I’ve never looked at someone reading their kindle and been moved to say, “Hey isn’t that a good book; sorry, I can’t see what you’re reading, but I thought it would be nice to just chat.” They would look at me like I was crazy, which I am.

Platform 9 and 3/4, memories of Davis-Kidd bookstore

Crazy for books. Opening this book for the first time in, I don’t know maybe seven years, lead to my discovering some secret hiding places of my own. Within the pages I found a ticket marked “Davis-Kidd to Hogwarts for ONE WAY travel Platform 9 and 3/4.” I also found the program to an old show I did with Mary Hollis Inboden (of The New Colony) called The Last Five Years. After we finished this performance in Memphis we both went our separate ways with the wind to only wind up reunited by a tornado filled deluge under an awning of protection here in the windy city. Funny how our perception defines such an event as fate, coincidence or in my case synchronicity.

While dwelling will never prove the best route, revisiting our past can lead to powerful realizations and reverberations through our own magical journeys. For Harry, his unraveling the mystery of Tom Riddle leads into his questioning similarities between himself and the dark lord, Voldemort. Dumbledore offering the ever priceless wisdom reminds Harry that he is in exactly the right place as only true valor and loyalty could have summoned Fawkes the Phoenix to aid during the battle with the Basilisk. Only a true Gryffindor could have pulled that sword out of the hat.

Now at rest, Harry leaves for the summer to return to his horrible relations, the Dursleys. And we are left to wonder or, in this instance, reminiscence as to what these next years will bring following Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone special anniversary edition

July 13, 2011August 21, 2011 / nicholasdaletaylor / Leave a comment

Harry Potter

Having given my original paperback copy to my younger brother, I was moved to reflection by the cover for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone special anniversary edition. Books are a beautiful thing which are ironically being placed in forgotten fashion by the ever-growing e-book. Yet, when someone has a book in hand while in transit it often begins a pleasant exchange.

Over eleven years ago l picked up a young adult novel and little did I know it would lead me to turning pages of all seven books and all the voracious activity to come.

Harry Potter discovers he is a wizard. While his gifts remain at the core for his distance from normal folk or muggles as they are so-called they bring him closer to what becomes his true family. Rescued from the Dursley’s indifference by loveable Hagrid and taken to Hogwarts, Harry finds his home. Sorted into Gryffindor and thrust into magical delight of treasures, education and mystery, he is inevitable confronted with Lord Voldemort, the man who took the lives of Harry’s mother and father.

Filled with firsts it is here that Harry acquires his wand from Mr. Ollivander, finds disfavor from Slytherin’s Snape and is recruited by Professor McGonagall.

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Throughout his year our young hero is taken under the wing of Headmaster of Hogwarts Albus Dumbledore and aligns with clever mind of Hermione Granger and unquestionable companionship of Ron and the Weasleys. Awarded a spot as seeker of the Gryffindor quidditch team and handed the invaluable gift of his father, the invisibility cloak, leads to Potter’s increased fame, his discovery of the Mirror of Erised and ultimately the sorcerer’s stone which is used to create the immortality granting elixir of life. This potion is sought after by none other than the dark lord who entices his followers through his horribly acquired reputation of power. There is but one man he fears.

Albus Dumbledore is one of the most endearing, valiant, honorable characters of fantasy fiction and it is through his mentorship that Harry grows into that which must rise above his arch nemesis through the screams of horrendous echoes. It is these echoes that bring the young lad back to thoughts of loss and dismay but which are attached to the greatest defending sacrifice bestowing upon Harry’s very being a protective aura of love which saves his very life.

Reading this again has reminded me of my own echoes and reverberating lessons. While beginning the series I was warned by my in-laws, “those books are the devil!” A number of my extended family regarded these books as an encouragement for witchcraft and evil doings. Their ignorance could not be further from the truth. The morality brought forth by the life arc of this noble character Harry Potter is one that will continue to brighten the eyes and the minds of future generations.

Harry Potter and The Socerer's Stone special anniversary edition, buy here

Comparatively, relating the movies to the books always leaves a sense of lacking amongst the series fans. This is to be expected as film cannot contain all material presented across hundreds of pages within a limited hourly window. Refreshing differences between these mediums include subtle differences in action, delivering Norbert and the ending potions logic puzzle that Hermione brilliantly solves. Overall, the first film while highly geared towards a younger audience, translated rather well.

Whether you are a fan of the movies or the books I encourage you to take the adventure. Having one of these books in hand may just cause some magic to develop during the first glance and returned smile of a traveling stranger.

This tale while offering tales of triumph and morality to our young audiences does not cease to entertain adults with all the fantastic, revisited delight of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone special anniversary edition.