Friendship

Your friends are the family you can pick, as the old saying goes, and it’s so true. There’s no way Harry can help being related to the Dursleys, but he can pick his friends. Friends aren’t forced, you don’t have to put up with them one way or another. You can choose them. If you don’t want to be friends, no force on earth can make you. It’s completely free-will. 

The first friend Harry encountered was Hagrid, a giant, bearded giant with a temper and a kind heart. Much to Harry’s delight, he gives Dudley a pigtail before taking him on a giant shopping spree to a place called Diagon Alley. Because Harry’s dead parents weren’t just wonderful people, they were rich, and they left all their money to their little son. So suddenly, little orphaned Harry finds himself richer than he’s ever been in his life.

In order to access his wizard gold, they must first go deep into the depths of Gringotts Bank, which is filled with treasures from pretty much all the wizard families in Britain. Of course, it seems like it would be a wonderful place for thieves to break in and steal, doesn’t it? Wrong, it’s guarded by dragons, goblins, and enchantments. Trying to steal from it might be more than your life’s worth. No doubt there’s more than a few skeletons in these closets. 

“Enter, stranger, but take heed

Of what awaits the sin of greed,

For those who take, but do not earn,

Must pay most dearly in their turn.

So if you seek beneath our floors,

A treasure that was never yours,

Thief, you have been warned, beware,

Of finding more than treasure there.”

(Rowling, Sorcerer’s Stone, p. 72-73)

I myself lived in California for many years, and never once went to Disneyland. Alternatively, there was this wonderful amusement park called Knotts Berry Farm, and my family had a pass. I still remember very fondly this one ride called “The Mine Ride.” In this ride, you climb into a railroad cart and it leads you down a rickety assent deep into the “mine.” Along the way, coal miners huddle, digging for treasure as water drips from rocks. I grinded along in this, for it was especially surreal for me since my ancestors were miners. I used this to illustrate how it felt for Harry and Hagrid to ascend into Gringotts, for it was like a mine filled with ancient vaults. As they grinded down into the interior, Hagrid felt sick to his stomach. Harry was shocked to find so much gold in his vault, but he was intrigued when Hagrid was taken to another vault to retrieve a mysterious little package. Bingo! That’s the mcguffin of the story. 

After leaving the bank, a wonderful, bustling world of broom shops and wizard book stores, filled with other people busily shopping for the upcoming school year at Hogwarts. Hagrid is so kind that he buys Harry a birthday present of his very own snowy owl, and Harry is so startled by receiving his first birthday gift that he stammeringly apologizes for a long time. This gratifies Hagrid and makes him love little Harry even more.

Later on in the train to Hogwarts, Harry meets a boy named Ronald Weasely, who is one of the members of a rowdy, red headed wizard family that he finds very intriguing. It becomes obvious that they don’t have much money, but Harry doesn’t mind that at all. The Weaselys are so cool! They have a kind mother who makes them food, they have a little sister who’s very taken with Harry, a self-important prefect, and two boisterous twins who promise their sister to blow up a toilet. And then there’s Ron. 

Many people would have been terribly greedy had they suddenly been shown a ton of money after having nothing their whole life, but the first thing Harry does with his riches is try to make a friend. He buys Ron candy and they share it together, becoming fast friends. This makes him very, very happy.

‘Go on, have a pasty,’ said Harry, who had never had anything to share before, or indeed, anyone to share it with. It was a nice feeling, sitting there with Ron, eating their way through all Harry’s pasties, cakes, and candies (the sandwiches lay forgotten).’” (Rowling, Sorcerer’s Stone, p. 102)

Such a simple act of friendship, sitting together and sharing a simple meal. Harry isn’t selfish, he’s sharing. He’s not pride full, he’s humble. He’s not disgruntled, but grateful. He’s not withdrawn, but friendly. Despite his horrible past filled with such bad examples, he instinctively knows how to make friends. He knows the value of sharing a meal with a friend. He knows the value of fellowship and communion, of having a share in another person’s life. Harry, so young and so wise, understands this value better than many older and more learned wizards.

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10)

Another friend for Harry and Ron is Hermione Granger- a puffy-haired-large-toothed-loud-mouthed-well-read-idealistic-witch. At first, Ron and Harry dislike her, for she’s so rigid and sharp-tongued. She’s always bossing and correcting. Hermione Granger is the character I am most similar to in the books. I’ve been called her on a number of occasions, both for good and bad reasons. It’s difficult to make friends with her, but she’s just as loyal as she is smart when it comes down to it. Loyalty is a very important trait in a friend.

‘Me!’ said Hermione. ‘Books and cleverness! There are more important things- friendship and bravery and- oh Harry- be careful!’” (Rowling, Sorcerer’s Stone, p. 287) 

Interestingly, Hermione is the character that J.K. Rowling was most similar to, the one that she based herself off of. Hermione’s so special I’ll probably write a whole article about her alone. 

But Harry is to encounter more than just this kind of offer of friendship. Entering a robe shop, he encounters a pale blonde boy just his age- named Draco Malfoy. He talks in a self-important way that irritates Harry immensely. He encounters him again later on, and it turns out that Malfoy is just as vile as he at first thought. Finding out who Harry is and desirous of his acquaintance since Harry is rich and famous, he extends his hand. 

“Ron gave a slight cough, which might have been hiding a snigger. Draco Malfoy looked at him.

‘You think my name’s funny, don’t you? No need to ask who you are. My father told me all the Weasleys have red hair, freckles, and more children than they can afford.’

He turned back to Harry. ‘You’ll soon find out some wizarding families are much better than others, Potter. You don’t want to go making friends with the wrong sort. I can help you there.’

He held out his hand to shake Harry’s, but Harry didn’t take it.

‘I think I can tell who the wrong sort are for myself, thanks,’ he said cooly.” (Rowling, Sorcerer’s Stone, p. 109) 

“Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

“A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.” (Proverbs 14:6-7)

Interestingly, the constellation “Draco” is the serpent, and it represented Satan, according to the Israelites. A lion represented Christ. Harry from the very beginning, spurned the advances of evil, even from another child. He stood firm. Early on he was tempted, yet he did not give in.

“1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” 5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6 And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 If you worship me, it will all be yours.” 8 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” 9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’ ” 12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time. 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.” (Luke 4:1-14)

Thus, the Harry Potter books are just one of those many stories that show down-to-earth, honest ways to fulfill the words of the Bible. So next time you are on a train with a friend, offer them some candy. You might just be beginning a life-long friendship. But don’t accept the hand of the fool, for you will be shaking hands with your own destruction.