YOU HAVE TO BREAK SOME RULES

I, like Hermione, have always been a very rule-abiding person. When I was little, I went so far as to turn myself in for punishment if I thought I did something wrong, then the teacher would say, “No, you’re fine. No, you don’t need a time out. No, you’re not going to be punished. Get back in your seat.” I know I was weird. Now, I still have an adherence to the rules inside me, but it’s hard. Teenage years have brought rebellion, and now I feel like all rules are stupid. This is obviously not always true. (Although the government tends to stupidly put orange tape on literally everything.) Rules are neither angels nor devils. Some are silly, some save lives, some are outdated, some important, and some wicked. Jesus submitted himself to unjust rules, and he lived beyond them. The midwives in the Bible, however, disobeyed their ruler’s orders to kill innocent children. They chose to follow God’s rules instead. That’s what it comes down to, right? We must obey God. Sometimes obeying God means obeying the rules of mankind, sometimes it does not. How do we tell when to obey and when to disobey? Ah, there’s the catch. It’s hard to tell. 

In the Harry Potter books, Harry’s father, it was revealed, was a fierce rule breaker. He, however, broke the rules in a reckless way, endangering himself and friends. Harry broke the rules and also exposed himself and others to danger, but for different reasons, most of the time… There were times when it probably would have been more morally correct for Harry to obey the rules, instead of hitting that little map of his and saying, “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.” Or that time when he decided to take that flying car to school with his buddy. We all know Harry’s not perfect. The list goes on. Still, he often broke the rules to save someone’s life.

“‘Very well,’ Professor McGonagall prompted him as he paused, ‘so you found out where the entrance was- breaking a hundred school rules into pieces along the way, I might add- but how on earth did you all get out of there alive, Potter?’” (Rowling, Chamber of Secrets, p. 328) 

I love how she just sweeps over the rule breaking like it’s a fact of their existence, then asks them how they made it out alive. Once, Harry told such a beautiful lie that not only did he get out of trouble, but he touched the stern heart of Professor McGonagall.

“‘Of course,’ she said, and Harry, amazed, saw a tear glistening in her eye. ‘Of course, I realize this has all been hardest on the friends of those who have been… I quite understand. Yes, Potter, of course you may visit Miss Granger. I will inform Professor Binns where you’ve gone. Tell Madam Pomfrey I have given my permission.’…

‘That,’ said Ron fervently, ‘was the best story you’ve ever come up with.’” (Chamber of Secrets, pp. 288-289)

Here’s the crowning jewel of Harry and Ron’s mischief.

“‘I seem to remember telling you both that I would have to expel you if you broke any more school rules,’ said Dumbledore. 

Ron opened his mouth in horror.

‘Which goes to show that the best of us must sometimes eat our words,’ Dumbledore went on, smiling. ‘You will both receive Special Awards for Services to the School and- let me see- yes, I think two hundred points apiece for Gryffindor.’” (Rowling, Chamber of Secrets, pp. 330-331) 

But Harry and Ron breaking rules isn’t really that extraordinary. What is fascinating is the matter-of-fact way in which rule-abiding Hermione shoved the rules aside. In brewing the Polyjuice potion, she was the ring-leader. 

“Harry and Ron looked incredulously at each other.

‘Hermione, I don’t think-’

‘That could go seriously wrong-’

But Hermione had a steely glint in her eye not unlike the one Professor McGonagall sometimes had.’” (Rowling, Chamber of Secrets, p. 213)

And here’s something that people who don’t think like Hermione often ignore. She tore a page out of a library book!!!!!!!!! 

“It was a page torn from a very old library book.” (Rowling, Chamber of Secrets, p. 290) 

People who don’t think like Hermione won’t understand the significance of this. It went so far as to stretch the truth, almost. Surely Hermione would not have ripped the book, but instead instinctively brought the book to Harry and Ron instead? But no, she tore it out. I have always given the highest respect to library books, and I know Hermione did too. And an old library book!!! Wow!! Brewing illegal potions and stealing ingredients from teachers is one thing, but tearing up a library book is another. And that is the moment when Hermione officially went rogue. You’re Welcome. 

It is true in life, that you have to break some rules. If you always stay within the lines of what is culturally acceptable, you’ll never get anywhere. 

So, MISCHIEF MANAGED!