The Boy Who Once Lived

One name, four syllables. Take the name and children begin weeping at the “end of an era”. Murmur the syllables and people start quoting their favorite passages from the books, or recounting childhood memories associated with the saga. You’ve probably guessed it: the name’s Harry Potter.

Millions of people of all ages, races and nationalities across the globe are enchanted (no pun intended) by Harry Potter’s fictional world. Sameer has never understood why the story of an ordinary boy, who goes on to do extraordinary things, appeals to the masses. True, he read the books just like all other teenagers around him did (and even tolerated the first couple of movies) but does that mean he started brandishing a broken piece of wood screaming “Accio” or wondering if the pebble he stubbed his toe with might be the Resurrection Stone? No, thank you.

While a lore of friendship, love and all things right had charmed (c’mon, pun obviously intended) Sameer’s sisters, they had never expected the last movie of the series to hit the cinemas in Karachi. But it did. Predictably, Sameer’s sisters bugged him endlessly to escort them to it. When he finally gave in and went to purchase the tickets, he was not surprised to see a long line of eager fans, simply dying to watch the movie. After standing in line for 20 minutes, he finally managed to secure 3 tickets and claw his way out of the crowd. When he called his sisters to inform them of the time and date of the movie, they squealed so loudly that people nearby got alarmed. Smiling weakly at them, Sameer hid his face and left.

The cinematic experience itself was shockingly pleasant for Sameer. Expecting a high amount of deviation from the book, he was prepared to leave disappointed, but the movie delivered as promised. What made the watch worthwhile was not Helena Boham Carter (although she did play a large part in keeping Sameer glued to his seat), but the crowd he was sitting with. When Bellatrix and Voldemort died, the entire hall erupted in cheers and catcalls. When Neville chopped Nagini’s head off, a ludicrously short girl next to Sameer, clearly an avid fan, actually leapt off the seat to clap and hoot. Though people kept quoting the dialogues, kids behind Sameer kept whispering incantations and a large group of very annoying aunties kept discussing Tom Felton’s rating on the “hotness meter”, Sameer’s eyes and ears were riveted towards the screen.

Sameer did not cry during the Pensieve scene (the way his sisters did) or feel despondent that no more was to follow. Yet, he was deeply moved by the experience. He hadn’t understood until then the immense power of words because he hadn’t witnessed the craze for The Boy Who Lived. Now, he realized that mere words, if used with good intentions, can unite people across continents and generations…the way the fantasy of Harry Potter did.