I've Been A Harry Potter Fan For 24 Years, But Rereading Is Completely Different Now That I'm A Mom (2024)

The Harry Potter series has always held a special place in my heart, but now that I'm a mom, I see the story and its themes so differently. The first book I ever read was Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and my eight-year-old self was officially won over by the literary world. I caught up with the books as quickly as I could, and every summer, my sister and I took turns reading our copy of the newest release. Harry Potter is a staple of my childhood, and when I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows at 13 years old, I made it a tradition to reread one of the books every July.

Now, as an adult and parent, I have stepped away from my yearly read-through of the Harry Potter book series. Instead, I have been reading them, one after another, to my three kids. It has been a delight to watch them experience every plot twist and to hear them ask the same questions I remember considering when I was their age. Seeing Harry Potter through a child's eyes has reminded me of what it felt like to experience these now-familiar stories for the first time. However, despite having reread these books countless times, I find that my perspective has dramatically changed.

Rereading The Harry Potter Series As An Adult Is A Very Different Experience

There Are Aspects Of Harry Potter I Never Noticed As A Child

As a YA book series, there's no denying that Harry Potter is intended for younger readers. The adult characters are infuriatingly clueless, while the kids are overly mature and capable. This is a staple of the genre, but this classic formula is far more prominent from an adult reader's perspective. As a kid, I never wondered why Harry didn't ask an adult for help or considered why characters like Minerva McGonagall couldn't solve the mystery before a group of kids. Conversely, adults are more likely to sigh in exasperation as the children of Hogwarts are frequently placed in harm's way.

This is, perhaps, what has fueled the argument that adult Harry Potter fans should have grown out of the series by now. Actor Miriam Margolyes left a lot of people frustrated with her blunt comments on the subject, and it inspired a conversation about whether Harry's story really is meant to be exclusively enjoyed by children. Of course, there's no need for a definitive answer to this debate. People can enjoy whatever media they like, regardless of their age. However, in the case of Harry Potter, I could argue that J.K. Rowling's story is stealthily aimed at mothers as well.

As A Mom, The Harry Potter Books Feel Like A Love Letter From Parent To Child

What I Once Saw As Exclusively A Coming-Of-Age Adventure Now Feels Like A Nod To Mothers

On the surface, Harry Potter is most certainly aimed at kids and teens. However, when I reread the story as an adult, I can more clearly see that Lily Potter is the constant foundation from beginning to end. Harry himself was nothing special—he wasn't remarkably talented and possessed no extraordinary power aside from the sacrificial love of his mother. The "power of love" solution throughout Harry Potter has been criticized over the years, and as a kid, I couldn't help but agree that it was a cheesy answer to too many problems. Now that I'm a mom, however, this opinion has changed.

I now find that at the very center of Harry Potter stands one resounding question—just how powerful is a mother's love? Could it shape destiny, destroy evil, and guard the soul? Could it protect her child even after she is gone? I've wondered if similar questions inspired J.K. Rowling to pick up her pen to begin with. Looking at my own kids, I can't help but feel that my primal love for them is the closest to real magic I have ever experienced, and it's precisely this thought that has made Harry's story click into place for me in a way it never had before.

James & Lily Potter (& Other Adults) Serve As The Foundation Of Harry Potter's Themes

Harry's Story Is The Adventure, But The Adults Of Harry Potter Carry The Deeper Themes

The powerful themes of Harry Potter don't end with Lily Potter. Mothers play an important role throughout the story. Molly Weasley, who accepts Harry as one of her children, became a sort of conduit of Lily's love, allowing the orphan to experience this magic despite having no memory of his own mother. Narcissa Malfoy, who was despicable in every other way, was somewhat redeemed because of her love for Draco, and this ends up being pivotal in Harry's ending. Then, there is Merope Gaunt, whose inability to fight for her newborn son resulted in the most evil wizard of all time.

The story of Merope Gaunt segues into another prominent theme of Harry Potter. Questions of morality sit at its core as well, and while Lily Potter is presented as flawless, the other adults of the series float within a grey area. This is especially seen in James Potter's story. Harry starts out revering his father's memory but becomes conflicted when he realizes that James had done some horrible things while he was at school. This links to the other men of the franchise—Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, and Sirius Black—who all support the prominent themes of moral ambiguity that are far more evident to adult readers.

Harry Potter's Complex Themes Have Allowed It To Stand The Test Of Time

There Is So Much In Harry Potter For Readers To Connect With As They Grow Up

It may be true that Harry Potter is intended for younger audiences, but it has continued to resonate with adults, indicating that there is something about this story that connects with readers of all experiences. When I was a kid, I related deeply to Harry. I read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix when I was an angsty preteen, and I had never felt so seen by a protagonist before. These days, Harry's crankiest year at Hogwarts is my least favorite, but my 13-year-old son easily connects with this version of the character.

Now, I connect most to the mothers of Harry's story, especially the imperfect but well-intended Molly Weasley. However, another adult reader may see their struggle to determine the greater good in a character like Dumbledore or might connect with James Potter's story of redemption. Or, perhaps rereading Harry Potter as an adult is simply a chance to return to the magic of childhood or a time to look deeper into the exciting plot twists. Regardless of the reason, the fact that Harry Potter has remained so popular and relevant over the years proves there is something here for everyone, no matter their age.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter is a multimedia franchise about an orphaned boy who enrolls at Hogwarts School of Wizardry, where he learns the truth about himself, his family, and the terrible evil that haunts the magical world. Adapted from the novels, Harry Potter is an eight-episode film saga that follows the journey of Harry Potter and his friends, Hermoine Granger and Ron Weasley, as they navigate the tricky world of growing up, school life, and magic. Starting from year one and moving to their seventh year, the films chronicle the students' time at Hogwarts while unfurling a sinister plot that centers around the unsuspecting Harry. With the return of the dark wizard, Voldemort, the students and professors at Hogwarts will fight to carry on as the world around them may change forever. Harry Potter has expanded beyond the world of its films and novels with several video games, a spin-off film series titled Fantastic Beasts, and even attractions at Universal Studios.

Created by

J.K. Rowling

First Film

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

First TV Show

Harry Potter

Cast

Daniel Radcliffe , Emma Watson , Rupert Grint , Tom Felton , Alan Rickman , Matthew Lewis , Bonnie Wright , Evanna Lynch , Maggie Smith , Michael Gambon , Richard Harris , Ralph Fiennes , Helena Bonham Carter , Alfred Enoch , Harry Melling , Gary Oldman , Robert Pattinson , Warwick Davis , Oliver Phelps , James Phelps , David Bradley , David Thewlis , Katie Leung , Jason Isaacs , Imelda Staunton , David Tennant , Jamie Campbell Bower , Timothy Spall , Robbie Coltrane , Eddie Redmayne , Jude Law , Katherine Waterston , Ezra Miller , Dan Fogler , Alison Sudol , Johnny Depp , Mads Mikkelsen

TV Show(s)

Harry Potter

Character(s)

Harry Potter , Hermione Granger , Ron Weasley , Dumbledore , Minerva McGonagall , Rubeus Hagrid , Dobby the House Elf , Draco Malfoy , Sirius Black , Ginny Weasley , Voldemort