Hogwarts can be a little crazy even at the best of times, but when Harry Potter is attending, the school year is a lot more interesting.
It’s been 20 years since the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (that’s right, ‘philosopher’ not ‘sorcerer,’ this is the U.K. anniversary. Americans, you’re going to have to wait until September), so let’s celebrate!
Muggle-born and pure-blood alike enter Hogwarts with the same anticipation and nervousness. It’s their first year at a new school, their first year at a magic school. It’s all so new and exciting! Can you remember a password? Will you be able to fly on a broom? How do you navigate a moving staircase? Where in Merlin’s beard is platform 9 3/4?
In 1991, students new and old were also in for another surprise. Little did they know how much impact an eleven year old with a scar on his head would have on their schooling years.
Harry Potter’s life changed when he found out he was actually a wizard. In turn, he changed many other people’s lives by attending Hogwarts and causing a ruckus.
Whether you were friends with Harry or not, the crazy events that happened to him left ripples across every house and year. Of course, not everything was caused by him, but it was indirectly because of him. Troll loose in the castle? Teacher’s cloak catches fire? Encounter a giant three-headed dog? Thanks Harry.
If you were to have attended Hogwarts for the first time, how would you have fared? Would all of these new experiences have been too much for you? What about starting Hogwarts at the same time as Harry?
All the unusual, and sometimes dangerous occurrences only happening because Harry Potter is now attending Hogwarts meant you would have had to be vigilant. Would you have survived? Let’s find out.
Remember, this is you at 11 years old, not now.