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Harry Teacher Guide to Harry Potter

Harry Potter has seemingly taken the world by storm. We have watched Harry and friends grow older as their quest for good in the world continues on.

The Harry Potter series was envisioned by now best-selling author J.K. Rowling from the United Kingdom in 1997. There are now seven books and an accompanying movie series following the fame of the first novel Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (also known as Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone).

The novels are all based around the protagonist, or main character, Harry Potter whose parents are killed by the horrendous Voldemort. The only remaining family member is baby Harry who is left by head of the wizardry academy Dumbledore, in a basket with a note attached on the doorstep of the Dursleys.

The Dursleys raise Harry as their own alongside their own son Dudley, who torments him. Mysterious letters begin arriving for Harry, causing his family to go into seclusion. However the Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry catches up with them and hands Harry an admission letter to their school. Harry is taken by Hagrid and prepared for wizardry school and the whole adventure begins.

In the first novel Harry meets his lifelong friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, also attending Hogwarts school. Together they battle dark characters and creatures, learn how to fly on broomsticks and play the wizard equivalent of football, Quidditch. Bullies are overcome and the characters progress through their schooling at Hogwarts with many an interesting adventure and crazy character met along the way.

Rowling has reportedly finished the Harry Potter series, the last novel being Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The last novel finishes the series with the final meeting between young adult Harry Potter and the Lord Voldemort who murdered both his parents in the beginning novel. Voldemort in a powerful evil wizard who gains hold of the Ministry of Magic at Hogwarts. Best friends Harry, Ron and Hermione drop out of school to go on an isolated search for the evil wizards remaining Horcruxes, tools he uses to gain immortality. The book ends with the legendary Battle of Hogwarts where Harry nearly dies himself but returns to his body just in time to defeat the evil Voldemort. Harry, Hermione and Ron grow up, raise families and then the whole story appears to start again.

Rowling gained incredible ground with these easy to read, exciting and adventurous novels. Everyone has become engrossed with the lives of Harry, Ron and Hermione and many have grown with the characters. The characters are easy to identify with and the stories and characters are so creative it's hard not to picture yourself in a wizards class alongside them.

The novels present many themes, such as the battle between good and evil, the challenges of adolescence, confidence and the willingness to be imaginative. There are great life lessons to be learned in reading the Harry Potter series and it just so happens they're really entertaining!



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