Famous Witches: Harry Potter

Welcome to another course at Magick Users University, Famous Witches: Real and Fictional. This course is a great combination of informational and fun, as there are plenty of witches in the real world and of course, in literature, movies, and other media. Some will be familiar, others new, but all interesting. We hope you enjoy!

In celebration of the end of the Harry Potter franchise, and the start of Rowling's newest Harry Potter project, we bring you the title character!

Introducing...!

Harry Potter

The Boy Who Lived

Whether people love him or hate him, there are few whom do not know of him!

+ So who is Harry Potter?

Harry Potter is a character created by the writer J.K Rowling. His adventures in the magical Hogwarts, School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, spans over seven books. These books have spawned out eight movies, three other offshoot books (such as Tales of Beetle the Bard and Quidditch Through the Ages), and a variety of other merchandise.

Harry Potter was born a wizard, however lived a rather depressing life with his Aunt, Uncle, and cousin, the Dursleys in a small cupboard under the stairs. However, on his eleventh birthday, he finds out from the half-giant Hagrid that he is actually a wizard due to his parents, and has been waiting the day to go to Hogwarts. Without anything better to do (it seemed legit), Harry goes off with Hagrid in efforts to start life anew. However, turns out his parents were murdered by the evil wizard Voldemort (known as You-Know-Who or He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named), and Harry barely escaped death, and was left with the iconic, lightning-bolt shaped scar on his forehead.

Throughout his days at Hogwarts, Harry makes friends and many foes, ultimately in efforts to finally bring an end of Voldmort's reign of terror and free the wizarding world from its darkest hours. With the looks of his father, but the green eyes of his mother, Harry Potter is a witch—sorry, wizard—whose story and adventures not only changed the world he lived in... but even our world's perception on magick as well.

+ What makes him special?

Harry is one of those “born witches”—wizard, sorry Harry—who is characterized by his bravery, heroics, and sense of justice. He has reached an iconic status, even in the Neopagan world (witches even call non-magick using people Muggles now!).

When Harry Potter first reached popularity, there was much uproar from Christian activist about the nature of the series, depicting the series as something that could potentially corrupt children from the faith, and that it was a blatant display of evil and, of course, witchcraft. However, despite these claims, Harry Potter pressed on in his fight against Voldemort. Really, Harry's moralistic battle between good-an-evil should be what stands out.

Harry is also special in the fact that he fights for what he believes in. Such an act is easier said than done, especially in the face of people whom would kill you for defending your rights. Harry Potter is a young wi...zard, whom we could all potentially look up to.

+ Where can I learn more about Harry Potter?

You can easily learn more about Harry Potter from the internet, reading the books, and of course, the movies for those whom are not book readers. For those whom has already indulged in this, might I suggest Pottermore, which opens up for the public come this October! I have already registered for it early and have done a lot of beta testing for the opening! However, I plan on entering with my University Witch account as soon as the doors open. If you want, you can follow along with me in October, and even join as my friend! My member name is GoldProphecy56!

+ Supernatural Statistics:

Name: Harry James Potter

Other Names: The Boy Who Lives

D.O.B: July 31st

Sign: Leo

Alliance: Lawful Good

Known for: Surviving Voldemort's curse, his “signature” spell Expelliarmus

Familiar: Hedwig, his owl (deceased)

Tool of Choice: Holly wand with phoenix feather core

Join us soon for another course! You can learn about new classes by following us on Facebook or Twitter! You can also take a look at us via Tumblr!

Happy Early Samhain!

Getting into the spirit of Samhain? I know I am! ♥

As an early Samhain wish from the witches at Magick Users University, here is a little fun-filled scroll down from us to you! Please enjoy as much as Lore did, hahahaa! I'm still in stitches here.

Love,
Soull Soothslayer, the University Witch

15th Spell - The True Origin of the Princess

This is the story of what it means to be a Princess.

It was last night, under the full moon, that I fell while trying to hurriedly cross the street, and I hurt my foot. Badly. I even broke my shoe. This is why people think crazies are out on the full moon. Because crazy stuff will happen. We should all be cautious, especially us magick-folk.

Lore, juggling our Chinese takeout in one hand, managed to help me up and to the median of the road. Cars drove past us as I sat in the tiny little space, separating me from being alive and a crushed explosion of red roadkill. A man saw me in peril and helped Lore get me across the rest of the street before leaving, and there I sat.

“...This hurts,” I blandly stated. My usual eloquence, and a large chunk of my pride, was shot.

“Do you need help?” Lore asked again, looking me over.

“I can walk,” I stated in an assured tone, but it was then that two other women, a mother and her daughter, walked over. Lo behold! The mother was one of Lore's classmates at Le Cordon Bleu. She had recognized Lore's reddish hair from the street side. Perhaps easy to see in the full moon's light, I suspected.

I managed to struggle to my feet. Our nights plans were ruined: get the takeout, grab a movie and some drinks, and recline and rest easy in our cozy little apartment. Now, I would have to put on a brave face if I wanted to make it across the street to the shimmering golden beacon that was 7-11 in order to obtain my cans of Arizona Fruit Punch.

“I can walk,” I let out again, but the three didn't listen to me. Instead, they ushered me into the van, and off we drove. I did my best to keep a scowl off my face, instead deciding on a pleasant smile and idle chit-chat while Lore walked into the store, grabbing our drinks. She didn't see a movie for us to watch.

When her friend dropped us off at our apartment, oh dear. I shot a look up at the carpeted stairway that led to our second-floor condominium as Lore disappeared to put everything down, and then head back to me to retrieve me.

“Don't put too much stress on it,” She chided me. I wanted to snap at her to stop treating me like some child, but I knew it wouldn't do any good for either of us. She was worried, and I was hurt, and while her advice was the correct advice, I didn't want her to be telling me stuff I already knew! I had been having such a good week. And now this? I broke my freaking shoe.

This, my friends, is a good lesson in humility. My night was all right—I snuggled helplessly against Lore and watched some early South Park episodes on Netflix. I had wanted dessert, but in order to go get it I would have to walk to the store—and I didn't want Lore to go and do it. She was already doing enough in her efforts to help me.

And now I sit here on our beautiful, floral, Victorian-inspired couch, with a hurt leg, a pitiful expression, and thoughts.

A lot of media today tells you what it means to be a Princess. It means that you get what you want. However, when you think about it, no matter how rich, or privileged, or well-off someone is, it can't be theoretically possible to always get what you want.

I always considered Lore to be my knight in slightly rusted armor, but always charging towards me with a smile, always being there for me. Many times during our time together has she done the charming knightly duty of sweeping meoff my feet. However, this time it was quite literally, as I couldn't really walk. And while I was annoyed, put-off, and being tended to despite my increasing aggravation, I realized what being a Princess really meant.

Being a Princess is getting what you need, whether you like it or not.

Because no Princess should have to go without.

Admittedly, however, I feel a bit like Cinderella. I could really use a fairy god mother right now.

...What am I going to do about my shoe?