The boy who lived turns 38 today. Harry Potter, the protagonist of J.K. Rowling's magical world, shares his birthday with his creator, who is now aged 53. Potter popped up in the literary world in 1997, as an 11-year-old boy who had just been informed about his earth-shattering legacy and destiny. Readers were immersed, spellbound by the alternate universe populated by witches and wizards, fantastic beasts, stupendous spells, and a range of the most amazing modes of transport.
The magic continues long after the last book was written, and the last film released. Today, 11 years after the last book of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Potter's universe has only gotten bigger—embellished and nuanced. On one hand, there are Potterheads and fan clubs who fill the gaps in the original narrative with their own theories. Then there is Rowling herself, who continues to build up the magic with associated stories.
Crimes of Grindelwald, the second instalment of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them series, is slated for a November 16 release. Although the story is independent of the larger Potter universe, these are the prequels of incidents mentioned in the main books. Grindelwald is Albus Dumbledore's best friend-turned-foe, and their exploits form the legends that the characters of the Potter series grow up with. With a cast that includes Johnny Depp and Jude Law, it is certainly a big-ticket film and the latest buzz in the Potterverse. The trailer of the film was released recently, and fans can't stop gushing about it.
The illustrated edition of Tales of Beadle the Bard is set to release on October 2. These are the fairy tales that little witches and wizards grow up listening to at bedtime, and find regular mention throughout the Potter series. Rowling published these stories after the main series was over. There are such regular mentions of these tales in the main story, specially the 'Tales of the Three Brothers', which was a crucial part of the plot in the final book.
The latest in the series is an interactive Android game Hogwarts Mystery, which takes place in a time before Harry Potter reached Hogwarts. In the freemium game, you get a chance to navigate life in the school, choose your house, learn spells and even duel with your friends and foes.
Potter magic, however, is kept alive by those who continue to read his books and watch his films, long after they left their impressionable years behind and stepped into adult life. Vidhi Singh, a final year economics student, joined Pottermore, an interactive Potter-themed website endorsed by Rowling herself. She got a wand chosen for herself (we all know the wand chooses the person). “It is redwood with a unicorn hair core, 14 and a half inches,'' she says, not at all fazed at the thought of sounding ridiculous. Singh, however, wasn't too pleased initially to be slotted into the Hufflepuff House; she fancied herself a Griffindor, Potter's house. But after the initial disappointment, she analysed why she got the house, and realised that it had noticed traits she herself hadn't realised. “I may not have the Griffindor bravery, but I do have the Hufflepuff loyalty,” she reasons.
Another Potter fan, a 26-year-old professional, plans to watch a Potter flick in the evening to celebrate the birthday. “It helps me believe that anything is possible and brings a sense of calm within me. That why I still watch it,” she says. And when she says anything is possible, she sincerely means it. Last heard, she was still waiting for that letter to arrive, telling her she's gained admission into Hogwarts!