The unORDINARY Condiments

A Book Review written by: Clarissa Grace O. Geraldino

Bravery. Friendship. Magic.

Looking at those three words at first sight did not have anything common in between. It is like
mixing a couple of beans, box of milk and a scoop of ice cream. However, as time continues to roll, we
will try to see what can happen between the three ordinary components.

After reading and finishing some novels written by Joan K. Rowling, I have noticed that there is
something special about her particular book series. It is a cliché nowadays that protagonist can live from
their workaday life into unworldly adventure. Still, what makes the series distinctive from other fantasy
novels is the mixture of ingredients she made into a master piece—beans, milk and ice cream are one of
those.

In her first book entitled, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone made a huge noise in the
fields of literature. Given it bagged a lot of award winning prizes, being able to dive in into the story will
definitely justified the honor it gained. The story although in the fiction genre had more real life
scenarios and moral lessons involved from the earliest part of the story until the end.

There are a few relatable scenes in the story that makes me reflect as a person. First was the ill-
treatment of Dursly family. The bullying of Dudley to Harry, the unreasonable grumpiness of Uncle
Vernon and the showy favoritism of Aunt Petunia to his son were the irksome actions showed in the
book. Those persons mentioned were also present on the real world. As I personally experience getting
mistreated by some people in my life and a victim of unfavorable treatment, this creates a connection
between me and the book.

The moment Harry found out that he is actually a wizard and that he belongs into somewhere
beyond the Privet drive where he can for the mean time escape the cruel life he had with the muggles, is
an indication that we all have this unexpected change course in our life’s journey. I had come to
understand that the worst happenings we experience are not the final conclusion of our life, rather our
turning point to the greater unknown.

Then, as Potter started his new pilgrimage at Hogwarts School, the hope sparks as the magic
began to introduce itself formally to him. The trust he had that he might experience better things than
before is a reflective image of us, humans, as we started to live life again after failure upon failure.

The wizard’s wands that choses it owners reminds me of our fate as human beings. Wands are
like talents. We tried choosing them on our own. When I was a kid, I keep on listening to some singers
and felt like I wanted to be like them. Then I tried to sing, thousands of songs, yet disappointments keep
coming in. I tried dancing, thinking I was cool bending my muscles, but after I saw someone who is
better than me, I crippled. In fact, there is nothing wrong with trying hard as you could, but keeping in
mind that everything does not fall into places where we want it to land. We keep on looking for wands
that fits our likeness yet the Lord decides on what gifts he had for you and me.
 The mirror of Erised depicts a thousand words. As you looked into the mirror, it is not your own
reflection that you are going to see, but what is your heart truly desires. Personally, this is my favorite
object in the story. It shows us the more or less deepest desire of a person. The fact that Dumbledore
had it transferred into a more concealed place is an implication how dangerous a person’s desire is. As
for me, when I was a child, I have the desire to look what is beyond a well that it almost took my life.
From my perspective, human desire can be a root of transgressions unless you lay them down to God.

The Philosopher’s stone showed me that life itself is limited. The stone was a magical instrument
that gives elixir to anyone who holds it. A panacea that is what Voldemort is after. However, in our
lifetime, a remedy like that is not for eternal use. The tricky part behind the stone is, to be able to get a
hold of it is not to use it at all. Humans do not need immortality, because I have realized that dying is
what makes us human.

Apart from the magical objects and events, the most important thing in the story was the
friendship the characters had developed over the course of time. A colleague in times of adventures, a
companion in times of despair and a comrade in times of triumph, are the functions of friends in the
story and in real life. A friend that can sacrifice for his or her friend’s sake and the one, who can stand up
against the enemies and for his fellow friends, were greatly emphasized in the novel.

Lastly, bravery is another notable characteristic that each character, especially Harry Potter,
displayed. The story pays attention to the children that, despite their young age, bravely overcomes
different obstacles in life. They exhibit strong courage as they are not enslaved by fear of consequences
but enveloped themselves the hope of victory. It is a thought to be pondered upon, that children can
teach us few things we can only learned from them.

Bravery, friendship and magic were unrelated words but are combined in a single book to
create a noteworthy piece of literature that is living until now. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
taught me that there are good things came out of the bad ones, life has more to offer, and standing up
to what I value most is important.

Our life is a complex form of twists and turns. A seemingly ordinary life can become extra
ordinary in an instant. The beans, milk and ice cream can become a favorite dessert once it all mixed in a
particular measurement with added ingredients: crushed ice, banana, colored sago, sugar and ube—
Halo-Halo it is. As well as the theme bravery, friendship and a sprinkle of magic—take the Harry Potter
Series as evidence.

I have learned to be the boy who lives.