You don’t have to be as diligent as Hermione Granger to learn something from J.K. Rowling. Whether it’s the power of patience, the fun of imagination or the meaning of love, these are some of the most important lessons Rowling has taught fans. (What lesson have you learnt from Harry Potter? July 29)
Priyanka Sipani

1. Harry Potter taught me the value of friendship and loyalty and made me realise the importance of sticking to friends through thick and thin. Moreover, it taught me: “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies but just as much to stand up to our friends.”
2. It taught me the power of love. The value of only a simple feeling stood up against evil when everything else failed. Lord Voldemort could not fathom its power and that in turn became his weakness. It also taught us how much love can withstand through time and it is an eternal feeling when Snape says, “Always.”
Sudarshana Ganguly, Khardah
I have learnt from Harry Potter that true friendship can get you through anything. The trio of Harry, Hermione and Ron proved that real friendship forges an unbreakable bond. Together they managed to face Dementors, Death Eaters and Horcruxes. Sure, a friend will help you out but a true best friend will be right there in the thick of it. Any time Harry found himself in trouble, Ron and Hermione faced it with him. Can you imagine facing the Whomping Willow, the three-headed dog and a life-size lethal chess board without your best friends? My guess is no. 
Joyita Basak

Without love, we are nothing. Whether it’s in the form of a mother, teacher, friend or self-love. Without it, we feel empty. Harry Potter had it. Even after her death, Lily made sure that Harry could not be harmed by Voldemort. On the other hand, Tom Riddle had nothing like that and when he got his Potions teacher (Professor Slughorn) as a friend, he betrayed him. Hatred took over him completely and in the end, he died. 
Astha Jha, Brainware University

Who am I as a person? How would my choices change me? I never pondered over these before reading Harry Potter. I never accepted my weirdness; HP taught me that it is my individuality that is my key trait. I am short-tempered and HP taught me that often things done in haste end in chaos.
Titas Choudhury

There are a lot of things to learn from Harry Potter. The lesson that I have learnt is how to tackle any odd situation with a strong hand. In this story, Harry, Hermione and Ron become friends and solve many problems unitedly. There is a devil called Voldemort who left no stone unturned to kill Harry but failed to do so. It teaches us that we should not lose our self-confidence.
Debojyoti Sikdar, Barrackpore

The lessons that Harry Potter taught me are:
1. A laugh never goes amiss, even in the darkest of times.
2. Getting on people’s nerves is an art (courtesy Peeves).
3. You can never really know who a person really is.
4. The best of friends will see you through the worst of days.
Rupanjali Samadder,
Gokhale Memorial Girls’ College

Harry Potter taught me that friendship and friends are the most important ingredients of life and also proved that magic is just a concept. The actual magic resides in us. We just need to look within to find the magic around us.
Aratrika Maity, Vidyasagar College

There are so many things that Harry Potter has taught me that I am unable to pen them down. Unfortunately, I didn’t get the chance to grow up with Harry Potter like many others, but surely it has reshaped my life. I have learnt many things like the importance of friendship, love,  families and books but what has changed is my fear of ghosts. Before reading Harry Potter, I used to get scared just at the mention of ‘ghosts’ or ‘spirits’. But after reading Harry Potter I learnt that ghosts are not vicious as I used to think. Now whenever I think of ghosts it reminds me of Nearly-Headless Nick and I can’t help but smile. I am grateful to J.K. Rowling for eradicating my fear. There is magic if you believe in it. Muggles might think us to be weirdos and freaks but they are just fools. Happy birthday to Harry James Potter!  
Ishani Karmakar,
Auxilium Convent School, Bandel

Harry Potter books, I think, give us numerous lessons that are very important in our lives. The characters in Harry Potter showed us that reading not only enhances knowledge but also with that knowledge, a person can face and solve any problem in life.
Sourish Misra, Salt Lake

Harry Potter has taught us a great number of lessons. It taught us that we must not give up, however strong the opposition may be. We learnt that light can be found even in the darkest of times but only if we try to see it. And last but not the least, nothing is more powerful than love.
Ritika Datta

Harry Potter has indeed taught us beautiful lessons like being alert in all situations, not losing hope in any situation as there is always a sunrise after darkness, there is always good and bad in this world but in the end, good always wins. These things are indeed good lessons. 
Sourav Sarkar, South City College 
Harry Potter has taught me it’s fun to break rules and often the results turn out to be good, rather than adhering to rules completely. Being a nerd and getting lost in books can also save many a day. Last but not the least, the value of friendship and bonding between friends is what I have learnt.  PS. Dear t2, wishing you a happy Friendship Day #friendsforever #love u t2.
Ishani Sen, Behala

Firstly, Harry Potter taught us how to trust our friends. Watching the last scene of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 reminds me of the young Harry who once walked with his friends into Hogwarts, solving mysteries and saving the school every year. It makes me nostalgic about my childhood. How to live a life despite losing too many loved ones, can be learnt from Harry Potter too.
Rohini Chakraborty, Salt Lake

The lessons I have learnt from Harry Potter are:
1. True friendship can get you through anything. 
2. Bravery comes in many forms.
3. People can surprise you.
4. It is good to ask for help.
5. Heartbreak is inevitable since life is made of ups and downs.
6. Money is not everything.
7. Face your fears.
Ritwika Mukherjee, 
Methodist School
I am a Muggle. And it’s certain because I have no scar, I can’t do magic, I am not bullied or locked in a cupboard, I have completed my 11th birthday, I live with my parents and I don’t get strange letters. So that’s what I have learnt from Harry Potter.
Yasha Ambreen, 
Loreto Day School Bowbazar

The Harry Potter series has given us various lessons from different characters:
1) Harry Potter taught us to believe in ourselves no matter what happens. The blood that is flowing within us offers us immense knowledge that our parents acquired one day.
2) Ron taught us to be brave at times and overcome our fears.
3) Hermione taught us that learning has got a hand over every arena.
4) Hagrid taught us to support people in our society.
5) Dumbledore showed us how to groom our followers effectively.
6) Voldemort taught us to fight for our existence till the last breath.
7) Last but not the least, the Patel sisters made it clear that Indians can stand up in any field internationally.
Anubhav Chatterjee, 
Methodist School

The most important lesson that I have learnt from Harry Potter is the power of love and friendship. Harry was immune to Voldemort as his mother, Lily, sacrificed herself for Harry. Without Ron and Hermione, where would Harry have been? Hermoine’s wit got Ron and Harry out of even the tightest of situations and this is true friendship. So thanks for teaching me so many valuable lessons, Harry. Happy birthday to you!!!
Radhika Mitra, 
Modern High School for Girls

I still remember the first day I was introduced to the Harry Potter world. The Harry Potter books have taught me about bravery, friendship and love. They have taught me to face every situation with courage and you just need a happy memory to fight away Dementors. They have taught me that a mother’s love for her child is the purest love. Somewhere with these seven stories and the bond between the three friends, J.K. Rowling has made me a better person.
Aishwarya Gupta

The boy who lived helped so many people find their true spirit throughout the series. The pets were really interesting. Hedwig, Pigwidgeon (after Scabbers), Buckbeak, Fang, Crookshanks — all of them fascinated all Potterheads. Even Voldemort had one — Nagini. So whether it’s pawwsome or sssssss-ome, a pet can bring an extra scoop in reel or real life — “Always”.
Susri Bhattacharya

I have learnt many lessons from the Harry Potter series. Friendship is the biggest thing in life. If you have true friends, you can achieve many things. And school life is the greatest time of your life. Everybody has good points and some negative points. I have learnt how to rise above any phobia with the help of the memory of happiness.
Souvik Deb 
 
The one big lesson I learnt from Harry Potter is what it is not always our story, it is intertwined with many people and their efforts. Harry Potter’s story is what it is because of all the people related to him. It is through their stories that his story came out as something very distinctive and heart-touching! Harry wouldn’t have been Harry if it wasn’t for the people around him. Same goes for me as I am nothing as a person if it weren’t for my parents and friends.
Aakanksha Dutta,
Aditya Academy Secondary School

I have learnt how to face life bravely and stand up every time I fall down. It has taught me that “it takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies but just as much to stand up to our friends”, and the real meaning of ‘friendship’.
Koyena Chakrabarti
 
The Harry Potter series taught me that no one is perfect, and it is perfectly all right not to be so. I started reading Harry Potter when I was in the third standard. At that time, it was simply my favourite book. But, as the years went by, and I read and reread the series, I came up with new realisations each time. I could relate the characters to people around me. To me, Harry was just an ordinary boy who became “The Boy Who Lived” due to circumstances, not because he wanted to. Like every other boy of his age, he was prone to mistakes. He quarrelled with Ron, he was average in academics and he was never the topper, like most of us. He was special because of his human-like flaws. He never seemed to be a larger-than-life character, instead he was ordinary, simply simple; like any of us. That’s why the bespectacled boy and his story are so close to my heart.
Nirajana Mukhopadhyay

1. Believing in oneself is what matters the most.
2. It’s okay to be a bookworm.
3. Blood status doesn’t matter at the end.
4. It’s our choices that determine what we are.
5. Loyalty, friendship and love.
6. Childhood is never over when you reread the books and binge-watch the movies. #Potterhead
Sreya Chakraborty
 
The most important thing that Harry Potter has taught me is that memories are very strong and they can sometimes bring a lot of peace. And if you make books your best friend, they will be with you forever. I was a Potterhead, am a Potterhead and will be a Potterhead always. Love you J.K. Rowling for the amazing world of Hogwarts that you have gifted us. Here’s wishing Rowling a very happy birthday.
Chetana Saha, The BSS School

Harry Potter taught me that a book should not be judged by its cover. A cruel potions teacher could sacrifice his life for the sake of true love and a stammering teacher could be hiding Voldemort under his turban. It taught me that even if your parents are dead, there will still be people like Molly, Sirius, Remus, Hagrid to give you love. And, of course, true friendship lasts forever. Your friends will stick with you. #untiltheveryend 
Aiswaryee Banik

My childhood is incomplete without Harry Potter and his gang and that one lesson I have learnt from him is to love and care for everybody, even your worst enemy at the most perilous time. It is difficult in today’s time, but it is worth doing.
Sreoshi Bakshi 

Lessons that I have learnt from Harry Potter are:
1. “Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light.”
2. “Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect.”
Harsha Jaluka

This is my first letter to you and it makes me happy that I am writing something about Harry Potter in my first letter. Even I cannot stop my pen from writing this. I have learnt how to be confident, which is an important thing for every human being. Secondly, his curiosity to discover things and his bravery encourage me in my work. I have also learnt how to keep calm in a difficult situation and l think that it’s a great virtue. Last but not the least, his pleasant personality inspires me and increases my concentration at work. Truly speaking, I have learnt such valuable fundamental lessons from Harry Potter that won’t be forgotten. 
Shreosi Saha, 
Bhagabati Devi Balika Vidyalaya
Harry Potter has been a major part of my childhood, so much so that I ate, slept, studied and lived in this world. As a crazy Potterhead, I used to create spells with my pal and write them down in a diary! Daniel Radcliffe is someone whom I have and will always love passionately. The Harry Potter series has led us to believe that good always triumphs over evil and that education is necessary whether you are a muggle or a witch! Friendship is essential in life and it has no bounds. Thank you J.K. Rowling for making my childhood different from others with your magical touch!  
Sukanya Seal, Calcutta University

The golden trio of Harry, Ron and Hermione proved time and time again that real friendship forges an unbreakable bond. Through all the hardships they have dealt with together, the small fights they had didn’t matter because at the end of the day, they will always have your back. Without them, Harry is incomplete. They together form a soul that is unbreakable and they three are literally the best!
Bohnisikha Mukherjee

Snape’s life taught me not to judge someone just by seeing their present. We should delve into their past also. Dobby taught me to act bravely no matter what the situation is. Dumbledore taught me to take every step in my life cautiously so that we don’t have to regret later. Hermione taught me that as all we need is dedication, hard work and a bit of self-confidence. Ron taught me to trust my true friends. Harry taught me to be humble irrespective of the position I am in.
Shatakshi Maji

A gangly ginger taught me that it’s OK to not be the best if you can just be funny and loyal, and his father taught me to keep your curiosities alive no matter how much you are ridiculed. Talking of ridiculous, a dreamy little girl taught me to make bold fashion choices (radish earrings, a life-size lion hat, sun-coloured dress, interest in dyeing eyebrows for a party) no matter how the world judges you. A red-haired feisty young lady taught me that it’s fine to date around a little if your crush is kinda busy and you can be good in sports and hexes (Bat Bogey much) all at once. Her twin brothers gave me courage to follow my dreams and have faith even when my mother is sceptical about my choices. The plain-looking “brightest witch of her age” helped me be and taught me that it was OK to be a little snooty, a little paranoid and a little pig-headed at times. And finally, the pages of the Harry Potter series have taught me to hold on, no matter what life puts in my path because “Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.”
Sweta Basu

Thanks for giving us an opportunity to write on this topic! My favourite character, Hermione Granger, was the ultimate shero when she saved both Harry and Ron by casting the Lumos Solem spell. From this we have learnt that being a nerd is not a bad thing, it can also be a saviour. Harry’s ability to speak Parseltongue saved the entire school of Hogwarts from the gigantic snake living in the Chamber of Secrets. Who would have guessed that learning a language could not only save you from a dangerous situation but also a whole lot of people! After reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, I started learning French in school, hoping that it will be of use someday. And last but not least, Dolores Umbridge, who was known for her love of pink, was not as nice as the colour itself! After all, she was the one who discouraged using magic while studying the subject itself! From this we learn that we should not just believe whatever we see from the outside.
Sana Sharma, 
G.D. Birla Centre for Education

I have learnt a lot of stuff from my favourite Harry Potter series. Firstly, the friendship that was shown between the three friends Harry, Hermione and Ron was incredible. All three of them showed equal importance to each other. They behaved like barriers that protected themselves from the evil spirits around them. Secondly, the love and care shown by many of the characters for Harry, like Snape and Dumbledore, was appreciated. I simply loved it. Third, it allows me to believe in magic in life, which is very important for everybody in this mean world.  
Prajukta Sen,
Loreto Day School, Dharamtala

Harry Potter taught me that anything is possible if I’ve got enough strength. It showed that my family will always be there for me. I saw how some things are worth dying for and learnt not to judge people by their appearances. It said it’s OK to be myself, even when others don’t approve! And above all, Rowling taught me that the stories we love will ALWAYS be with us.
Anuska Ghosh, 
Kalikrishna Girls’ High School