Good evening, dear readers! I hope you’ve been having an amazing time reading this issue of HMN. We are almost at the end, but before you go, I , Daphne Clarke, have arrived with the Quotes Page! I know you've been waiting for this chapter. If you allow your eyes to travel down the page, you shall find an analysis of 5 quotes that I have chosen to present to you. I hope you find it as meaningful and touching to read as I did to write. Enjoy!

Quote 1: "It does not do to dwell on dreams, Harry, and forget to live." - Albus Dumbledore [The Philosophers Stone]

I knew I had to include this quote as it is one of my personal favourites. Albus Dumbledore says this to Harry Potter while he’s looking at the Mirror of Erised. Reading and watching this moment was heartbreaking, especially imagining how Harry felt as he watched the mirror, experiencing so much grief and pain in his youth. It’s truly saddening, but this quote from Dumbledore holds a lot of wisdom that can apply to every one of us. We mustn't forget to live, and in order to do this, we can’t obsess over our greatest desires. Facing reality can be difficult, but it’s something we must all do to continue on with our lives. For Harry, it meant accepting his parent’s unfortunate demise, but everyone can interpret it differently.

Quote 2: “Does it hurt?” The childish question had escaped Harry's lips before he could stop it. “Dying? Not at all,” Sirius said. “Quicker and easier than falling asleep.” - Harry Potter & Sirius Black [The Deathly Hallows]

I chose this quote because it’s such a deeply emotional moment in the series. Harry’s innocent question about death reveals vulnerability and the fear he feels about the unknown. I can speak for everyone when I say that Harry has always had a very admirable quality: Bravery. In this moment, it all ties together; his maturity and acceptance of the fact that he is going to die. It’s very moving and significant to his growth, and had us all weeping. Alongside that, Sirius’ response provides us with a feeling of reassurance and comfort, which shows us just how caring he was. We are all happy that Harry wasn’t alone, and this moment captures the feeling of peace that can come with understanding and support. The power of love can give us so much comfort, even when we are faced with our biggest fears.

Quote 3: “Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect.” - Luna Lovegoood Order of the Phoenix]

Luna’s words have always been unique, beautiful, and filled with hope, even in the face of loss. To me, this quote means that life is always changing, and we will lose things and people we deeply care about. But just because it’s gone doesn’t mean it’s lost forever. Sometimes what we lose can come back to us in unexpected ways– like our memories or new experiences. It’s a reminder that even when our life changes and we experience loss, it continues, and things find their way back to us, just in different ways.

Quote 4: “He is dead!” - Narcissa Malfoy [The Deathly Hallows]

Our beloved book series is no stranger to introducing bad or abusive parental figures (e.g. the Dursley’s). Although, we also have examples of families that are bound by love, and would do anything for each other, like the Weasleys. Yet for the Malfoy family, it gets a little complicated. Draco Malfoy’s upbringing certainly wasn’t all loving, but in this quote, Narcissa Malfoy shows us just how far she would go for her son. She may not be seen as a conventional ‘good’ character, but her actions in The Deathly Hallows all seemed to be motivated by love for her family. Her motherly instincts became the most important to her in these moments, and they allowed her to lie to Voldemort knowing the consequences that would be upon her if she had been caught. Her actions show us that even flawed characters will do anything to protect the ones they love.

Quote 5: “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.” - The Tombstones of Lily and James Potter (The Deathly Hallows)

I love how this quote can hold so many different meanings. In the books, Harry is horrified that this is what is written on his parents’ grave, because it’s supposed to be a "Death Eater idea." But Hermione helps him understand the meaning behind it. The way that Death Eaters think of these words is that death is the greatest enemy that only dark and powerful magic can defeat, such as Horcruxes and immortality. Although, this perspective can easily be flipped. It can also mean coming to terms with the fact that death is inevitable, and can’t really be “destroyed”. In Hermione’s words, it means living beyond death, and living after death. It holds a deeper significance, because it highlights how death is unavoidable, all while saying it doesn’t have to be feared. All that matters is the love we give and how we live that allows us to transcend death.

Well, that brings us to the end! I hope you all liked seeing my insight on these quotes. I know many of them had sombre themes, but don't let it drag you down. The value of them is that they provide amazing perspectives that might cause us to do some reflecting on life and death. Remember that even in our darkest moments, there is always a glimmer of hope to be found, or a lesson that can be learned. Sadly, this is where we part ways, but don’t worry. There’s still lots to read! Just flip the page!

Written by Daphne Clarke.
Edited by Sara Rowan.
Proofread by Amelia River.