Warning: There will be spoilers in this article.
I am a huge Harry Potter fan. I grew up reading the books/watching the movies, waiting for the next one to come out, going to release parties, and searching out any extra information on the series I could find. So, when I found out that there was going to be a new book, I was conflicted. On one hand, I was excited. This was a chance to return to that magical world one more time without know exactly what was going to happen and when. On the other hand, this book was going to be released as a script instead of a novel, meaning it wouldn’t be the same type of writing I had fallen in love with. Also, I had the last nine years to decide what happened to the characters after the book ended, and now there was going to be a story to tell me that I was wrong. Nevertheless, I preordered my book and made plans to go to a release party with my family.
(This is my family and I at the release party. In case anyone is wondering, I am dressed up as Bellatrix Lestrange)
The release party was amazing- I got the chance to talk to other Harry Potter super fans along with a chance to use/show off my knowledge of the series through different trivia challenges. Once that was over, I had my book and it was time to start reading.
(It was much cheaper to pre-order the book online, so here I am super excited after finally getting it in the mail and being able to start reading it)
I made myself take my time in reading this book instead of reading it all in one day, and throughout the book I had a lot of thoughts:
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I am so glad that Albus is in Slytherin
Having Albus in Slytherin shows that not everyone who is a main character and good is always going to be in Gryffindor. Finally, a main character from a different house! Also, I think that it is great to show that Harry’s children may not always want to be just like him, that they are going to have issues with their dad/parents just like every kid.
2. I was surprised to hear the name Cedric Diggory.
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Cedric wasn’t the biggest character in the books, so I was surprised to suddenly hear about him and was especially surprised that he had such a large part in this story.
3. Can we just discuss the Trolley Witch for a second?
Like, this scene was literally probably the biggest plot twist in Harry Potter history. Her Pumpkin Pasties were grenades!!! Also, if she stopped Fred and George from leaving the train, why have we never heard of her before? This seems to be something they would probably talk about. “Oh, the trolley witch? Yeah, she isn’t that sweet old lady everyone thinks she is. She actually grows spikes and makes her snacks explode.”
4. Time Travel?
I didn’t expect for time travel to have a large part, or actually really any part, in this book. The different dimensions were kinda cool, but also so different than anything I imagined. Also, I was really disappointed in Hermione. You would think after everything she did as a child, her hiding places would be better than a couple of riddles inside a bookcase.
5. Albus and Scorpius are amazing together
I loved this friendship. It kinda showed what could have happened in Harry was in Slytherin and became friends with Draco. However, I was really disappointed when Scorpius had a crush on Rose in the end. All throughout the book there were hints that they had crushes on each other. When they hugged each other and were awkward about it, Scorpius not liking that Albus had a crush on Delphi, them being heartbroken at not being able to spend time with each other, etc. Yet, suddenly thrown in at the end was a random crush on Rose.
6. I can’t believe that it is over.
I had a lot of other small thoughts throughout this book. I couldn’t decide if I liked it or not. I was upset that Harry couldn’t support his son more, and was also sad that we didn’t see more of the original generation. I wasn’t sure how I felt about Voldemort having a daughter, I mean that was a huge plot twist. (On a side note, if Bellatrix had just had a kid, then it is quite impressive she was able to fight in the final battle. I think we need a more concrete time schedule for all of it in order to see how it fits in when the battle along with everything at Malfoy Manor.) However, in the end, there is just one thing that shines through all of it. J.K. Rowling stated that Harry’s story is done. I was born in 1997, the year that the first Harry Potter book was published. I have basically never lived in a world without Harry Potter, and there has always been the possibility of another book. To know that chances are I will never be able to hold a new book, or go to another release party is really sad. Harry Potter was my childhood, and always will be. While I may not have loved the Cursed Child, I am glad that I got to enjoy a new Harry Potter book one last time.
What did you think of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child? Love it? Hate it? Share your thoughts in the comments below: