Dear Harry

My dear Harry,
I hope you don't mind if I drop you a note from time to time over the next few months. You see, while I'm awaiting the final installment of your saga, I'm re-reading the first six books. And the more I read, the more I find myself wishing I could impart a few well-chosen words of advice. I'm not as old nor as wise as Dumbledore (in fact, I'm probably closest in age to Molly Weasley...and yes, I'm a Mom) but I can't shake the feeling that you need all the help you can get.

I just finished reading the chapter in Sorcerer's Stone where you and Ron knock out the 12-foot mountain troll that you accidentally locked in the girl's bathroom where Hermione was crying. I have always loved the action in this chapter for the way it began to cement the bonds of friendship between you, Ron and Hermione. And that's my first word of advice to you this evening: remember them. Be grateful for them. And let them help you.

I know from the end of Half-Blood Prince that you already feel grateful beyond words for their offer to go with you on your horcrux hunt. But there's a tiny bit of me that's worried you'll think twice about their offer and try to talk them out of it. Don't. It won't do a bit of good, because they'll just come anyway. Have you noticed how stubborn they both are? And how much they love you? A guy never had better friends, Harry, and you need your friends now.

Notice too, how their skills complement your's. You would never have gotten through many of the things you've had to do over the years without Ron and Hermione. Ron may act a bit daft at times, but when it comes to courage, the well runs deep in that boy (and in his whole family). He's also pretty good at thinking on his feet. Hermione's encyclopedic knowledge and incredible memory are also traits you're going to need. Frankly, you don't have much time to be looking things up in the Hogwarts library anymore...but with Hermione around, you won't need to. She's spent the last six years absorbing it all.

My second bit of advice: Don't judge a book by its cover. I could mean that literally, you know... you've had plenty of practice in mis-judging books. Tom Riddle's diary and the Half-Blood Prince's potions book both leap to mind. But in this case, I'm talking about people. I think you have become a fairly good judge of character over the years, but you've always tended to make snap judgments and to stick by some of your understandings or impressions of who people are -- sometimes longer than merited. You've got to let yourself look deeper than surface impressions. Remember how Neville just looked like a forgetful, scaredy-cat at the beginning? He's turned out to have the courage of a lion -- there's a reason he got put into Griffyndor! (You're going to need Neville!!!) Remember how looney and dreamy Luna seemed? Recall that she outlasted almost everyone in the battle at the DoM, and that her compassion shows acute understanding of the needs and feelings of others.

I'm heartened by your growing sense of pity (if not downright empathy) for your schoolboy nemesis, Draco Malfoy. Even Malfoy can change, Harry. Remember how he wavered and lowered his wand on the tower with Dumbledore? Don't underestimate the possibility that even some of the people you've thought of as enemies may turn out, in the end, to want to help you fight your much larger enemy. That's all I'll say about that -- for the moment.

If love is the power you have that Tom doesn't -- and I'd take Dumbledore's word to the bank on that one -- then look around and see who loves you. Lean on those folks, and don't underestimate their desire to help you in your darkest hour. You need them, not only the strength of their love, but their accumulated grit and wisdom and humor and stubbornness.