Quotes Page

Chapter 23

The basin glitters enticingly. Souls swirl within the murky depths, plead with you to join them, hear them, pray for them…

You dip a hand in, and all of a sudden, your mind is engulfed in songs, prayers, chants, laughter, jokes, names—whispers that you just can’t quite catch.

Welcome, my dear, to the Pensieve.

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“Hearing voices no one else can hear isn’t a good sign, even in the wizarding world.” — RONALD WEASLEY

This quote highlights that despite the glaring differences between Wizards and Muggles, some prejudices never die—and some certainly should be feared. Hearing voices is scary, let’s all face it. It’s a common symptom of insanity. Poor Harry—I’ll wager he thought he was all fine in a world where magic exists, but unfortunately, he was not. I guess it goes to show that your environment might change, the people might change, the norms might change, but everywhere you go…there’s always fear.

“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” — ALBUS DUMBLEDORE

I can’t quite remember whether I’ve talked about this quote before, but it doesn’t matter because its meaning is so profound, and—might I say—excellent. “...if one only remembers to turn on the light,” I think it is almost glaringly obvious that he is not literally talking about a light switch (never fear if you thought it was literal, it still may be applied as such) but rather the fact that optimism and positivity can still be found even in the depths of despair. This comparison to that of a light switch—as though one can simply turn it on. Now, while it’s never really that simple, he points out the simple, wise declaration: there is always good.

“Just because it’s taken you three years to notice, Ron, doesn’t mean no one else has spotted I’m a girl!” — HERMIONE GRANGER

Oh, canon Romione. You occupy so much of my headspace. In this quote, Hermione gets upset with Ron for continually insisting that she is lying about being asked for the Yule Ball. Naturally, she would’ve gotten upset, especially with her then feelings for Ron (I will die on that hill, fight me). But this quote also points out the unfortunate reality of Hermione being best friends with two emotionally brainless boys. She didn’t have many female friends and embodied the ‘nerd’ stereotype. Ron essentially suggested that, because of this, of course, she wouldn’t be asked. Luckily, our dashing hero, Viktor Krum, swooped in to prove him wrong—and hey, who knows? Maybe that was the catalyst for Ron to finally realise how much he liked Hermione. Ah, the spirit of love…

“I think we've outgrown full-time education ... Time to test our talents in the real world, d'you reckon?” — FRED WEASLEY

Fred Weasley, my poor soul. Excuse me while I go have a cry about his supremely unfair death. Honestly, Joanne, why? Why?

I digress. I like this quote because it shows just how undervalued and restricted the Weasley twins were. Fred mentions putting their talents to use in the real world—and he wasn’t just talking about invention. Those boys clearly had some business sense because I can tell you for sure that it wasn’t magic that propelled Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes into success (or at least, it wasn’t solely because of it!). Fred and George were clearly limited at Hogwarts, and they realised that. Unfortunately, due to Molly Weasley’s traditional ideals (and to be fair, they were in the middle of a war—she was kind of justified), they were forced to stay in education before rebelling against Umbridge and flying out (literally, they flew out. On broomsticks). I also like the bit at the end where he says, ‘d’you reckon?’ to George because it shows how much he values his opinion. He could also technically be asking the Hogwarts students that had gathered, which is another sweet interpretation showing how much he cared for the students, castle, and people around him. Rest in peace, Fred

“I've always wanted to use that spell.” — MINERVA MCGONAGALL

Minerva McGonagall is one of the best professors that Hogwarts has ever had. But she also has a really tragic backstory. Her parents’ marriage was highly emotional—not in a good way. Her mother had fallen in love with a Muggle and hid the truth until Minerva began to show signs of magic, upon which she was forced to explain, severing the trust in their marriage. Furthermore, Minerva herself fell in love with a Muggle when she was younger, following her mother’s footsteps, but she could not bring herself to give up her job then at the Ministry of Magic and was forced miserably to reject the Muggle, Douglas McGregor’s, offer of marriage. She eventually married her old boss, Elphinstone Urquart, but their marriage was painfully cut short after 3 years, and Minerva retired herself to Hogwarts castle, the poor thing.

As you can see, she had an immensely difficult life. How does this relate to this quote? Well…in all her life, Minerva McGonagall was trapped. In her childhood, she grew up around parents with vastly different lifestyles and learnt from a young age that magic and Muggles simply did not mix. Once more, when she fell in love with Douglas, she was bound by the Statue of Secrecy. All her life, Minerva was rather restricted, and even in the most hopeless of times, during the Battle of Hogwarts, she continues to persevere and express her excitement for using a spell that she likely never was able to use.

We love you, Minnie!

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Even as you have sorted through the wisps of memory and laughter within the Pensieve, one more calls out to you. A lonely whisper—one that captivates your ears and draws you to listen…

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Now, you didn’t think I’d leave you without a bonus quote, did you?

Well, as it is the month of love…why not include a quote demonstrating its profound power?

“To write a good love letter, you ought to begin without knowing what you mean to say, and to finish without knowing what you have written.” — JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU

Love letters are just about the most romantic thing in my book. This quote perfectly demonstrates the very essence of a love letter: that the words should fall naturally, for as another quote says: “At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet.” (Plato), it is so very, very true. Perhaps even to those without the gift of the gab, a single kiss on paper will tell you all that needs to be said. I will sit down to write a letter, and the words shall pour out of me like I have poured a glass of water and yet the water is words of wistful, wise love. It is simply the purest expression of love, words. At least in my belief.

Would you like a love letter written to you?

In any case…I hope you enjoyed this edition of the quotes page. Until next time, mes amours!

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Written by Sara Rowan.
Edited by Sam Diggory.
Proofread by Daphne Clarke.