Let me get one thing straight. I am a huge fan of Harry Potter, the books and the movies both – but I am not so much of a fanatic to memorize the smallest details of the mania. I can’t spell the names of every professor at Hogwarts or remember the exact memorable quotes, so I’m not a purist, I guess.

I do, however, wear a Gryffindor scarf with me to class and work nearly every day – again, I’m not crazy enough to wear a scarf during the summer.

But enough about me.

Harry Potter has come a long way since his first days in the muggle (non-magic) world before J. K. Rowling introduced him (and the rest of us) to the world of witches and wizards much like our own.

What began as a story written by a down-on-her-luck author about a boy thousands of children worldwide could relate to, has now grown into an expanded experience of just that.

The Harry Potter “mania,” as it has been termed in growing to such fame comparable to Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, is not a trendy bandwagon children (and adults) are associating with for the coolness of it.

At the same time, we Potter fans aren’t secretly trying to learn witchcraft and undermine traditional institutions. That’s not the point at all – there are really a lot of valuable messages the books provide children with at an early and impressionable age.

I’m more for the books than the movies. That being said, Harry Potter’s adventures in the ongoing (and almost concluded) series are sending children a message that isn’t all about loyalty to friends, bravery, a sense of morals and the like.

The mania itself is a love for being not-cool – for being yourself. Harry Potter isn’t a popular guy looking for attention and fame. He’s an everyday guy, with everyday weaknesses and problems, growing up in a brave new world filled with complications.

As we follow Harry in his maturing in a world he’s not totally familiar with, Harry find that he can find acceptance and strength among his friends merely by being himself.

This is a lesson many children don’t learn on their own until after the mixing pool of emotions known as high school – and frankly, it’s a lesson that helps all of us in the world of growing responsibilities.

Sure, the movies don’t always get that point across. Sometimes all it does come down to is special effects, major plot turns and keeping the audience interested. But the real magic (see the irony?) behind the silver screen is the love of Harry Potter for who he is.

*It can be said that in loving Harry Potter (who’s being himself) we’re trying to mimic someone else. It might be cool to have magic and the hero of a group of friends. but as the movies and books show – conflict and problems are not a walk in the park.

*Real life problems are not absent in the lessons of the books, and it’s not easy being Harry Potter. His family’s all but dead, and lots of people want to kill him for being, well, Harry Potter.

*All he has, really, are his friends. And what better lesson than to know that we don’t have to go it alone?

Harry doesn’t care about what age or how rich his friends are – just whether or not friends stick with him through thick and thin – that’s a theme found in many fellowship-like books and movies. What makes it so popular, then?

It’s about a teenage kid persevering, as opposed to Rambo or some adult. And because the world and fantasy is appealing to both the young and mature, the audience range is broad as well.

So keep in mind – Harry Potter fans don’t care how ridiculous we look when we dress up in robes and witch hats, and when we carry wands and brooms and wear scarves and pins.

We’re not worried about our appearances or what other people our age think about us. Harry Potter fans are fans by nature when we care only about being ourselves and sticking it out with our friends.