Natalie Feng

In Hogwarts, there is this lovely and reliable Professor Flitwick, but Flitwick becoming Flitwick is not solely because of his intelligence. Firstly, he is a talented wizard, and according to Hermione’s revelation in HP2, he was even a dueling champion in his youth. Secondly, he is an excellent teacher, always kind and patient with his students. Flitwick never undermines the confidence of slower learners like McGonagall does, which is why Neville’s charm O.W.L.s achieved good results. Most importantly, he is a formidable individual. Initially, Flitwick was only described as short, but after seeing the portrayal in the film adaptation of HP1, which resembled a fairy, Rowling immediately amended it by stating that Flitwick’s short stature was due to his fairy ancestry. This carries significant meaning because the concept of “half-breeds” had already been introduced in the novel. In the wizarding world, whether it’s werewolves or half-giants, all half-breeds are considered inferior. Therefore, it is natural that the Flitwick family’s situation would not be too favorable, and they might have had to fight for the right to wield a wand over several generations. Consequently, his school life would not have been very pleasant.

Hogwarts has never been an inclusive community. It not only discriminates against Muggles and half-humans but also consistently marginalizes students with unique personalities, tolerating bullying and isolation. The existence of a few arrogant rich kids alone cannot create such an atmosphere. The key role in this process is actually played by many “ordinary people” who are extremely indifferent and mockingly stand by. Even as a teacher, Flitwick continued to face ridicule and laughter. One can imagine the difficulties he had to overcome during his student days. However, he never gave up on himself, constantly striving to better himself, and eventually becoming the most caring teacher at Hogwarts. To understand the character of Flitwick, one cannot focus solely on “intelligence.” Only by considering the combination of “fairy ancestry,” “dwarf stature,” “dueling champion,” and “teaching backbone,” can one grasp what he experienced, conquered, and let go of. Such a rich life experience undoubtedly benefited him greatly in the pursuit of wisdom. After all, even with academic aspirations, without courage, perseverance, and ambition, one cannot achieve any significant results.

In contrast to “expressing one’s own emotions,” the ability to “understand the emotions of others” is also a skill. Lily comes from a happy middle-class family (as Penny provided at least two pieces of evidence: her disdain for Diagon Alley and the comment in HP1, “But my parents couldn’t see it. All they ever saw was Lily this, and Lily that, and that’s what you’re like until you’re 16, and then you get to…”

After arriving at Hogwarts, she remained a popular figure with outstanding achievements, enjoying the favor and admiration from all sides. This means she never had firsthand experience with negative emotions. She truly is a kind and tolerant good child, and she genuinely sympathizes with Snape. However, her sympathy is superficial and shallow, resembling a news commentator. Hell may be around her, but she neither sees the scorching lava nor hears the sighs of despair, nor can she touch the humble souls because her life is too limited, and she only sees the blue sky. Lily can only perceive the surface, lacking the ability to delve into the roots. Therefore, in her eyes, James’ bullying in school is simply a flaw caused by youth, not a deficiency in his character.

James, although lacking Draco’s strong subjective malice, greatly embraces direct attacks to the point where he would engage in fights for no reason at all. This is because he feels invincible through physical violence, which is more appealing to him than using cunning tactics. However, the purpose of the fights is not the violence itself, but rather the display of power and the applause of onlookers that motivate him to continue fighting. It is precisely because everyone likes him and enjoys the spectacle that he can quickly escalate a small brawl into a large-scale spectacle. Unlike Dudley, who relies on intimidation through brute force, James’ brilliance and terrifying aspect lie in his popularity. He is not only intelligent, handsome, and wealthy himself but also has a large group of friends. They specifically target minorities who are disliked by others, attracting a large following. When people see Crabbe and Goyle bullying others, they know that it is foolish and despicable behavior. However, when they see Sirius and James bullying others, they perceive it as cool and impressive.

Lily’s views do not possess any advancement compared to the surrounding environment. That’s why the author adds the statement, “Lily is liked not only by James and Snape,” to indicate that she belongs to the “popular” camp, just like Zhang Qiu and Ginny. What is the difference between being popular and unpopular? While we might enjoy idols in artistic works who exhibit laziness and despair, in reality, the key lies in positive and negative energy. Luna’s problem goes far beyond “bluntly revealing unpleasant truths”; she herself is an unpleasant truth – eccentricity. The same goes for others – Neville is “foolish,” Snape is “dirty.”

While popular people bring so-called “positive energy,” they also make people avoid reality. You certainly have the right to dislike eccentricity, foolishness, and dirtiness, and you have the right to keep your distance from them. But when you raise your wand against them and cheer on the side, you also become an unpleasant truth – narrow-minded, selfish, indifferent, and cowardly. Those who have only experienced the lightness are shallow and empty while those who have only experienced darkness are selfish and self-serving. Only by experiencing both can one possess the possibility of wisdom.

Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore, and Lord Voldemort are all masters of Legilimency and Occlumency. The common characteristic among these three individuals is their extensive and unfathomable experiences, which in other words, reflect their insightfulness. These peculiar children have gone through hell, endured suffering, lived intensely, struggled fiercely, and carried life experiences multiple times greater than ordinary people. Therefore, they can easily see through the world—true wisdom often appears as foolishness, and what is displayed is nothing more than superficial cleverness. Lily doesn’t understand Snape’s pain, but Luna, Lupin, and Neville surely do; and there is one person who understands it on a personal level, and that is Harry. Snape at least has a shabby little house where he can swat flies, while Harry practically grew up in a cupboard and has been Dudley’s punching bag since birth.

“Great responsibilities await this person, and it will surely test their will, strain their muscles, and exhaust their body and soul.” But in the process of enduring hardships, some people lose themselves, while others become insane. Only a few individuals grow stronger. Snape said to Harry, “You are a highly sensitive boy, always complaining about how bitter and unfair your life is. Although you may not realize it, life is indeed unfair.” However, he himself is the one who truly cannot escape his childhood shadows. Just like the abandoned boys who found new homes at Hogwarts, Voldemort nearly destroyed this damn world, and Snape almost did the same. Only Harry always thinks, “I love my family and friends.” It is self-evident who is strong and who is weak. Just like the dialogue in the following passage from “The Little Miss Sunshine”:

“Do you know Marcel Proust? A complete failure, never had a proper job, unrequited love, and a homosexual. He spent 20 years writing a novel, but nobody ever read it—yet he may be the greatest writer since Shakespeare.” Anyway, at the very end of his life, he managed to look back, take account of his pain, and realize that the pain was the only thing that was real, the only thing that he had ever known. And it’s like they say, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” Only, in his case, it didn’t kill him. It made him wise.