Letter writing is a literary form that isn’t given enough credit for what it’s worth. There is a plethora of readable story out there entirely composed in this format, and then there are works that interject traditional text with letters as well. One of the series for which this is most notably done is JK Rowling’s Harry Potter. From the day that Harry receives his first acceptance letter to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, to his continuous correspondence with his magical fellows by way of an owl, letter writing is a pivotal piece of the series, for which life as the Wizarding World knows it would not be the same.
In celebration of National Letter Writing day, here are the top five life-changing letters that impacted the course of the Harry Potter series.
1. Harry’s Acceptance LetterS
From the day that Harry receives his first acceptance letter, to the short few days later when the Dursley’s home is flooded with hundreds of the very same, Harry’s life is forever changed for the better. Instead of being verbally and emotionally abused, locked up in his cupboard, and remaining “Harry, just Harry” for the rest of his days, this mountain of acceptance letters that McGonagall sends Harry opens the door to not only the truth of his past and magical lineage, but lays the foundation for the choice he makes for his future. Harry steps out of the creaky old shack on the rock in the middle of nowhere and into the storm with Hagrid; into his life of wonder, magic, and wonderfully magical adventures.
2. The Stack That Dobby Hid
After Harry’s first year at Hogwarts and his legendary second battle with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, the fantastical reality of the wizarding world dims in the presence of his summer “holiday” with the Dursleys. While he’s locked in his room (or Dudley’s “second” room, for which his aunt and uncle tell him he should feel lucky) with bars on his windows, the only solace he hopes to find is in the words of his dear school friends; his only connection to his true home at Hogwarts. But no letters come.
That is until Dobby shows up and reveals a hidden and hefty stack of written mail for Harry from his Hogwarts besties. This moment isn’t just significant for how heavily Ron and Hermione’s words would influence Harry, but also because it displays more of a depth to the series; a turn toward darker shadows in books to come. Harry defeated Voldemort in book one, but book two would have him facing his memory (Tom Riddle), and the “plot to make most terrible things happen at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry” for all the following years.
3. Harry’s Correspondence with Sirius
After Harry and Hermione save Sirius and see him off on his way to freedom on the back of the (also freed) hippogriff, Buckbeak, Harry misses his fugitive godfather, and the only way to keep in touch with him is through letters. All of the letters that pass between he and his only link to loving family are important. They check in, offer assistance, and make sure they’re both safe and reminded of the support that they lend to one another. But, perhaps, the most heartwarming letter passed between them is that of the permission that Sirius grants Harry for his trip to Hogsmeade. Not only does this simple slip of paper offer a reprieve to Harry in his longing to venture into Hogsmeade with his friends (not having to rely on sneaking around under the invisibility cloak), but this piece of paper serves as physical proof that Harry has a caring living relative. He finally has a parental guardian he can be proud of and thankful for.
4. “Remember My Last”
When dementors attack Harry and his cousin, Dudley, near their home on Privet Drive, Harry is immediately questioned viciously by his aunt and uncle over Dudley’s near catatonic response. While they berate and threaten him to leave their home, a sporadic cluster of mail is delivered to Harry via owls swooping into the house, one after the other. Harry receives letters from Mafalda Hopkirk at the Improper Use of Magic Office about his use of the Patronus charm, and hurried warnings from Arthur Weasley and Sirius, urging him to not leave his aunt and uncles house no matter what. But the letter that rattles each and every person under the Dursley’s roof is the shortest of all, and from Dumbledore to Petunia.
“REMEMBER MY LAST PETUNIA.”
Once Harry’s aunt receives this cryptic message from the most powerful headmaster’s very own hand (and harrowing tone of voice), Petunia lays down the law and permits Harry to stay. If this imperative letter hadn’t dropped in when it had, Harry would have stormed off into the night and immediate danger. That would have been the end of the series, and an unfortunately depressing one at that. And, this quick message is anything but simple. This brief note reveals a previous correspondence between Dumbledore and Petunia; something intimidating enough to terrify her and alter her unchangeable character, but readers don’t learn until later in the series just what that is.
5. Lily’s Letter to Sirus
Potentially the most important letter of all, not for how it informs the story but how it impacts Harry himself, is the letter he finds from his mother, Lily, addressed to his godfather, Sirius. As Voldemort robbed Harry of his parents, and the Dursley’s robbed him of a loving childhood and any information about his parents, Harry feels a painfully-longed-for piece of himself come together in his soul when he finds this letter. He gets to witness a small snapshot of his “normal” wizarding life through his mother’s unique handwriting, as well as the comical picture of his father, James’, feet chasing after the little toy broom that baby Harry rides. While Harry sadly has the advantage of knowing what Lily does not yet know in the letter, about Wormtail and even Dumbledore’s usage of James’ invisibility cloak, Harry gets to finally hold in his hands direct evidence of his happy life with his parents before Voldemort.
Letter writing appears multiple other times throughout the magical series, but these five moments are definitely the most important in terms of story and character development, and their impact on the entirety of Harry Potter as we know it. It’s interesting to note (pun intended) that even in their magical world, the simple muggle practice of letter writing is so very pivotal.
Celebrate national Letter Writing Day in your own way! Reread this letter-filled series or write a special handwritten letter of your own for a friend or loved one. The ability to impact someone’s life is only one owl’s flight away!