I can't help but to completely immerse myself into this novel every time I read it. Not only because of the magical world it allows my imagination to roam in, but more so because of the parts of the story that are reality and I secretly long for. Hogwarts, flying broomsticks, spells and charms don't have meaning to me without Harry's “muggle” side. Hero aside, Harry is so much of what we are or what we wish to be.To some extent everyone experiences friendships, family, school/learning, failure and/or success. Life, if you will. For me, certain parts of the novel that address these things are what I consider to be achievable for my own life, hence why I said I secretly desire it. Harry has an unbreakable bond with Ron and Hermione and though I have awesome friends I get the feeling that Harry, Ron, and Hermione's friendship is stronger than any bond I have with my friends. Naturally I desire to have a friendship like theirs and therefore I get very involved in their friendship in the book, so much that I consider myself to be in that friendship and experience the bond that I crave, but don't have in reality.
Also, Harry is constantly striving to make his parents proud. Even though they aren't alive, he usually considers his parents before making decisions. This applies to my life as well. I am always trying to please my parents because I find a sense of self-worth in how successful they deem me to be. This allows me to further embrace the novel as I crave to please my parents the way Harry pleases his. For instance, at the end of HP and the Goblet of Fire, when Harry duels Voldemort and briefly sees his parents, they tell Harry what to do when to connection between the wands break. During that quick conversation, you can see that his parents love him and are very proud of him, and secretly (or not secretly?) I think most children desire to make their parents feel the way Harry's parents feel about him... proud!
