We are half way through Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the fifth book. So far, I’ve read every one of them out loud to my children. Sometimes we snuggle up on the bed. Sometimes I read during their dinner, if HT’s getting home later and I plan on eating separately with him. These are thick books and it is taxing sometimes, but I love it. I do. I especially love when we grab something from our reading and keep it with us.
In the first Harry Potter book, Hagrid the giant is forced to give up the baby dragon he’s been raising. It is dangerous and out of control, and it just has to go:
Hagrid sobbed, as Harry and Hermione covered the crate with the invisibility cloak and stepped underneath it themselves. “Mommy will never forget you!”
It’s funny because Hagrid is a big ogre, but he’s taken on the role of mommy to the dragon, and he’s nothing but a softy. Oh how the kids laughed at that line.
This has become my standard farewell. Whether I am going away for a day, a weekend, or just to get groceries or to yoga for an hour, I fake sob in a low Hargrid voice to the kids,
“Mommy will never forget you!”
They fake sob back, hugging me with all they’ve got.
It is a ritual which will hopefully be passed down for many generations. If Seth has kids I’m suspecting they’ll especially love it. It will be even funnier coming from a daddy.
Dear Michelle,
I so enjoyed this posting. I’m a great fan of J. K. Rowling and of Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Hagrid. And also of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. So many wonderful characters and actors and so many lines to quote!
I’m loving thinking of you saying this to Seth and Riley and then of Seth saying it to his children!
Peace.
Love it. Love that they instantly get it – family humour is the best!
Love it!
Too fun! I love those books that I have read aloud with the girls and the moments we have shared.