Snippets from Professor McGonagall's desk #2

Quirrell took out his wand and was performing complex powerful spells to put the troll into an enchanted sleep before tying him up. Unable to believe the last few moments, she irritably told Quirrell to tie the troll first and then continue. 'it was elementary, Said Snape irritably. 'I believed the defence against dark arts professor should know that' he continued with pauses 'the repurcussions of our choices, Quirinus.' Just as he finished, Albus Dumbledore entered the girls bathroom, closely accompanied by the ghost of Gryffindor tower - Nearly Headless Nick. On seeing the other teachers, he turned to Nearly Headless Nick, the shine back in his deep blue eyes, and said 'Thank You sir Nicholas. Your help has been instrumental. I would not like to keep you from all the celebrations anymore.' Nick smiled as he turned and glided away.
Dumbledore went to the the troll who had thick ropes tied all around him. Dumbledore waved his wand in random motion on the troll as if trying to shake off something sticking from it. Nothing happened. After a moment or two, he turned to Quirrell and asked with utmost astonishment 'I don't detect any magic. How did you stun the troll?' Snape let out a grunt and Quirrell stammered before beginning his sentence. Dumbledore turned to McGonagall and she said 'It was Potter, Weasley and Granger. They knocked him unconscious.' 'That is something, considering we are talking about three first years taking on a full grown mountain troll' smiled Dumbledore. 'Three arrogant and rule breaking first years, headmaster' reminded Snape. 'Yet impressive Severus. I am sure you would agree.' Snape grunted again. 'I am not sure you understand the situation here, headmaster' pleaded McGonagall. It appeared she was talking on something that alone she understood in the room. When no one said anything, she continued 'A full grown mountain troll! They pursued a full grown mountain troll. And he flies just like James, maybe better. Potter has unbelievable resemblance to James. I don't want another generation of Marauders in the castle, especially not when how they ended.' McGonagall's voice was trembling. It hinted anger and worry. Snape seized the chance and added 'Headmaster, he has inherited arrogance and rule breaking as well.' Dumbledore smiled kindly at them both 'What worries you Minerva is a boy taking after his father?' 'What worries me headmaster is our efforts for the past decade to keep the boy and our world safe. The Marauders didn't soar for long enough and these three have every making of a marauder' this time, it was just worry that reflected in her voice. 'The Marauders remain, Minerva. As you and I discuss of them, they are very much present. Now Severus, help Professor Quirrell show the door and if possible the borders of England to the troll.' Snape grunted again before he left with Quirrell, both were making the now tied troll floating behind them. Dumbledore turned to Professor McGonagall and then both of them started walking away from the girls bathroom. Enjoying the festive mood, Dumbledore was humming to himself. In the front of the stone gargoyle, Dumbledore stopped to say farewell to Professor McGonagall but she turned away, a little angry and irritated, muttering to herself 'I already had the Weasley twins and now another likely generation of Marauders. To top it all, they keep looking for chances to hurt themselves. I wonder why people think bad of the Slytherin house, try coming to Gryffindor. And I also deserve a raise with so much to manage.' Dumbledore heard no more as Professor McGonagall had turned the corner at the end of the corridor. He resumed his humming after saying 'Pumpkin Pasties' to the gargoyle.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Well.. first things first - Ignore the tags! Whatever they may say, this is NOT a book review. I will

never be big enough to write a review for any Harry Potter book. The entire series is a huge part of my life and indeed, it is something so huge that I can conveniently interchange 'life' and 'Harry Potter world'.

There is a friend in London and all I have spoken to him in weeks is about the play in the Palace Theatre and how I just need to see it. There was a puja (ritual) that we hold at our place every year; my dad wanted to have it today and I made him shift to the next week. I could barely sleep the last night - with so much excitement for the new book. Indeed, at a point, my mother actually shouted on me for being over obsessed with the book and forgetting everything for it. I just said her one thing - A life is well lived when we have a lot of dreams and we fulfill them. Otherwise, we are just breathing. To me, Harry Potter was that dream.

Despite all the above, I had a wonderful day!

This was the first book that I have obsessed over and got the first book from the bookstore. I was a fan even when the seventh book released but I was in school then. I had my dad buy it but I only read it when I came home from school. Hence, I loved today even more.

If I have to define my day in a checklist -

• Bug your friend in London with Harry Potter trivia - ✅Check

• Insanely wait for the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - ✅Check

• Cancel everything in the world for a week when the book was releasing - ✅Check

• Not sleeping waiting for the book to release - ✅Check

• Waiting outside the bookstore even before the books or the owner arrives - ✅Check

• Get the bookstore people to start quickly for me to buy the book - ✅Check

• Fuss with the bookstore people over not handling the Harry Potter books with enough consideration - ✅Check

• Buy the first book the bookstore sold - ✅Check

• Read the entire book - ✅Check

• Reread important scenes with Snape - ✅Check

• Fall in love with the magic all over again - ✅Check

Current status - waiting for Harry Potter Go App and to somehow disapparate to London to see the play

Coming to the story... I got a call in the evening from another Potterhead. He asked me one single sentence - As a reader, how did you like the book? (ofcourse, I loved it as a bigtime Potterhead :P) That is also the perspective I am going to put here.

SPOILER ALERT : I have tried to not include any spoiler but sorry if there is anything :S

The book looks really big but it is not. This is the only disappointment I have felt. The book is actually longer than any book and it looks pretty thick.. However, it is just 330 pages of text. Also, since the entire thing is a screenplay script, therefore, all dialogues! Thus, the actual story is even small. The story starts a little slow and with the scene where we left it - at the Kings Cross when Albus begins his first year at Hogwarts. Before you know it, Albus is going to start his fourth year. However, it is then, the things begin happening. And it is also when, you can not even think of putting the book down... not even for a second.

Being a screenplay, the book is divided into 2 parts and each part has 2 acts... 4 acts in total. Each act has couple of scenes. Initially, it is a little difficult to read a Harry Potter story like this but once you are in it... you are in it till the end!!

This is NOT a spin off!! The story has MOST OF THE HARRY POTTER SERIES CHARACTERS. The book begins with Albus being unsure - what if he lands in Slytherin? Actually, he just feels that he is not at all like Harry - the boy who lived and now Albus is stuck with being Harry's kid. Someone, both the father and son, dont reach out to each other. Albus feels that Harry always is the Chosen One. And then, Albus takes it to himself to correct what he thinks his father does wrong.

During the journey, we see some back-stories - Draco, James-Lily, Ron-Hermione, and more. We see Professor McGonacall, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape - Do NOT get your hopes up. Yes, he is alive when he appears. No, he is STILL actually dead. I can't reveal more. The scene with Severus is really beautiful, though. Snape's reaction and all he does is amazing. However, let me tell you, dont get attached. We got some deaths that are equal in magnitude if not less, to the Prince's Tale.

The antagonist is weak. I mean, the suspense was already building and then the antagonist was revealed pretty early. Also, the antagonist did not stand up to the suspense built around it (wont reveal gender). The strong points were - we have lots of things from book 1, book 3, book 4 and book 5. Also, I love Scorpius. Albus and Scorpius are ultimate examples of - it is our choices that show us who we truly are, not our abilities ;)

I have not stopped beaming since I read the book. Indeed, I read Severus's part twice. My friend, also asked me that should this be made to a movie - this was something I was thinking about while reading. There is floo network, walking the wall at Kings Cross, apparation, transformation... I am not sure how all of this would fit in a Broadway... So, my first answer was YES! Most Certainly! And then... I realized.. We dont have Alan with us anymore and no way I am having anyone else play Snape. So, no, this can not be made into a movie.

If you check facebook or other social networking sites, there are so many people all over the planet reading this book and going crazy with joy. I have always been amazed at how some ink and paper has stirred the heart of millions and united them all. There have been pre-launch events and fans coming all together to celebrate a book. Jo, Happy Birthday.. and look, how words are so powerful to change everything!! Thank You for the eighth book. I strongly recommend all to read it.

If you still have not bought it... then buy it HERE. 

Happy Birthday Jo!

Happy Birthday Harry.

This one is truly for you Alan... We have lost Snape thrice now.

I never thought that this would be the first post that I would make in this year. I never wish that I would have to write this at all.

There were always posts on facebook and other social networking sites that "One Day, a News Item should come that Jo passed away and my children wouldnt understand why I take out some old books named 'Harry Potter' and read them while crying." I am not ready for that. I am not ready for this either.

I come home from office.. and somewhere I was not feeling very nice today. But it was a good day at work. I had no idea why I had a bad feeling. I slept on my way back and just like that, it was all gone. I felt normal again.
When I reached home, I saw my phone and there were messages that "Snape passed away". I couldnt even make any sense of it. Snape was dead already, almost two decades earlier. Then why are people posting such messages. I couldn't even think, not for even a moment, that it was about Alan.
I just came home and like always, I switched on the television and connected my hard drive. I wanted to see a movie and decided to watch Death Hallows.

When I finally realized what had happened... all I could think of was the post... that when Alan
should be 80, he should read Harry Potter books.

Alan came to me as a person who believed in the goodness in Severus from the start (having been told by Jo himself)... this is something I shared with him. Other than that, he gave face to my passwords... Today when I tried logging in, for a moment I thought I wouldnt be able to, since Snape isnt there anymore. 

The final memory of Alan I treasure is realizing that he is 69. I never knew he was this old. Snape doesnt look that old. And as a joke, I realized that its just 10 years for Alan to read the Harry Potter series again.

Damn You destiny! I still cry everytime I see 'The Prince's Tale' chapter in the movies. How do you expect me to live this in real life ?

But you know something.. I know there is no bringing back from the dead but there certainly is not letting you go. I took out all my Harry Potter books and I am holding them and that is when I realize... you don't need to kill anyone to create a horcrux. Each and Every one associated with Harry Potter, even us - the fans, will never truly leave until even a single copy of these books exist.

You are not going anywhere Snape or Alan. It is a personal loss for your family... Other than that.. you are here... and even though I cry as I type this, I just cant help but this what a global impact would this have caused.

Today there would be millions other than myself who would be in the great sense of despair. Many with me, would wear black, to honor the man who wore the same robes. Many would be posting this and googling the same.

Snape.. (Jo)... look what you have done!! This is the magic of love and ink!!