Story and photo by Sophia-Joelle McDowell

More than two decades ago she-who-will-not-be-named created a magical universe we all enjoyed. Hogwarts was a safe place for those who felt even a little bit different, although the fictional parents who sent their kids off to school to face life-changing villains and quests might disagree. 

The young people who read these books grew up visualizing themselves in that magical universe, sipping on butterbeer while casting spells. Everyone loved different things about the world, magical or otherwise. As someone who wasn’t allowed to have a cat growing up, I enjoyed the idea of being able to finally purchase my own feline friend and bring it along with me to school.