Hogwarts in a New Normal

“Happiness can be found in even the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.” This famous Harry Potter quote is fitting given what the two years have been like. During some of the most challenging times, everyone has tried their hand at ‘turning on the light’.

Reading has emerged as one of many such enlightening pursuits. And among other beloved classics many have turned to the magical world of Harry Potter. In fact, the sale of Harry Potter books increased by 7% and Bloomsbury Publishing—the UK publishers of the Potter series –actually saw its shares rise to a 15-year high. The last Harry Potter book was released in 2007 but clearly the magic has stayed on.?

Recently, a Harry Potter store opened here in New York City. I sometimes pass the store on my way back from work and am tempted to go in, but the queues, that go around the block, have me thinking twice.?Given the events of the recent past and the multitude of new fans, I expect a lot of fans want to visit the store to experience the magic of Harry Potter. ?

And as I look at all the fans lining up outside, all masked-up and ready, I can’t help but wonder how life in Hogwarts would have changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even now, the pandemic continues to affect our lives.

While the Wizarding and Muggle world co-exist without much interference, I am sure a pandemic like the one we are living through would have also spread to the wizarding world. This got me thinking.

Firstly, Hogwarts would have shut down in March 2020, and classes would have continued virtually.?There was a delightful video on a virtual Defence Against the Dark Arts class that went viral last year. I don't think the wizarding community would use the Muggle Vaccines. Instead, I am sure that the Healers at St Mungo's would have created their own. Given that wizards already have the Pepper Up potion to cure common colds, I am sure they would concoct something on those lines for COVID19. But until then they would have taken an ample number of precautions...

1. Students would use the Floo Network instead of the Hogwarts Express to avoid exposure.?
2. The Hogwarts Supply List would include face masks and shields as part of the uniform, along with school robes and the pointed hat.
3. Students might even use the Bubble-Head Charm to cover the lower part of their faces if they misplaced their masks and need a quick alternative.?
4. In Potions lessons, the students would learn to use different ingredients to create hand sanitisers and disinfectant sprays.?They would also learn to create simple solutions to treat the different symptoms of COVID19.
5. In Transfigurations, students would have learnt spells to create masks from things.
6. Defence Against the Dark Arts would have included protective spells to be used when someone seated close by sneezes without covering their nose and mouth or also to help identify when someone is COVID positive.
7. In History of Magic, they would study about previous pandemics, how they were eradicated, and think about what can be done about this one.
8. Students of Muggle Studies would closely watch how our world handled the pandemic. ?

So, what I am saying is that even Hogwarts would have had to change in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. How has it changed things for you? What have you done to adapt to these changes? Write in and tell me!