Letter A
Dear Harry，
You are so lucky you can ride a broom. It sounds so fun! If I were you I'd ride a lot. How does it feel to be able to use magic? Do you think it is a privilege?
The tournament you were in sounds exciting. I liked the first task of the tournament the most.
Also, Harry, we have raccoons1 in our house. Will you do me a favor and cast a spell to get rid of them?
I've never heard of anybody before with a pet owl. It must be cool! Hogwarts seems like a really neat school! (Too bad I can't go to it.) What is your favorite subject at Hogwarts? I think mine might be the Defense of the Dark Arts. It seems your life is full of adventure.
Sincenely, Karen
Age 10
Washington, D.C.
Interview with Karen
“I like Harry Potter because I like fantasy2 and magical things, and because it's interesting and has lots of action,” So says one of the many children around the world who eagerly lined up at 11:00 P.M. (way past their bedtime) to get the fourth Harry Potter book as soon as it was available3.
Like many of her peers, Karen finds so many of Harry's qualities admirable. Karen says, “Harry is a nice person, and he's curious4, creative, and smart. For example, he helps his friends.” But what Karen likes most about Harry is his magical skills. Karen's a bit envious5, too, admitting that she would like to “fly on a broomstick6 because I've always wanted to fly in the air, not just on an airplane, I've wanted to fly where I could steer.”
Whom do you think will Harry Potter marry? “I'm not sure, but maybe Hermione because they've been friends for a while,” Karen says.
Hogwarts is an adventure, an incredible7, wonderful place that mixes the magic with the mundane8. I asked Karen, “What's better about Hogwarts than your school?” She replied, “You get to learn how to do magic.” What's better than that? But Hogwarts has one not-so-great thing: Professor Snape. Karen told me, “I might be afraid of Snape a little bit because he's not very nice. He's kind of mean to people he doesn't like. I'd try to stay away from him.”
Is there anything in the Harry Potter books that's scary9? “They're not too scary,” according to Karen. In fact, “sometimes I don't want to stop reading because the endings of some of the chapters kind of make you want to keep going.”
Letter B
Dear Harry,
Hi! I'm Kevin from the Philippines10. So you must be really wondering why all these tons of letters came. We kids have been given a chance to write to you. I really feel lucky I have been given this chance. [Had I been a year older, then I would not have had the chance.] I just turned 15 this twentieth of December.
Though our worlds are far apart11 (you in Britain and me in Asia), I think we have a connection. You see, we have lots in common. You are a wizard12 special, great, something to be amazed at. Well, I'm also a wizard, but I don't do magic. I'm a wizard in school, and I'm good in my academics13. But I'm not a nerd14. I also get into mischief15, and my teachers often get exasperated16. Aside from that, I also have many friends. There are seven actually who are the closest to me. Like Ron and Hermione, they often get me into and out of trouble. Though we are tried and tested, we still stick close together.
Oh, I almost forgot: you and I practically have the same school. No, I don't go to a wizarding school but Philippine Science High School is almost like Hogwarts. In a way it is. It's a special school for gifted students (and I'm one of them!). We have advanced classes and technology lessons. But when much is given, much is expected. It's definitely exhausting17! I often stay up late just to finish homework. And besides, we also don't have all our parents around all the time. You're an orphan18 already, right? I still have my both parents alive, but my father works abroad, and he comes home once a year. I really miss him terribly, especially during Christmas, and he misses me, too. But I know you miss your parents even more. Not even magic can bring them back.
Though you live in a world very foreign to me, I feel like I know you. Maybe I see myself in you. Not in magic, but I can relate to the way a growing kid manages to live through life's surprises. I still believe in magic, though. When I was a kid, I used to believe in fairies. Now that I'm older, I believe in you. It's really hard to believe things are real if you don't see them. As they say, “seeing is believing.” But with you, I don't have to see spells and charms. It's you that makes magic a reality.
May you have a Merry Christmas.
Sincerely, Kevin
Age 15
Davado City, Phillipines
Interview with Kevin
The thing I like most about Harry Potter is that ... he's a wizard. Aside from that, he has other qualities that I like: For one thing, he has a mind of his own. He's still young but he knows how to take responsibility for his own decisions. He also stands up for what he believes is right. He's brave enough even though he's fighting against the grain19. Another thing is that he can be very smart, and he can think with a clear head even during dangerous situations. That really makes him tough to beat. But the thing I really like most about Harry Potter is that... he's not perfect. I like his imperfections20 in a way that it can help me relate to his character. I mean, sure he's a wizard and everything but he's also a kid like any of us—someone who has problems, emotions of happiness and sadness, feelings of love and hate. And I think that makes him very magical.
Do you have any advice for J.K. Rowling about future books? Shouldn't friendship with Hermione turn romantic?
I don't think Harry and Hermione are meant for each other. I think it's cuter if Hermione and Ron end up together. In The Goblet of Fire, Ron was kinda jealous of21 Krumm, and Hermione was hurt when Ron didn't ask her to the ball. So I really think they have feelings for each other, and it would be best to develop the relationships from their petty arguments. As for Harry, maybe he and Ginny would work out. Maybe.
第一封信
亲爱的哈利：
你竟能骑上扫帚，好幸运哟！肯定好玩吧？要是换了我，我就骑个够！能使用魔法，你感觉如何？你觉得这是一种特权吗？
你参加的魔法比赛一定刺激极了。我最喜欢的是你的第一节比赛。
哎，哈利，我家里有几件浣熊大衣。能不能帮个忙，用咒语让它们彻底消失？
猫头鹰也能当宠物，以前从没听说过。一定很酷吧？霍格华兹学校绝对是正点的魔法学校！（好可惜我上不了！）你在学校里最喜欢哪门课？我最喜欢你们上的黑魔法防御课！你的生活一定充满冒险吧！
卡伦
10岁
华盛顿特区
卡伦采访录
“我喜欢哈利·波特，因为我喜欢幻想、喜欢魔法。因为这一切很有趣，特好玩。”许多像卡伦这样的孩子排队排到夜里11点（11点：早过了他们的休息时间），只为了迫不及待地买到刚刚上市的《哈利·波特》系列第4本。
与许多同龄孩子一样，卡伦也从哈利·波特身上发现了许多值得钦佩的品质。她说：“哈利是个好孩子，他很好奇、有创造力、很聪明！比如，他乐于帮朋友们。”不过，卡伦最喜欢的，还是哈利·波特的魔法。卡伦甚至有几分妒忌呢！她说，她也想“骑着扫帚飞，因为我一直想在天上飞，不光是坐在飞机上。我一直希望想飞哪儿就飞到哪儿。”
问她：哈利·波特同谁结婚好呢？卡伦说：“我不知道，要不就娶赫敏吧？因为他们做了好久的朋友呢！”
霍格华兹魔法学校是一处不可思议的冒险天堂，它把神奇的魔法与平庸世界合二为一。我问卡伦：“霍格华兹魔法学校跟你们学校比，好在哪儿？”她回答：“他们可以学魔法。”还有比这更好的吗？霍格华兹魔法学校有一点不那么爽：斯内普教授。卡伦告诉我：“我说不定会怕他，因为他不是好人。对他不喜欢的人，他有点恶毒。我会尽量躲得远远的。”
《哈利·波特》里有什么令人毛骨悚然的情节吗？“不是那么吓人，”卡伦说道。事实上，“有时候我就想一口气读完，因为有些章节逼得你不读到结尾就是不舒服！”
第二封信
亲爱的哈利：
你好！我来自菲律宾，叫凯文。你一定会奇怪：从哪儿冒出这么一大堆信？告诉你：我们这些孩子得到一个机会给你写信，我得到了这个机会，好幸运哟！[要是我大一岁，就没这么好运气了]今年12月20日，我刚满15岁！
虽然我们远隔千山万水（你在英国，我在亚洲），但我相信我们的心连在一起。瞧，我们有许多共同之处：你是一位与众不同的魔法师，真了不起，简直令人崇拜。我呢，也是奇才，可我不会魔法。在学校里我是奇才，功课学得特棒。但我不是什么书呆子。我也弄些恶作剧，经常把教师气得半疯。另外，我朋友特多。说实话，跟我最铁的哥们有7个。像罗恩和赫敏一样，有麻烦时，他们老是拉我一把，要不就把我拉下水！我们经受了考验，关系更铁了。
噢，我差点忘了：我和你上的学校几乎一样！我上的并不是魔法学校。可是，菲律宾理科中学与霍格华兹魔法学校太像了！真是这样——这是专门为尖子生（我是其中之一）开的学校。我们上的课难度很大，还有技术课。可是，别人为你付出的越多，对你的期望值就越高。学校可真不轻松！为了做作业，我经常熬到深夜！此外，我们的父母也都不在身边。你是个孤儿吧？我的父母都健在，但我老爸在国外工作，一年就回家一次。我想死他了，尤其是圣诞节。他也想我。我知道你比我更想念父母。就是魔法也没法让他们死而复生呀。
虽然你生活的世界对我来说很陌生，可我觉得我了解你。或许我在你身上看到了我自己。我说的不是魔法，我指的是成长中的孩子历经生活中种种奇遇而长大这一点。但我还是相信世上有魔法。小时候，我真的相信世上有精灵呢！现在长大了，我相信你！有些事要是不亲眼见一见，很难相信。人们常说：“眼见为实。”但对于你来说，我不必亲眼看到魔法和咒语。是你把它们变成了现实！
圣诞快乐！
凯文
15岁
菲律宾达瓦达市
采访凯文
我最喜欢哈利·波特……因为他是魔法师。另外，他还有别的地方我很喜欢：比如，他很有主见。虽然他还小，但他知道要对自己的决定负责。凡他认为是对的，他就坚持到底。即使要为之战斗，他也会勇敢面对！另外，他还很聪明：即使碰到危险，他也能冷静思考。这一切使他处于不败之地。但我最喜欢哈利·波特的就是……他不完美！正是这种不完美，从某种程度上，可以让我靠拢他。我是说，虽然他是魔法师等等等等，可他还是跟我们一样——有自己的难题，有自己的喜怒哀乐，有自己的爱与恨。我觉得正是这一点让他法力无边。
对于J.K.罗琳以后要写的书，你有什么建议吗？你想把哈利·波特和赫敏的关系变得罗曼蒂克吗？
我觉得哈利·波特和赫敏并不合适。要是赫敏和罗恩能成，那才有意思呢！在《哈利·波特与火焰杯》中罗恩有点嫉妒克鲁姆，而赫敏觉得受伤了，因为罗恩没有请她跳舞。所以我觉得他俩能来电。如果从拌嘴发展下去，那最好不过了。至于哈利，他和金妮有戏。说不定呢！
1. raccoon n. 浣熊，此指浣熊毛皮
2. fantasy n. 幻想
3. available adj. 可用到或可得到的，此指新书上市
4. curious adj. 好奇的
5. envious adj. 忌妒的
6. broomstick n. 帚柄
7. incredible adj. 难以置信的
8. mundane adj. 平凡的
9. scary adj. 恐怖的
10. the Philippines n. 菲律宾共和国
11. far apart 离得很远
12. wizard n. 奇才，能手
13. academic n. 学科
14. nerd n. 书呆子
15. get into mischief 搞恶作剧
16. exasperate v. 激怒
17. exhausting adj. 令人疲惫不堪的
18. orphan n. 孤儿
19. against the grain 格格不入，违反意愿
20. imperfection n. 不完美
21. be jealous of sb. 妒忌某人