Harry Potter Lessons Learned, Year 2, Chapter 5: The Whomping Willow

Welcome back to the chapter-by-chapter reading of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. In this chapter, the inhabitants of The Burrow have a very chaotic trip to Hogwarts, we see kids being kids, and pieces are set on the board for the end of the book. We just don't know it yet if we're coming to this book for the first time or need a refresher.

What we forget

I feel as though all first days of school should be forgiven for being a bit of a mess. Inevitably, someone shows up without their pencils or lunch. I didn't know until getting to my first day of high school that I needed to know my Social Security number. There's always something overlooked in the furor of getting things started.

In the Weasleys' case, it's almost a checklist. George forgets his fireworks, Fred forgets his broom. Ginny shrieks when she realizes that she's been parted from her diary and don't forget to pay attention to that. But Harry and Ron in their panic at being shut out of Platform 9 3/4, forget that they're kids. Not in the sense that they're young and foolish, but that they don't have to take responsibility at all times. They can ask for help. My favorite moment of the chapter is when Harry answers McGonagall's comment about this with "I-I didn't think" and Minerva, being the wonderful educator that she is, still says, "That...is obvious."

There's a definite sense of all-or-nothing thinking in this chapter and it's evident in how Ron and Harry see being stymied as evidence that they're cut off from help. It's again obvious when the professors are disappointed in them and Ron believes they'll be expelled. The good thing is that Harry, having learned his lesson, comes to a middle ground agreement with Professor McGonagall about his punishment.

Lesson Learned; Look for the middle ground

All-or-nothing thinking is included in what psychologists refer to as "cognitive distortions." These are unrealistic ways of thinking, but there are ways of combating this problematic train of thought. Mr. Rogers a beloved television personality and minister, said to "Always look for the helpers" and this is a helpful way to find safety in a time of fear. Tanks to Professor McGonagall, we should remember to think, because it's the obvious thing to do. Take a moment to reevaluate when things seem beyond hope or help.