In the past, I’ve definitely strayed more along the path of Harry’s “Wangoballwime” approach to asking people on dates than Fred Weasley’s devil-may-care confidence. Fred finds asking girls out a piece of cake, not because he seemingly has any special skills in that area, but just because he backs himself.
I can read that last sentence back and nod sagely while doing it, but I still don’t really have any idea how to actually go about it.
But I decide to mimic Fred and try. That evening, when my boyfriend arrives home, I wait in the hall and blurt out, “WangetIndianfoodwime?”
Dammit.
I try again, channeling Fred Weasley when I do. “It’s our two-year anniversary. Let’s go get Indian,” I say, in a calm and hopefully alluring manner.
The pakoras are delicious. Two-year anniversary? Nailed it!
STUFF I DIDN’T TRY
- The relationship between Lord Voldemort and his ego.
- Dementors. Wrong kind of kissing. If you are getting kissed like the other person is trying to suck out your soul, run — don’t walk, people.
- Anything Romilda Vane attempted. Bad idea, kids. Don’t do it.
OVERALL CONCLUSIONS
Taking some other perspectives and approaches to dating was actually a much more valuable experience than furiously googling for answers at 2 in the morning, which is my usual modus operandi.
While Harry Potter characters are mostly a bit of a hot mess when it comes to relationships, it’s reassuring to know that there are other people who are just as bad at it as you are. It somehow makes them all more relatable; in lots of YA books, the characters are smooth and suave all the time, and it just makes you feel crappy about yourself.
If Harry Potter can save the world but struggle to ask out a girl, who knows what I can do?
I asked my boyfriend for his feedback, and he said he liked the Chinese politics day and also the cake. So did I, buddy. So did I.
