Everything I Need to Know I Learned from Harry Potter

10. Never put your wand in your back pocket. This isn't just elementary wand safety (although good wizards have lost buttocks this way). A wand represents a wizard's power, and you should never put your power in your back pocket: don't sell yourself short, and don't take your strengths for granted.

9. Life is like a bag of Bertie Botts' Every Flavor Beans. You never know what you're gonna get. Sometimes it's chocolate; sometimes it's pepper. Sometimes it's earwax (ick).

8. People can be a bit stupid about their pets. And Hagrid ought to know. This is a man who thinks dragons are cuddly and Blast-Ended Skrewts are "interesting." Even when you suspect your friend's cat may have eaten your pet rat, remember: we're all a little blind about what we love most.

7. How do you spell relief? C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E. Whether you've been battling dementors or you're just having a bad hair day, chocolate works like magic to cure what ails you.

6. When in doubt, go to the library. Bookworms don't get a lot of credit for being practical, but think about how many times Hermione has saved the day through some bit of knowledge she learned from a book. Knowledge is power, so when in doubt, READ.

5. Courtesy matters. "I don't mean to be rude, but . . ." As Dumbledore says, "Sadly, accidental rudeness occurs alarmingly often." But whether you're dealing with obnoxious Muggles or saving the world from an evil wizard, you have the power on your side if you can keep your cool and remember your manners.

4. Anything is possible if you have enough nerve. Ginny's the one who says this, but she learned it from Fred and George, who know that there's more than one way to pick a lock or exit a room. Courage can set your imagination free!

3. Expecto Patronum! (That's Wizard for "think positive.") The only way to beat a dementor is to focus on a happy memory. Hold on to your positive thoughts; they could save your life.

2. If you want to win, you've got to make some sacrifices. It's true in chess, and it's true in life. Ron let himself be taken by the white queen so that Harry could win the chess match and save the Sorcerer's Stone; Harry's parents sacrificed themselves so that their son could live. If we have courage and think positive thoughts, we can reach our goals, but we'll still have to give something up to get what we want.

And the most important thing Harry Potter can teach us:

1. The most powerful magic is Love. It's stronger than wisdom, stronger than fear, stronger than death.