2020: There is so much ground covered in this novel, and many firsts for the young wizards: the first time they interact with peers of theirs from other countries, the first time they experience death firsthand, and the first inklings that the world as they know it is about to change, for the worse. The trio truly grows up in this book, marked by a transition in style of writing from Rowling (fewer explanations of past events, in contrast to the MANY still included in the third book, and the zero included in the fifth - seventh books).

Although Rowling often misses the mark (including in her most recent disappointing statements tweeted about trans women), I could not help but feel that she was instrumental in training us to call her out. There are so many poignant examples in this novel: Hermione calling out the injustices regarding the treatment of house elves ("That’s what made this dinner. Slave labor."), Sirius' wisdom in guiding the trio in how to judge Crouch ("If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals."), the prejudice that haunts both Madame Maxime and Hagrid ("But honestly, all this hysteria about giants. They can’t all be horrible. . . . It’s the same sort of prejudice that people have toward werewolves. . . . It’s just bigotry, isn’t it?"), and of course Dumbledore's most famous line at the end of year speech ("Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy").

Always be critical of your idols. No one is immune from criticism; everyone should be constantly unlearning and relearning. As Moody says, CONSTANT VIGILANCE.