42/100. “A scar can come in handy. I have one myself on my left knee which is a perfect map of the London underground.” ~ Albus Dumbledore, The Philosopher’s Stone.

The Harry Potter series is many things for me. Magic, friendship, coming of age, courage and of course, the wonder of love. But, above all else, in the last few years, I have found in them, a survival guide.

No, the books haven’t taught me to ‘accio’ to myself that missing library book. The books talk of the fact that real evil exists. That it is. There is no reason – it just is. From sociopathic abuse survival and support sites to mental health professionals, from survivors to onlookers, Voldemort is used to explain the concept of pure evil – people without conscience.

The books also say that evil exists to be fought. The books, in celebrating the magic of love, talk about the hardest thing that love has to do. How, just the ability to love, to feel, may seem to be our greatest weakness but is actually, our greatest weapon.

The coincidence of a significant day from my past, me being in the middle of reading The Half-blood Prince for the nth time, and just ten days left for Harry’s (and J.K Rowling’s) birthday led me to wear this saree. This was a gift from a person whom I had loved beyond reason, but for whom love was just a knife to be wielded at will. This saree – a black Kanchipuram cotton from Nalli in Bangalore – was one of the very few gifts I had received from in over 25 years of knowing each other. Precious it was, but it did not manage to do what it was meant to – erase the memory of a scar gifted two days earlier.

Instead, this black and sandalwood coloured saree did not block out the black and blue of the bruise or the memory. Instead, it continues to speak to me of learning from my scars and yes, using them if need be.

And thanks to the pact, this is another beautiful saree reclaimed. I wore this with what I think of as some of my amulets – an infinity jade pendant for peace and good luck my parents had got me from China, silver and jade earrings I had bought from Chinatown in Houston and a jade bangle from a dear friend along with the usual suspects – my silver bangles. And of course, my well thumbed copy of the Half-Blood Prince. ?