I think what is probably hard for people to imagine is how wrapped up the 17 years' work on Harry Potter is with what was going on in my life at the time. I was mourning the loss of this world that I had written for so long and loved so much. I was also mourning the retreat it had been from - from ordinary life, which it has been. And it forced me to look back at 17 years of my life and remember things.

The stories we love best do live in us forever.

Without cunning, there is no innovation. Without ambition, there is no accomplishment.

Such loyalty is admirable, of course,” said Scrimgeour, who seemed to be restraining his irritation with difficulty, “but Dumbledore is gone, Harry. He’s gone.” “He will only be gone from the school when none here are loyal to him,” said Harry, smiling in spite of himself.

I thought it sounded a bit like Percy singing... maybe you've got to attack him while he's in the shower, Harry.

According to Madam Pomfrey, thoughts could leave deeper scars than almost anything else.

I will defend the importance of bedtime stories to my last gasp.