A metaphor is a comparison. Magic can be perceived as a metaphor for imagination because both magic and imagination move us outside of the ordinary. In the Harry Potter books, the Muggle world—the everyday world we live in—is mundane, boring, conventional, and functions successfully by keeping people constricted. Harry's tiny room below the stairs and his lack of love and nurture are metaphors for how he is constricted. Despite all his abilities and gifts, he can't function well in the Muggle world because there is no room, physically or psychologically, for his gifts to expand and develop.

Magic, however, allows for almost infinite expansion. By definition, it lifts us beyond the ordinary. It shows us that that there is more out there than meets the eye.

As Harry becomes aware of the magical world, he begins to perceive things he never saw before, which are hiding in plain sight, such as the magical train platform 9 and 3/4ths and Diagon Alley. As he is able to see these places, he is able to enter them. This enables him to have new experiences and grow as a human being.

Magic can, therefore, be likened to using the imagination. To have a different, richer, expanded life, we first have to be able to imagine it. We have to imagine the world can be a better place, with more possibility, before we can make that happen—or even to be able to see the possibilities to expand that might be right in front of us.

Magic and imagination are both empowering because they both can expand the possibilities of what we can be and do. One of the morals of the story is that evil can be defeated if good people step up to the task. Just as magic helps Harry have the power to fight evil, so the imagination can help ordinary people to envision strategies and think in creative ways to have the power to fight evil.