The Audio Long Read From the archive: ‘Iran was our Hogwarts’: my childhood between Tehran and Essex
Mar 11, 2026
A childhood split between summers in Tehran and school life in Essex, described as magical but fragile. Reading Harry Potter in Iran, secret routines and bazaar bargains feature heavily. Family dynamics and a warm, tactile masculinity come alive. The narrative traces privilege, sudden ruptures when returning to Britain, and a persistent sense of being caught between two worlds.
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Harry Potter Became Our Tehran Ritual
- Ariane Shahvisi discovered Harry Potter on a family trip to Iran and read it aloud to her sisters on her grandparents' floor cushions.
- The book became a shared ritual during six-week summers in Tehran, offering fellowship and escape from their English school life.
Migration As A Hidden Wizarding World
- Shahvisi likens her bicultural childhood to living between the wizarding world and muggle world, where secrecy and code-switching protected status and identity.
- The metaphor highlights how migrants conceal parts of themselves to avoid suspicion and to preserve belonging in each place.
Airport Rituals And Bazaar Haggling
- Before each flight the family bought small airport treats and saved pounds to spend in Tehran bazaars, where Iranian numerals and haggling stretched their money.
- The airport was a liminal space of excitement with unopened gifts and whispered plans for the journey.
