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“It’s a lot like quantum physics,” she says. “They expectation of the experimenter often affects the experiment.” Or, if you think something will happen, it will.

“Witches have known that for thousands of years, so we approach life with optimism and compassion,” Curott says. “That’s how we lead magical lives.”

That philosophy seems to work for Harry Potter, too. While little boys are not yet trading in their baseball bats for broomsticks, the message might be clear: Be kind to your neighborhood witch. Buck Wolf is a producer at ABCNEWS.com. The Wolf Files is a weekly feature. If you want to receive notice weekly when a new column is published, join the e-mail list.