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Arish N
Arish N

Posted on • Originally published at arishn.hashnode.dev

How a Random Instagram Video Inspired My Harry Potter Website (And Changed My Confidence as a Developer)

Sometimes, great projects don’t start with planning.

They start with curiosity.

And this is exactly how my Harry Potter website was born about three years ago.

🌙 The Random Scroll That Started Everything

Around three years ago, I was casually scrolling Instagram — nothing unusual, just another normal day. Then suddenly, I came across a short video.

It was only about 10 seconds long.

The video showed a Harry Potter-themed interface with:

  • A Hogwarts castle background
  • A magical wand used as a cursor
  • Cinematic visual effects

But here’s the interesting part…

The creator didn’t build it as a website. It was created using a video graphics tool.

Still, something clicked in my mind.

I immediately thought:

“What if I try building something like this using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript?”

Not copying the design — just taking inspiration.

So I messaged the creator and asked if I could build a website inspired by the concept.

He said yes.

And that small permission started one of my most memorable projects.

🧠 The 3-Day Thinking Phase

Before writing a single line of code, I spent almost three days just thinking.

  • How should the experience feel?
  • What effects would make it magical?
  • How can I make it interactive instead of just visual?

I didn’t have a roadmap. I didn’t have advanced resources. I just had curiosity.

Building the Magic Step by Step

I started small.

✨ The Wand Cursor

First, I searched online for wand PNG images. After finding a few good ones, I researched how to replace the default cursor using JavaScript.

It took some trial and error… but when the wand finally started following the cursor, it felt magical — literally and emotionally.

🌧 Adding Rain Effect Using Canvas

After setting the background and cursor, I felt something was missing. The environment didn’t feel immersive enough.

So I thought:

“What if Hogwarts had a rainy night atmosphere?”

I started experimenting with JavaScript canvas animations and eventually created a full rain effect.

That was one of my favorite moments during development because it made the site feel alive.

🌌 Creating a Night Mood

Even after the rain effect, the design still felt incomplete.

So I explored ways to create a night atmosphere using JavaScript-based visual effects. Adjusting lighting and background tones gave the site a darker, mysterious Hogwarts vibe.

🔦 Torch Light Effect on the Wand

Then came one of my proudest features.

I added a glowing light effect to the wand cursor so it looked like the wand was emitting light while moving.

It gave users the feeling that they were controlling the wand themselves.

That single feature dramatically improved the user experience.

🃏 3D Character Cards

Next, I designed character sections where images transformed into 3D-style cards when hovered.

This added interactivity and made the site feel more dynamic instead of static.

🏰 Objects & Multi-Cursor Experience

As the project grew, I added more pages showcasing magical objects.

One unique detail I loved adding was:

👉 Every page had a different wand cursor

It gave each section its own personality and theme.

🎬 Uploading It to YouTube

Once everything was completed, I uploaded a showcase video on my YouTube channel, Click to Gain.

At that time, I didn’t expect anything major. I simply treated YouTube as my project portfolio.

Then something unexpected happened…

💬 The Messages That Changed Everything

After a few months, I started receiving messages like:

  • “Where can I download the source code?”
  • “Can I get this template?”
  • “Is this available for purchase?”

That was the moment I realized something important.

People didn’t just like the design.

They wanted to build using it.

💰 When Inspiration Turned Into Confidence

I eventually released the source code… and it became one of my most successful templates.

That project:

✔ Boosted my confidence

✔ Proved that creative ideas can sell

✔ Helped me understand user experience deeply

✔ Encouraged me to build more templates

Most importantly, it taught me this lesson:

Creativity + Curiosity often creates opportunities.

🌟 Lessons I Learned From This Project

💡 Inspiration Can Come From Anywhere

Sometimes one random post can spark a powerful idea.

💡 Start Before You Feel Ready

I didn’t know how to implement most features when I started. I learned while building.

💡 Small Improvements Create Big Results

The project didn’t grow instantly. It evolved feature by feature.

💡 Interactive UI Creates Emotional Connection

People don’t just use websites. They experience them.

🚀 Final Thought

If you have an idea in your mind — even if it feels small or unrealistic — try building it.

You never know…

That one experiment might become the project that changes your confidence, your career, or even your life.

Sometimes the universe really does its magic when you take the first step.

Want to Explore or Use This Template?

If you’re interested in exploring or using the Harry Potter website source code, you can download it using the link below:

👉 Download Source Code

If you enjoy creative website projects and tutorials, you can also check out my YouTube channel where I regularly share development showcases and learning content.

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