Okay Harry Potter fans, close your eyes and think back to the first time you were introduced to some of the most memorable and legendary characters in literary history - Harry, Ron and Hermione. Remember the days and nights that escaped you because you were too captivated by a world that was bustling with magic, hope, bravery and friendship. Reminisce about the times you were physically alone, but mentally surrounded by a cohort of characters that you had come to recognize as friends.

Think back to what you fell in love with - Harry’s bravery, Ron’s dependability and Hermione’s brilliant and inquisitive mind.

This past December, Noma Dumezweni was cast as Hermione Granger in the new play, "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child." It took a matter of seconds for the public to go into an uproar over the fact that an African American woman was selected to play Hermione, a character that society has come to recognize as being white.

Yes, Hermione is white in the movies, but we must realize that this play is not a part of the movies. "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" is an extension of the story that stole our hearts. It's its own entity, separate from the previously made films. So why can’t Hermione be black? Is anything significant about her character modified, with the exception of her external appearance?

Don’t get me wrong, I love Emma Watson, but she is just a figure for the true character of Hermione, the character that was brought to life through the pages of J.K. Rowling’s phenomenal series.

I believe that it is unfair and almost inaccurate to label yourself a fan if you have an issue with Dumezweni’s casting as Hermione. A real fan revels in the accuracy of a character’s content in adaptations and continuations as compared to the pages where they were first introduced to their favorite characters. A real fan does not get distracted by the fact that a character is being portrayed with a different skin tone.

J.K. Rowling has stated on her own Twitter that, “white skin was never specified,” and that she “loves the new Hermione.”

Maybe Emma Watson wasn’t the girl you originally pictured before the movies were cast, but the world was accepting and welcoming to her as she began her journey as Hermione. We should be just as willing to accept and embrace Dumezweni with open arms.

Never forget why we spent years waiting around for our letters of acceptance to Hogwarts. It wasn’t just an ordinary school for wizards. It was a place where every student and individual was not only welcomed, but valued. As fans, we must uphold the values that these books instilled in us. The "Harry Potter" series has left us with far more than characters that will stay with us always. It has taught us to strive toward the qualities that made Harry, Ron, Hermione and every other character stand out in the most extraordinary ways. The qualities that made them exceptional. The qualities we wish to one day see in or continue to see in ourselves.

Harry Potter community, I am reaching out and asking you to look in your hearts for the lessons that Rowling has spent years conveying to us. Look beyond Dumezweni’s skin color because it is just a color. Underneath that she is a talented and gifted actress who is eager to devote herself to becoming the character that you are attached to. Let us all remember why we love Hermione and why we love "Harry Potter." Let us remember to never judge a book by its cover.