The brothers DeGeorge show their simpatico for Harry Potter in a fun and interesting way.

The Boston siblings started a punk band, Harry and the Potters, that’s completely devoted to the orphic wunderkind. Paul and Joe DeGeorge started reading Potter in the summer of 2000. In 2002, when Joe was hosting a rock show in his backyard and the scheduled entertainment cancelled, he and Paul churned out seven songs based on J.K. Rowling’s creation and played them for about six people. They’ve been combining their love for literature and rebellious rock ever since.

“I like that it’s inspired so many kids in a wonderful and positive way,” Paul says of the Potter series. “They’re great books and great stories. But at this point, I’m far more impressed by the fandom and the wonderful people I’ve met through it, and the passion they have — not just for these books and literature, but for life in general.”

Besides the subject matter, and the fact they look like Potter bent on a personal insurrection, Harry and the Potters often perform in unlikely venues like libraries and bookstores. The band also offers free merchandise to fans who submit book reports based on the reading list they have posted on their Web site (www.eskimolabs.com/hp) and are members of the HP Alliance, which uses the book series’ themes of love and loyalty to combat real-world injustice.

“One thing all these fans of the books share is after reading them and loving them, people feel like they want to give back in a way,” Paul says. “Part of that is sharing these books with other people. Not just these books. All books. I think a lot of people feel strongly about that. That’s why we continue to play in places like libraries and raise money for literacy-related charities. We do feel like books can change people’s lives and perspectives. They’re wonderful conduits for that.”

While Harry and the Potters may seem like mere shtick to some, Paul believes it’s a continuation of punk’s ideology.

“We’re just rock ’n’ roll fans in general,” he says. “We came from that rock ’n’ roll theme more so than a Harry Potter theme initially. We were just some kids in bands ... The whole idea of rock ’n’ roll is breaking the rules. That’s what we do.”

It’s garnered them a variety of fans.

“At our shows, a lot of the people who come obviously know what to expect,” Paul says. “They come with an open mind and ready to have fun. So we don’t have to deal with any of that hipster pretense — of people who come to shows just to turn their noses up at the band. We also get parents who bring their kids because here’s a band they can enjoy that isn’t playing totally stupid songs for kids.”