"Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure." -Luna Lovegood
"If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals." -Sirius Black
"When a wizard goes over to the dark side there's nothin', and no one matters to 'em anymore." -Rubeus Hagrid
"The thing about growing up with Fred and George," said Ginny thoughtfully, "is that you sort of start thinking anything's possible if you've got enough nerve." -Ginny Weasley
"Sometimes you remind me a lot of James. He called it my 'furry little problem' in company. Many people were under the impression that I owned a badly behaved rabbit." -Remus Lupin
These quotes are just a select few of many which spawned my love for Harry Potter. When I was five years old, my mother decided to read me the first chapter of Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone one night before bed. I distinctly remember listening intently to J.K. Rowling's first description of Albus Dumbledore...
"Nothing like this man had ever been seen on Privet Drive. He was tall, thin, and very old, judging by the silver of his hair and beard, which were both long enough to tuck into his belt. He was wearing long robes, a purple cloak that swept the ground and high-heeled, buckled boots. His blue eyes were light, bright, and sparkling behind half-moon spectacles and his nose was very long and crooked, as though it had been broken at least twice. This man's name was Albus Dumbledore." (Rowling, Philosopher's Stone, 8)
That passage has been super-glued within my psyche since I first heard it 11 years ago in my bedroom.
But why, indeed, is Harry Potter so important to me? Why has it formed a place in my heart that nothing else could ever compete with?
Magic.
Joanne Rowling opened up a world of magnificence and adventure beyond my wildest dreams within the first few pages of her debut novel. Even at only five years old, I wanted to know more about this strange, bearded old man who called himself Dumbledore. I wanted to know how a simple Tabby cat could transform herself into a strict and powerful witch with a soft side. Who was this lightning-bolt-scarred 11 year-old named Harry James Potter? Why was he so famous?
When would I get my Hogwarts letter?
Which house would I be sorted into?
Would I be in Slytherin?
Or Gryffindor?
Or maybe Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff?
As I sit here writing, wiping away my tears, I look down into my lap and see my tattered copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. The dust jacket is torn at the top, removing completely the previously gold lettering of Harry's name, the cover itself is stained with small blotches of tea. The pages have begun to slowly yellow. A few small teeth marks from where my dog had gotten a hold of it rest on the edges of a few pages. And, honestly... I don't think there is a book in my personal collection that has ever been loved so dearly. As bunged up as my book may be, it has been through almost 13 years of chaos.
Being carried around school first by my older brother, and then by myself as I grew older, surviving a move from New Jersey to Pennsylvania, just barely making it through an encounter with a steaming mug of tea... the lot of which, simply shows how much this book has been loved.
I sat for ages beside my bedroom window when I was little, wishing my hardest that an owl would swoop onto my windowsill with a letter from Hogwarts clutched in it's talons.
(I know now that my owl has simply lost their way, and my letter will arrive soon enough...)
I don't think I can even remember a time in my life when there wasn't Harry Potter. Every year, from back as long as I can remember, there was always, without fail, something Potter-related being released, whether it be a book, film, videogame... something.
Every new school year meant more Potter. I would wait anxiously for the next movie or book to be released, always hoping to see The Weasley Twins doing something greater and more ridiculous than ever, or listen to Remus Lupin and Sirius Black exchange stories with Harry about their days at Hogwarts.
That is why the simple thought of the series ending makes me teary-eyed. Having grown up with so much magic and wonder in my life, having it all end while the fandom is at its peak makes me incredibly sad. (If you read my last post, my friend Nieriel and I discussed this in detail). We cannot and will not let the populace forget about Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, or Hermione Granger. The world will not forget Hogwarts. The world will not forget Dumbledore. We will never forget the wizards that sacrificed their lives in the Battle of Hogwarts. We will never forget the infamous Malfoy sneer, nor Neville Longbottom's courage and bravery.
To every single person who has stuck with Harry until the very end, raise your wands and rejoice. Never let the magic leave you. Ever.
To Harry James Potter, Ronald Bilius Weasley, and Hermione Jean Granger.
We will never let you go.
"Keep calm and hold hands. The magic will never end."
That is why the simple thought of the series ending makes me teary-eyed. Having grown up with so much magic and wonder in my life, having it all end while the fandom is at its peak makes me incredibly sad. (If you read my last post, my friend Nieriel and I discussed this in detail). We cannot and will not let the populace forget about Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, or Hermione Granger. The world will not forget Hogwarts. The world will not forget Dumbledore. We will never forget the wizards that sacrificed their lives in the Battle of Hogwarts. We will never forget the infamous Malfoy sneer, nor Neville Longbottom's courage and bravery.
To every single person who has stuck with Harry until the very end, raise your wands and rejoice. Never let the magic leave you. Ever.
To Harry James Potter, Ronald Bilius Weasley, and Hermione Jean Granger.
We will never let you go.
"Keep calm and hold hands. The magic will never end."
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