You see, after years of being popular, I finally got around to reading the Harry Potter series from start to finish. In middle school I remember reading "Sorcerer's Stone" and "Chamber of Secrets" for an English class. I later read "Prisoner of Azkaban" but never any of the others.
As the movies came out, I found myself thoroughly enjoying them. I was 13 when the first movie was released and I found myself enjoying the movies, however I was not crazy about them.
Well, the years went on and 2007 rolled around.
I was working the midnight release of the seventh and final book ("Deathly Hallows") and thoroughly enjoyed the event. It was absolute craziness in our small store, but such an amazing night--definitely one of the highlights of all the years I have worked at the Bookstore. After the customers left, I went outside to wait for my dad (who happened to be closing the store). In my waiting, I chose to start reading the seventh book.
Keep in mind, I had only just seen movie five and not read book six.
Yes, I was quite confused upon reading the first page and a half and quickly realized my error. The following week I was reading book six and it was a whirlwind of an experience, a lot of which I still had no idea about (seeing as it had been so long since I had read any of the others, and I never did read book five).
However, despite having finished book six, I didn't get around to reading book seven.
The years continued on, and movie Seven Part One was released.
I didn't go see it. Life was busy and I wasn't exactly super crazy about the movies like everyone else seemed to be. Yes, I enjoyed them, they just weren't my favorite.
The movie was released in November.
I went to see it in February.
Boy, was I ever glad I waited!! The movie had me enthralled, and the cliff-hanger just about killed me. I was so grateful I only had to wait 5 months to see the next movie while others had to wait 8!
When midnight release tickets went on sale for Part Two, I rushed out and purchased mine. There were reasons I wanted to be among the first to see the ending. One: the cliff-hanger nearly killed me!! But more importantly, two: I viewed going to the premiere as being a chance of a lifetime. Here, I had grown up with Harry Potter and being able to see the conclusion--how it all ended--without having read the book, sounded amazing. You see, I'm a very visual person, and I chose to go see the movie prior to reading the book so the midnight premiere would be a surprise. Truly, as I sat to wait in line at 5:30 pm that evening, I couldn't even begin to imagine what was in store.
I was also going into it rather partial.
Not having been a "huge" fan, it would be interesting to see how it all ended--to see if it would live up to the high expectations so many around me had built up in my mind, and blow me away with some kind of twist, pulling everything together in the end.
I was not disappointed.
After seeing the final movie, I was blown away at the skill and pure genious that is J.K. Rowling. She was able to create this amazing world and this absolutely incredible story... and still was able to tie everything together in the end. The humongous twist in the plot I had not anticipated. Had I suspected some things? Yes. Did they play out the way I had imagined? Not in the slightest! I had ideas, but in no way was I prepared for what I was watching as I sat in the darkness of that theater at 1:30 in the morning.
As the lights went on, people were crying...
The end of an era had arrived.
The books had ended in 2007...
The movies had reached their end in 2011...
Knowing it was over, people were gripped with happiness, as well as a sadness that filled their heart at the realization that it was over.
I did not fully understand this...
Not until tonight.
Not until after I had read all seven books cover to cover, and watched all eight movies again.
Tonight I feel those same stirrings that the audience had on the night of the premiere. Overall, I feel a sense of peace, a sense of completeness after having finished the series. At the same time, there is also a yearning, a desire for more; similar in ways to when a loved one passes: You have enjoyed the good times you had with them, but now that they're gone, you continue yearning for more.
But the great thing about books and movies: They can always been read or watched again, and again, and again.
In the words of Sirius Black, "The ones that love us never truly leave us."
The same goes for books and movies, in my opinion.
So, to commemorate this special day, I have decided to browse YouTube and find a tribute video for Harry Potter. This first video is one that gave me chills, especially at 3:15. It's not perfect, and it has flaws, but it makes the video unique in its own way and I feel it conveys the "epic-ness" that is Harry Potter.
This next video, I simply found hilarious and perfectly goes through the story that is Harry Potter. It's very unique and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
And this video is the same audio from the video above, but timed beautifully to the actual movie footage. So great!
And last but not least, is my own video in which I made last year. It was one of the last videos I ever edited--having given up the hobby shortly thereafter...
So, although the Harry Potter series has become a huge part of my life a littler later than for most, I am still extremely grateful to have been a part of this era. I will have the opportunity to tell my children that I grew up with Harry Potter and that the actors who played in the movies are only one year younger than I am (then again, that does attest to my age, doesn't it?)
Even though this is the end of an era for me... It will continue to live on in the pages, in the movies, and in--especially--in my heart. In the words of J.K. Rowling herself:
"The stories we love best do live in us forever, so whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."
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