They say all good things must come to an end, I wish this wasn’t the case. I, like so many others, have grown up with Harry Potter. Every year there has been something new added to the JK Rowling saga, be it a book or a new film, there was always something to be excited about. I read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone when it was first published in 1997, that would have made me six years old. Granted, I was too young to read it really and remember being confused in places, despite this I carried on reading her books. Even at six I was hooked and I read the next book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. It wasn’t until the film was released that I was made aware of how ‘Hermione’ was actually pronounced, in my head I referred to her as ‘Her-me-oh-nay.’ As I grew older, I started to appreciate how wonderful and well-written the stories were and as with any beloved tale, I started to fall in love with the characters I knew so well.
The films were cast so fantastically even then and the characters were exactly how I had imagined them which thrilled my ten year old mind. Throughout the years there was always the excitement of a new book or a new film being released. The new books always seemed to arrive in summer and despite being on holiday, my mother and I always managed to find a copy in quaint English bookshops in France or Spain. So with the release of the final film yesterday, I’ve been feeling nostalgic. I re-watched all the films within the week before I went, therefore allowing myself to touch base with where the story left off. The Deathly Hallows part two did not disappoint eagerly awaiting fans, this was confirmed by the huge round of applause that went up at the credits. I spent around 10 per cent of the film laughing and the other ninety sobbing. Seeing the iconic Hogwarts castle in such a bad state, left me in a similar way.
These massive feelings of emotion will not be felt by others older or younger, they will not understand how significant it is that Neville Longbottom is presented with the sword of Gryffindor or the importance of Professor Snape’s patronas charm being a doe. For me, the ending of the Harry Potter series marks not just the ending of a good series of films and books, it’s saying gooodbye to friends that have been there my whole life.
This year alone I’ve gone a little potty for Potter as I visited The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios, Orlando. I have myself, drank Butterbeer, played Quidditch and helped Harry defeat the evil Lord Voldemort. Due to this visit, for my twentieth birthday and in the spirit of staying childish, I had a Potter party allowing myself and my guests to dress up as characters.
Alas, the fun and games really are over and with it my final part of childhood has come to a close. With aspirations of becoming an author, JK Rowling truely is an inspiration, she has touched so many lives with only her imaginative stories and for this, gratitude must be paid. So I thank her for Hogwarts, for Dumbledore’s kind nature, Ron’s sarcastic manner, Hermione’s gentle yet pushy tone, Harry’s courageousness and most importantly the adorable Neville Longbottom. I will forever remain a fan and will read a book or switch on a film the next time I need a little escape from reality.
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