Harry Potter.
Two words that, honestly, have been such a large part of my life.
I have such fond memories of Harry Potter.
-Listening to my mom read it to me in 5th grade when she was my teacher, and the on-going argument as to whether Hagrid was pronounce Haaa-grid or Hay-grid (Eat that, Allison Tait!), and always just KNOWING that my mom pronounced it right. Which she did.
-Going to the Lehi Library and looking at the newspaper clipping that showed Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, and being so in awe of them. And then thinking it was SO COOL that we were all the same age.
-Watching the first movie and being so jealous of Hermione.
-Watching the second movie on VHS with my dad and having nightmares about a certain basilisk.
-Being one of 24 others in Mrs. Dubois' 6th grade class reading 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.' And then acting certain parts out. Man I loved that class.
-Being so mad at my Dad for reading Book 4 first. Who does that?!
-Feeling pure hatred for Delores Umbridge. Literally typing this, just makes me so mad. My parents and I listened to this audiobook on our way to California and I had clenched fists many-a-time...
-Watching 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' with Allison and my parents in the tiny Brigham City theater the night before my dad went to the hospital (not planned).
-Being so heartbroken when all of the 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' books were all sold out, only to get a copy from my own Harry Potter Fairy on the doorstep :)
-Picking Brad up from his mission and seeing EVERYONE reading Book 6 in the airport.
-Trying to read the last book while my sister Allison, my mom, and my dad were all trying to read it at the same time. I have distinct memories of my mom hiding the book so no one but she could find it.
- Listening to 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' on the car drive up to Canada. Best idea ever. I remember getting so excited to drive anywhere so we could listen to more parts of the book.
I could honestly go on and on....these books have been a part of my life. I am one of the people who goes to every opening night (even in Mexico) and dresses up. When people ask me "If you could be in ANY movie, which one would you be in?" I always reply, "Besides Harry Potter, right?" These books are just so...(excuse the word)...magical. Every time I read them I just get caught up into the adventure of it all. The fight against good and evil. These books just have so much heart to them. I always get so angry at people who don't read them just because 'everyone else is.' They are missing out on so much.
Tears have been shed over these books and movies, and more will be shed when the realization hits that I won't have anymore books to look forward to, or midnight movies to attend. I will always cherish the memories in my life that are Harry Potter related. Because there are many. I know this is cheesy, but it is all true. I truly love these books, and I am so sad to see them come to an end.
Thank you to Ron - for always being the one who kept me laughing in the books, and now for making me wish I was your super-cool non-Squib girlfriend.
Thank you to Hermione - for being my role model, and for letting me dress like you for more than one Halloween costume party.
Thank you to Dumbledore - for being so quotable. If I were one of those people who had boards in their houses with sayings on them, mine would have your words on them.
Thank you to Harry - for always trying to do what was right for your friends and for the good of mankind, Wizard and Muggle alike.
And lastly, thank you to JK Rowling - for making this all possible.
You have truly made my life magical.
