Harry Potter 2001 - 2011

"It seems only yesterday when your mother and father are here buying their first wands" - Ollivander

I can say almost the same. It seems only yesterday when I first flipped the pages of my new book Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.I remember discovering Harry Potter in a newspaper back in 3rd Year high school. I immediately asked my mother to buy me one of the three books and she bought me Book 3 unknowingly that they have to be read in chronological order. Nevertheless, I was astonished and amazed on how detailed the books was. It was then and there that my childhood beliefs on magic, wandlore and ferocious beasts was reignited.It was also the same year when Philosppher's Stone was released. Since we don't have any cinemas in Kalibo during that time, i resorted in buying pirated vcds in the market just to see how the movie went (I have no idea about the story). Shameful as it is, I enjoyed the whole movie, occasionally affected on Snape's character especially during the Quidditch match. I could remember myself cheering as Harry caught his first Snitch with his mouth. I watched it over and over again. It was then I realized, I was a child again.

When my father discovered this new joy in the series, he immediately bought me Books 1,2 and 4 since they are the only books released during that year. I was so surprised at myself having to read a number of books with a hefty amount of pages with limited pictures. Harry Potter made me love reading even more. When Books 5,6 and 7 were released, I was always first in line outside the malls waiting for it to open so that I can grab myself a copy and read it at once. I can still remember the joyous weekends spent inside my bedroom reading and transported in the world of Hogwarts. My literary journey with Harry ended in 2007.

The sad part on watching Deathly Hallows Part 2 is that this is the last Potter movie to be made. It would be hard for Potter fans to adjust. The 1 year and a half wait is now vanished and there is nothing to look forward on that amount of time.

This is hard for others to understand as to why we Potter Fans are so obsessed with the franchise. It is because, one way or another it has touched our lives... our hearts. That during the time that we flip the pages of the books or just simply watching it in the cinemas, we care for the characters like they are family. When Sirius died, it seemed to us that we lost an uncle. When Dumbledore died, its like we lost a father who took care of us during the 6 long years at Hogwarts. That when Professor McGonagall was attacked by ministry of Magic on Book 5 during OWLS, we feel like our mother or sister has been betrayed. This is the strength of the series: it made us care and be part of the whole Journey. During the final battle on Deathly Hallows Part 2, I am already holding back the tears. The horror of Hogwarts being desolated by Voldemort is just horrific beyond understanding. It is like my school is being attacked and that feeling of empathy is important.

It is in this moment I say that the series has ended. It may come back but the joys of the books and the movies that has given me for the past ten years is far more than enough to say THANK YOU J.K. ROWLING. The ten year journey is done and it all ends here.