Harry Potter & Me

I've seen sentimental posts about Harry Potter all over the internet so of course I feel the need to chime in. My favorite blog in their Harry Potter recap talked about how they wanted a great big therapy session in the room of requirement. (Read that article HERE) So I'm using my blog for my personal Harry-therapy.

I feel like Harry Potter has been one of those defining things in my life. In my small town high school it was the first time where I'd ever felt judged. And why? Because I read a book. It was the first time anyone attempted censorship on me and the first time I've battled ignorance. I actually had someone ask me, "I thought you were a Christian?" As you can imagine I was very offended. Very. I've taken that experience with me everywhere I've gone.

But despite all the negativity, I loved Harry Potter. It introduced me to fantasy as a genre. I've been reading and writing YA ever since. The first 4 books were out when I met Harry, but I went to release parties for books 5-7. I stayed up all night reading. I spent time on message boards theorizing. If you look hard you may even find Harry Potter fanfiction that I wrote.

People always talk about books as "The next Harry Potter." There will never be another Harry Potter. Nothing can compare to the experience, the phenomenon, the fandom or the friends I've made. Harry Potter is a incredible book but it was more than that. It was an incredible experience. It was magical. It still is magical. I hope the magic of Harry Potter never fades, even if you missed the initial experience.

This is the first scarf I knitted (modeled this evening). I'm a Hufflepuff through and through. Don't ever insult my house. Hufflepuff is everything I want to be. I learned to knit partially to make Harry Potter scarves. I've made quite a few over the years.

This is my Ginny Weasley Halloween costume. It's also my go-to costume whenever I'm in a pinch. Another scarf knitted by me and the robe made by me. This was taken at the small Christian college where I went. As you can tell I never started caring what others might say where Harry was concerned. I knew Harry. They did not. (Not everyone there was anti-HP, but there will always be factions)

This is just silliness on my hall (with my friend Kelly taking pictures). And yes I made a diary and whittled a wand. This is dedication my friends.

For the 6th book I went to a release party when my family was on vacation in Myrtle Beach. This required some work beforehand. My little brother went with me and ended up deciding he wanted the book too. He had his first Starbucks that night and it's one of my favorite memories of him. I stayed up all night in the hotel reading the book.

This is the Deathly Hallows release party. Those are my two best friends in the world. We left the summer camp where I worked, drove to Huntington, West Virginia, and waited in line to buy the books. That's me as Ginny Weasley, Lauren as Tonks, Maggie as Luna. Maggie, love her soul, had not even read one of the books yet. Now she's a fan like the rest of us. After the party we went to her house for a reading marathon. She made sure we were fed. Trust me we needed it after Deathly Hallows.