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Harry and Me (NovemberDecember 2009)
by Abby M., age 15, North Carolina
I was in second grade when I first encountered Harry Potter.
Two of my best friends had read the novels, and they would spend hours talking about them. Not wanting to feel left out, I bothered my mother until she agreed to buy the first book and read it to me. Just one chapter in, I was hooked, captivated by the story of the Boy Who Lived and by the mysterious world he would one day return to. My mom and I read further through Harry's journey every night, past trolls and first Quidditch games to McGonagall's giant chess set and cool logic in the face of fire. Of course we immediately bought the second book, and then the third.
Harry was still a bedtime story, still read to me by my mother. After all, I was only seven. Harry, though, was eleven, twelve, thirteen--how old he seemed to me, and how brave. Living away from home! Riding a train alone! Fighting through piles of homework! And on top of these incredible, middle-school-age conquests, fighting the darkest wizard ever to live and coming away alive, time after time! I looked up to Harry and his friends as the older siblings I'd never had. I confess that, though pretty certain magic wasn't real, I fantasized about joining them at Hogwarts once I got old enough. Maybe, I reasoned, magic, like the bravery to do something all alone, was bestowed at the age of eleven.
Then I entered the third grade and Harry his fourth year at Hogwarts. He fourteen, I eight, we traveled together sans parents through the Triwizard Tournament--sans parents on either of our parts, for I picked up the novel on a long, boring plane ride across the country and read it alone. I finished the book at home and, with the return of Voldemort in mind, proceeded to check under my bed and behind the shower curtain for Death Eaters every day for the next four years.
The fifth Harry Potter book came out the summer after third grade. During the wait for the sixth book, I reached my eleventh birthday with (although I wouldn't have admitted it at the time) a lingering hope of getting a letter from Hogwarts. Although I knew that magic wasn't real, there was a chance, right? I had the scene worked out in my mind: I'd wake up on the morning of May 31 and hear a tapping at my window. I would open the shade to see an owl on the window frame, and when I broke into a grin and opened the window it would hold out its leg to me. I would reach out and untie a very special letter addressed to me in green ink.
Obviously, this didn't happen. I was crushed. Although I didn't really believe in magic anymore, I told myself that perhaps at the American version of Hogwarts, students started at age twelve, thirteen, fourteen.
A few months after my eleventh birthday, the sixth book in the series was published. I had been hoping to attend a midnight release party, but couldn't because of a 6 AM flight my family had to catch the next morning. Thanks to our begging, however, my parents bought copies in an airport bookstore for my younger sister and me. I read nonstop, finishing the book at 11:00 that night. I didn't get much sleep; I spent the night staring at the ceiling of an unfamiliar room and reflecting on the death of the greatest, wisest, and most seemingly infallible wizard.
For the next two years, all I could do Harry Potter-wise was reread the books. Then the publication of the seventh and final book drew near, and I knew this was my last chance to go to a release party. My family agreed, and I spent the week before making costumes for everyone and rereading the entire series. Then we were there! There was a trivia scavenger hunt, a stand selling butterbeer, a sorting hat--and the long-awaited concluding novel at midnight.
I read the entire book that day. I laughed; I cried the first tears the series had brought me; I laughed again through my tears; and when I finished the book I reread the epilogue once more. It was a bittersweet moment, finishing the series. I had walked with Harry for six long years, six years that helped make me who I am today: a proud member of the Harry Potter generation. Those of us who are lucky enough to count ourselves part of that generation grew up with the excitement of waiting for the next book, shared each new plot twist with friends, and learned what magic truly is: Despite having known for years that the only thing at the back of a wardrobe is a wall and that no twig or pebble will ever be more than a twig or pebble, we all know that we can get to a magical universe simply by picking up our favorite books.
Even though I have yet to finish the September mag, haven't yet received my October one (that is to say, it probably has arrived at home, just hasn't been forwarded yet....), and probably won't get my hands on my Nov/Dec one for a minimum of three more weeks, and more likely not until Christmas break......I read this for you, Tesseract! Or maybe I just read it because it is Harry Potter, and we all know that I'm, erm, a rabid HP fan. But we'll say it was for you. =D
I love the article--it brings back fond memories of my own journey through the series, which although not started at age seven, was started very soon there after (at age 8, perhaps 9), and took place over the course of 9 or so years.
And I just deleted a multi-paragraph rambling of that journey, as, well, there's really no need to pollute your article's page with my (very) long ramblings on the same topic. It would just....detract, y'know? Maybe I'll go ramble on the 'blog, or something. And spare your page. =D
(November 2, 2009 - 9:52 pm)
*points and laughs at LtL the rabid HP fan* *is just kidding, don't kill me*
Harry Potter rocks. It's one of the first *real* books I read in my childhood.
(November 3, 2009 - 10:42 am)
*points and laughs at fireh pointing and laughing at me*
Hey, I'm proud of my HP fanaticism, although I'm afraid I'm starting to grow out of it just a wee bit, and move on to other things to fanaticize about......*sob*
(November 3, 2009 - 1:39 pm)
*points and laughs at both of us (who are pointing and laughing at each other)*
Haha. I like HP, but I'm not a fanatic like you are.
(November 5, 2009 - 12:41 pm)
I totally agree with Abby that we can get to a magical universe by reading. I do it all the time! I started my journey with Harry when I was 7 as well. I'll never forget that journey it's the best I've ever made.
(November 3, 2009 - 10:22 pm)
I am a HUGE harry potter fan and i was soo glad to see the Boy Who Lived in this month's mag! I must have read the books, like, 6 times each. seriously. 7th book is my FAVORITE! i actually cried when i *thought* harry was going to die. i wouldn't put that past JKR. She seriously got a little morbid in the later books. so yeah. xD
(November 6, 2009 - 7:51 pm)
Oh, I know! I cried for nearly every death (which I rarely, rarely do when reading a book), and literally sobbed my heart out when I thought Harry was going to die, as well! I was crying so hard that it reached the point i had snot dripping out of my nose, and when I reached the end of the chapter where he was "killed", before reading on, I had to actually get up and go into the bathroom and get myself under control and cleaned up before continuing.....
She did get a little trigger happy, though, but I think the point was more to be realistic, rather than deliberately morbid. And for whatever reason, that explanation actually worked for me, and I didn't get too upset (in the long run) at the deaths.
Now, if only I could get over the final death in BBC's Torchwood television series as easily. I'm still upset about that one, and it's been a good couple of weeks since I finished watching that show.....
Whoops, sorry. Tangent. Torchwood (and perhaps Dr Who, a bit) has become my obsession of the past month. Torchwood and its star, John Barrowman......
I fear I'm getting over Harry, just a bit.
(November 7, 2009 - 2:13 pm)
its okay, im a dr.who/ harry fan too
(November 27, 2009 - 2:57 pm)
Did you mean morbid or purely awesome? She was a little bit soft in the first books, if you know what I mean.... But when I become an achieved author, I shall try to keep some of my characters alive....
(February 3, 2011 - 11:36 am)
i have to say, i never really thought about how harry has affected my life. but when i read this, i remembered when my friend and i cried together when dobby, fred and everyone else died, and when we laughed at malfoy. we made some treasured memories over harry, and although the series is over, more and more people are discovering harry every day, and my friend and i have continued the adventure of their kids in our spare time, and we just might write it down someday. until then, we will all continue the adventure in the part if us where we still belive that maybe hogwarts changed it admission date to 12,13,14,15,16,17,18, and maybe even 19. my neighbor went away to college with the hope that if she graduated, she would be addmitted into hogwarts, and we all think like that. thank you for writing that muserology.
(November 7, 2009 - 7:34 pm)
This is my very fav muserology article,and the magazine has an article about Alex the parrot. =D
(November 13, 2009 - 10:26 pm)
You got that right! I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows from 9 PM to 8 AM! He's a hooker for sure! Pick him up, and you won't stop reading until you finish the series.
(November 14, 2009 - 8:56 pm)
You pick up Harry, you have to read the whole set. It's a great book.
(November 14, 2009 - 8:59 pm)
HP is two words: Pure Greatness.
(November 14, 2009 - 9:01 pm)
I started reading Harry Potter when i was 7, too! It must be a lucky number. The books are so better than the movies. I agree with your last comment. I read all the time. We can mentally transport ourselves to Hogwarts and anywhere in, inside, on, or out of the world. So many things can happen that probably can never exist in the "real world". Plus, books are awesome!
(November 29, 2009 - 4:38 pm)
I think the movies are bad compared to the books, too! I am a Hogwarts student (for real, i wouldn't lie to you), and i really agree with every thing you said.
(April 10, 2010 - 11:32 am)
I first discovered Harry Potter back in March (after all the books were out, so I missed the Dumbledore-is-not-dead-hype) on a Monday afternoon. By the next Monday, I had read all seven books and loved them to death. The books are pure genuis, in my opinion - realistic and original, even though they draw from many works of great literature. And the way J.K Rowling writes! It's so delicious; it makes you savor every paragraph. :-)
The books get even better as you read them over and over (and over and over - I'm pretty sure I've read Deathly Hallows around 20 times), and every time I read them I notice something new, e.g. the Pensieve's etymology - I just realized that Pensieve is a mixture of pensive ("thoughtful", from the Latin pensare, "to ponder" ) and "sieve" (to sift). And that's what the Pensieve is - a tool to sift your thoughts. Brilliant (as Ron would say)!
(December 3, 2009 - 12:50 pm)
at my daycare there is a teacher who is voldemort
(December 23, 2009 - 10:12 pm)
once i made a wand and tried to turn my teacher into a ferret
(March 17, 2010 - 12:53 pm)
That is something I would do! Once I made wands with my friend and she suddenly started talking British. . . oops.
(February 3, 2011 - 11:34 am)
How do you read the entire Harry Potter series in 1 week?! I mean like, seriously!?
(January 20, 2012 - 6:07 pm)
In our gifted class, we have a really nice substitute, and these girls like to pass around a survey of which Harry Potter name we should call him. We also have a password at the door, like in Harry Potter. Also, some of the kids play Harry Potter at recess. I can't believe our gifted class is someplace where almost everyone likes Harry Potter! I am reading the fifth book.
(December 28, 2009 - 2:25 pm)
I love Harry Potter books. I'm reading them through my 3rd time. Hello triwizard tornement!
(January 26, 2010 - 8:10 pm)
Harry Potter rocks!!!!! I could read it all day.
(March 17, 2010 - 12:56 pm)
I just finshed the 4th book, and i am still waiting for this to happen on my 11th b-day: I'd wake up on the midnight of November 14 and hear a tapping at my window. Iwould open the shade to see an tiny, tiny, TINY(!) owl on the door frame, and when I broke into a grin it would hold out its leg to me.I would reach out and untie a very special letter addressed to me in green ink. I am very excited to get Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix from the library!
(April 10, 2010 - 11:44 am)
I think the reason I love this muserology so much is that I can totally relate to it. I too wished I would go to Hogwarts when I turned eleven, I too, fantasized about meeting Harry and his classmates. It's bittersweet. I've decided, as soon as I'm done with the Subtle Knife, I will reread the entire series. It is an amazing series, and I love it to death. I think the books and movies are great, and I can't wait to have them both finished. It will be sad though.
(May 11, 2010 - 8:32 pm)
NOOOOOOOO!!!!!
i LOVE the harry potter books! they are my absolute favorite series! How can i have missed this issue of Muse!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? :*C
I started reading the harry potter books when I was seven, was hermione for halloween in 2007, and was yet another kid who was subconciously waiting for an owl with a letter written in green ink. I am hermione's lost younger sister - a total braniac (so i am told) and i am (obviously) a bookworm. JK Rowling ROCKS!!!!!!!!!
(July 5, 2010 - 3:13 pm)
Harry Potter rules!!!! Sadly, I started reading the series after my 11th birthday, so I could not look out the windows for owls. *sigh* I'm soooooo much Hermione it's amazing. We both love school (I'm homeschooled), love to read, and did I say LOVE to read?
I am in the process of reading the series for the 5th time (I started in July), and say that Deathly Hallows is the BEST book!!!!!!!
*sigh* Poor Fred................
(October 16, 2010 - 11:17 am)
I read the first three books when I was eight, reread them this summer, and read the others this year. Some of my friends became obsessed with them (or Snape and everything Slytherin) in eigth grade. Now i've read the seventh I see why. *almost cried over Snape*
(July 14, 2010 - 5:52 am)
You know, I really like the fourth book because I have a lot of bulgarian relatives.
(July 28, 2010 - 5:46 am)
RAVENCLAW RULES!!! HARRY POTTER RULES!!!!!!!
(October 23, 2010 - 10:03 am)
DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVENT FINISHED THE SERIES YET
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Dear Muggle Muse Fans,
You are talking about my father, arn't you? Well, I think you should know that JKR missed the fourth child Harry had. Her name was Hannah. And she was me.
(October 23, 2010 - 8:21 pm)
Don't Read This Either///////////
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Hey, what about Hermione's third child? Her name was Sarah, and yes, you guessed it, that child was me!!
(June 11, 2011 - 12:10 pm)
I love Harry Potter! They are my favorite books EVER IN THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am VERY proud to call myself an authentic Harry Potter fan. I started reading the books when I was 7 years old. I, unlike many Harry Potter fans of my age, went to the midnight releases of Harry Potter 6 and 7. At the last book release, I won my own copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in a costume contest. I was Hermione. Many other fans had come as Hermione too, and they all had Hogwarts robes they had bought. I just had a plain black robe and a handmade Gryffindor scarf, but I won because I actually look quite a bit like Hermione. I have a shirt that has a quote from the movies: "In dreams, we enter a world that is entirely our own." ~Albus Dumbledore. I plan to go to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II movie midnight release wearing this shirt and my Gryffindor scarf.
(July 11, 2011 - 3:38 pm)
I like Harry Potter too! *Waves twig while singing theme song*
--Noah the Waffle Lord
(September 22, 2011 - 7:52 pm)
I Really love Harry potter,so of course I read this article. I'm being Hermione for Halloween. I hope I can get her wand. Has anyone seen the movies? they're great. I'm re-reading the series for like,the millionth time. I fineshed the fith one in 3 days. Isn't that cool?
The world's BIGGEST Harry Potter fan,
SASHA THE HERMIONE LOVER :)
(October 23, 2011 - 8:57 am)
When I was in preschool I was first introduced to Harry Potter. They were my friends and my family. I will always remember the night that I went to the 7th book midnight premiere . Since I was turning 11this year we decided to go to Harry Potter world in Orlando Florida so guess where I spent my thanksgiving at Harry Potter world . You HAVE TO GO THERE!!!!!!! It's so cool:D even if you're not 11anymore you would enjoy it a lot thet have hogsmead and the castle and the three broomsticks that you can eat in .the butterbeer is dreamy!!!!!!! The rides are awesome and it's like you are there I hope you can come sometime it's in universal studios in islands of adventure in the back.im so sorry that you didn't get your letter. :( good luck in life:)
(December 11, 2011 - 4:51 pm)
Your article was great, Abby!!! I really liked it!
I looove harry potter...I read the first book when I was 11 and only just managed to get my hands on the rest of the series a few months ago and I'm already reading them a second time! Except the 7th book--I haven't been able to read that one yet! WAAAAAAH :'(
I cried buckets when I finally admitted to myself that Sirius died...I didn't want to believe it at first, and kept saying to myself, no, no, he'll come out from behind the curtain, he'll come out and say ha, tricked you...you didn't really think I was dead, did you? no, I'm alive, I...Rats, I'm making myself cry again! *coughs, sniffles, composes herself, trying to pretend nothing ever happened*
Anyway, I enjoyed your muserology a lot, thanks for writing!
P.S. Maybe if I go to England, Hogwarts will realize I am such a gifted witch I must enter thair school immediatly, even if I am 12! *hopes*
(December 14, 2011 - 12:43 pm)
hp is the best post-tolkien fantisy ever!!!!!! p.s. any pottermore users here?
(January 20, 2012 - 11:24 am)