Disclaimer: I wrote this post almost 7 years ago in 2017. In the post I wrote this sentence "and you don't just turn your back on a 20 year relationship (unless it's toxic, always walk away from toxic)!" and boy how prophetic did that turn out to be. I have since moved on from my love of Harry Potter and instead engaged critically with the material knowing now what we do about its creator. I can no longer in good conscience find enjoyment in a world that was created by someone who excludes part of her fandom because they happen to be trans. I could go in to my reasons but I think after all these years you have probably heard them all already and have either chosen to willfully ignore it, and prioritised your own enjoyment over the lived experience of a minority group, or you have also walked away from a fandom you were once fully a part of. Whichever it is is your choice, just as this is mine. I am however leaving this post up because I believe it shows that we can walk away from things we think are a part of us if they become harmful.
It is said that there are two certainties in life: Death, and Taxes- well I hate to disagree with whoever said it first , but they missed one thing off that list! You see, in my life there are actually three certainties: Death, taxes, and my love for Harry Potter.
As you read this I am probably standing at the entrance to Diagon Alley (FYI I'm in Florida, I'm not deluded) with tears of joy streaming down my face. My Ravenclaw scarf is wrapped around my neck- despite the fact it's 34degrees here-and I'm grasping a mug of ice cold Butterbeer in my hand. And dear readers, I am pretty certain that I have never been happier.
I know some of you are probably thinking that it's really strange that an *almost* 30 year old woman is still such a big fan of the Boy Who Lived, but you see, we grew up together! The first book- Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone- was released almost 20 years ago, just 8 days before my 10th birthday, and you don't just turn your back on a 20 year relationship (unless it's toxic, always walk away from toxic)!
To celebrate the 20th anniversary I thought I would share my favourite Harry Potter related things with you:
Favourite Book:
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. The fourth book was the first I queued up at midnight for. I bought it and then read it twice, in about a week (I didn't sleep much)! This for me is where the series really got good, it's just a shame the movie was such a let down.
Favourite Movie:
The Prisoner of Azkaban. It's the movie that stays truest to the books. It's also the movie where we get to see Hermione punch Malfoy- and that's enough for me :-).
Favourite Moment from The Philosopher's Stone:
"The lake froze solid and the Weasley twins were punished for bewitching several snowballs so that they followed Quirrell around, bouncing off the back of his turban." The two biggest pranksters in the universe spent an entire winter whacking Voldermort in the face with snowballs...this gives me endless joy.
Favourite Harry Potter add-on:
I'm going to cheat here and say pretty much everything that I've ever received in my Geek Gear
World of Wizardry* subscription box. Every month I receive prints, exclusive merch, a t-shirt, and sometimes even wands. I'm fast running out of space but I've never let that stop me before. I'm also a huge fan of the books by Jody Revenson- each of which is like a Harry Potter compendium, from the Character Vault to Magical Places from the Films.
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| My very own key to my very own vault at Gringotts :-O |
I could go on and on for ages about all the things I love about the series, and the universe that was borne from it but I have a broomstick flying lesson at 12 (again, I'm not deluded I'm at Wizarding World Orlando)!
So I'm going to leave you with the link to pre-order the 20th Anniversary edition of The Philosopher's Stone- I'm getting mine in Ravenclaw blue, of course (
here), and this pretty cool
infographic, created to celebrate the anniversary on June 26th, by the folks at
Cartridge Save. Oh and a few more photos of my collection!
I'd love to know what your favourite Harry Potter things are, or if heaven forbid you're not a fan then I'd love to know what does make you happy? Will you be celebrating the Boy Who Lived's 20th Anniversary? Let me know in the comments. And if you're feeling up to it you can check out my previous Harry posts
here and
here.
Disclaimer: This post is a collaboration
