MY ODE TO HARRY POTTER
MY ODE TO HARRY POTTER
'Loosing a friend'
I read the first book of the seven part series, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone when I was almost nine; about two years after it was first published and about six years after it was first thought of. I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows when I was 17, finishing off the series for good. Or is it? Harry Potter will never perish, not as long as there is at least one reader who remembers.
Steven King wrote in an article that the reason so many people are upset that this is the last book, isn't so much for the obvious reasons. He seems to think that so many people feel like they might loose their childhood when they read the last word; they lived their more prominent childhood years during the decade of Harry Potter and by reading the last it would seem as if that part of their life is over. I thought he was getting too emotional, but as I closed the book after reading the epilogue, I realized he was right! I had this feeling like I was missing something, and as I placed the fire colored novel next to the emerald green of the sixth; completing the set; I felt strange. It was weird to see all seven of these books in front of me, each one representing something different from my life.
The first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, came out in 1997, I read when I was nine, at a time where most kids my ages were reading simpler things, or not at all. Everyone thought I should wait a few years before picking up JK Rowling's Harry Potter, but I read it in a week and placed it on my shelf in anticipation of the next. I read as The Boy Who Lived went from thinking he was nobody, to becoming the biggest somebody he could be. I followed his journey on the train where he met his best friends Ronald Weasley, a boy who 'has the emotional range of a teaspoon' and Hermione Granger, the muggle-born, who becomes the 'brightest witch of her age'. Together the three battle trolls, three headed dogs, devils snare, a fatal chess game, Lord Voldemort, all while trying to pass their exams and avoid expulsion.
The second book, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, came out in 1998; I read when I was nine as well. Finishing it in the same time as the first, but with one small change. I refused to do anything else until I knew what happened to Hermione, Harry and Ron. I closed myself in my room, refusing to 'have fun', considering this to be the ultimate past time. I read as Ron cursed himself in an attempt to curse Draco Malfoy, the 'foul loathsome evil little cockroach' who loves nothing more then tormenting the 'Golden Trio'. I read as Ron and Harry coped with Hermione lying in the hospital wing petrified, battling giant spiders, a basilisk, a house elf that has mixed up priorities, a flying car, whomping willow tree, a vain teacher, and the advancing of their powers.
The third book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, came out in 1999, I read when I was nine; seeing as I was two years behind. I read the first three in one year; the third took me about a week as well to finish, only stopping for sleep, food and water. I read as Harry went from wanting to kill Sirius Black to then wanting to live with him. I watched as Remus Lupin, the best DADA teacher out of the whole series, battled his inner demons and taught Harry how to protect himself. I read as Harry in a way became closer to his past and parents, through their two best friends, and the one who betrayed them. I read as Harry and Hermione battled the whomping willow while Ron was in the hospital wing with a bum leg due to Sirius, Hermione punching Malfoy, Scabbers becoming Wormtail, Lupin transforming into a werewolf, dementors, boggarts, hippogriffs, and time travel; all while growing up and becoming teenagers.
The fourth installment, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire came out in 2000, I was finally caught up and read it at the age of 10. By now my mother was grabbing them off my shelf and reading them along with me; trying to figure out what had captured my interest so tightly. I must say she is now hooked as well. Though immensely longer then the other three, I finished it in less then a week. I read as the three finally grew up and began to realize their differences. As the obvious Ron/Hermione relationship became even more obvious, and Harry got his first crush. I watched as the first real spat between Harry and Ron occurred, and we realized how it really must feel to be the sidekick. WE LOVE YOU RON! Dozen's of new characters arrived; some good, most bad. I read as Hermione and Ron argued over the ball which was covering up for the way they feel about each other, as Harry fell for the shy Cho Chang, as people turned on Harry faster then you could say Quidditch, how no one believed in him and he was all alone for the first time since he found out he was a wizard-trying to survive in a magical world he wasn't ready for. They went from just being wizards to teenagers as well, and as the first real show of evil occurred in front of Harry since the death of his parents. As Lord Voldemort finally returned and killed the lovable Cedric Diggory before Harry's eyes, and the 14 year old; barely making it out alive is faced with a wizarding world that won't be able to handle the truth.
The fifth installment, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix came out in 2003, three years after the last, and at the age of 13 I was still as eager to read them as before. The beginning of my teenage years didn't seem to change how I felt about my childhood friends. Though the atmosphere was completely different due to the return of the Dark Lord the audience didn't change. I remember my cousin who is a few weeks older then I was reading along side me and at the end of each day we'd see who'd gotten the farthest; it had become a race to see who could finish first. Though I don't remember who won, I do remember finishing the book in five days with a sinking feeling inside. To put it plainly All Hell Broke Loose, and now everything was up in the air. I had read as Sirius Black was murdered-killing the last of Harry's family. Luna Lovegood, an eccentric person joined the ever growing cast, and showed Harry nothing is what it seems, Ginny Weasley rose to the challenges and proved that she would not be in her brother's shadows any longer, and Neville Longbottom finally showed his true potential and proved he was a Gryffindor. The six lead a group of students who believed Harry was telling the truth about the Dark Lord rising, and wanted to be prepared. As the Order of the Phoenix, a group of adult wizards returned to action and prepared to fight as they had 15 years ago. I read as Harry found out who his true friends were, as he experienced love for the first time, watched the loss of a loved one…again, fought Voldemort…again, became a leader, realized the full extent of his connection to his mortal enemy, and as teenagers showed that they could fight just as well as adults, and with just as much passion.
The sixth book, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince came out in 2005, and at 15 I read it in three days! I read as Ron got his first girlfriend and realized who he really wanted, as Hermione showed what she wanted, as Harry and Dumbledore went in search of the Horcruxes-in hopes of weakening Voldemort. I read as Harry realized that Hogwarts was no longer the safest place on earth, his love for Ron's baby sister, Ginny. As Harry became aware of what he had to do, as he realized that he didn't have to do it alone, as Snape- the teacher that everyone thought was evil truly became evil by killing Dumbledore, Draco Malfoy fled in fear after letting Death Eaters into Hogwarts, and as Harry realized he wasn't going to come back to Hogwarts next year and that no matter what he did Hermione and Ron weren't either.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, the final novel in the series came out in 2007, and at the age of 17 I read it in less then 24 hours! I read as Harry, Ron and Hermione are engulfed into battle before the fourth chapter, along with all of Ron's family and most of their friends. I watched as Harry lost Hedwig his only companion while he was trapped in the muggle world, as George, one of Ron's twin brothers lost an ear at the hand of Snape, while trying to get Harry to safety. As Alaster Mad-Eye Moody died while protecting those that deserved it. As Dobby the house elf died protecting Harry and his friends, as Hermione endured the Cruciatus curse for being muggle-born, as Ron abandoned his two best friends not being able to handle what was to come. And then returned and saved Harry's life and destroyed another Horcruxes in the process. I read as Fred died in battle, destroying the dynamic duo of the Weasley twins, as Hermione kissed Ron and the two finally acknowledge their feelings for each other and did something about it-and went to war two minutes later. As Harry saved Draco Malfoy's life for no apparent reason other then he didn't need to die, and in return Narcissa Malfoy saved Harry's, as Neville proved he was braver then most of the Death Eaters, and Harry realized that all his friends would stand by him to the death. As Remus Lupin and his wife Tonks died fighting for what they believed in, leaving their son to his Godfather- Harry. As Snape died, and Harry discovered that Snape was indeed a friend, and the bravest man he knew. I read as Harry killed Voldemort and I read as the characters that I'd grown up with finally got their happy ending!
I grew up with Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Hermione Granger, and all their friends and family. Though the Harry Potter series is first and foremost a fantasy novel, Rowling intertwined teenage values, comedy, and life lessons in a way that made Harry Potter and his friend's characters that I can never forget. I've wanted to be a novelist since before I could read, and what better way then to write a short story as tribute to a great author and her amazing characters? I just want to say that I don't own any Harry Potter characters, but for the fun of it I wrote another version of the epilogue, which I found to be missing a few things, more importantly characters.