The End

I read my first Harry Potter at the age of ten, the Chamber of Secrets. From then on, there has been no turning back.

People ask me, what's so great? Some good guy brandishing some magic stick at some bad guy with a more sinister magic stick.

Maybe it was the age, maybe it was the magic, but Harry Potter always meant something so dear to my heart, something that kept me obsessed, drove me nuts, burnt a hole in my parents' pockets. Obsession is defined by Harry Potter. These two words, seemingly common names, are so powerful, that they can practically pull me out of coma.

Things I like about Harry Potter:

Plot: Every book has a plot of its own which then weave its details into a main plot. Certainly, the plot of Goblet of Fire was simply too good. There is no way you could have guessed the ending. Period.

Depth: Every character has so much depth. My favourite is a close battle between Harry and Hermione. I respect Harry I guess, while I really really adore Hermione. I love her wit, intelligence, bravery, sacrifice, righteousness, her obsession of obtaining freedom for those who can't and that fear of failure as well. Nobody's perfect. The list of great characters is endless, Dobby, Tonks, Dumbledore, Lupin, Sirius, Fred and George, Luna, Narcissa Malfoy, Hagrid, Firenze, Trelawney, Snape,Voldemort... I could go on and on.

Common Sense: Certainly and inevitably as a children's book, it does give nuggets of sound advice. I really enjoyed them.

"It is not our abilities that make us what we are, it is our choices". - COS

"Curiosity is not a sin, but you should exercise caution" - GOF

"There will come a time when we have to decide between what is right and what is easy" - GOF

"I think I've had enough trouble for a lifetime" - DH

Language: As a person who enjoys Shakespeare and Dickens, you cannot simply ignore the beauty of J K Rowling's writing. Her sarcasm, her vocabulary, her way of writing is just overwhelming. For example, do you know what's a "flibbertigibbet"? It's the password to the Gryffindor tower once. It means a fool, by the way.

Magic:

However I try
with a scientific bend
of mind, to break my
interest, like my friend
Golpalott, I just sigh
that my efforts are spent
in vain because its a lie
to the words that lend
such an epitome of beauty.

Bottomline: Go read the books!

Oh I cannot describe the thrill of waiting for a new book to be released. That excited discussion of how the next plot is going to be, who's going to die. Those frantic phone calls, how can I forget? Middle of the night, "Hey Leaky Cauldron site has been updated, the sixth book is releasing on July the sixteenth." The last book almost brought people to blows whether or not Harry dies!

All this reminiscence started on seeing the trailer to the final movie. I am now nineteen and with this last installment, the end of an era approaches. No longer will there be the frequent haunting of news websites. No longer will there be endless guessing games. No longer will that perfect present be Harry Potter. Yet Harry will live in all the million souls who are  his ardent fans.

Harry Potter
You have fought valiantly.
But you have allowed your friends to die for you.
Rather than face me yourself.


On this night, join me
and confront your fate.


Come On.


We can end this.


I never wanted any of you to die for me.


Come on Tom. Let's finish this the way we started. Together.


Only I can live forever.

I could get a job with subtitles! I'm really excited for July 15th.