It all started when I was in the sixth grade. I was in the advanced reading class, and one of my classmates walked into class one day carrying a hardback book with this cover. I was immediately interested in what this fascinating looking book was about. (Yes, I was a nerd even way back in the sixth grade.) She tried to explain it to me, but I knew that I needed to just read the book for myself to both appreciate it and grasp the plot synopsis. When I got home from school, I told my mom I wanted to go to the bookstore to get this Harry Potter book. My parents rarely told me "no" when I wanted a book. I mean, what parent would shut down their child for actually wanting to read? So, we went to Borders to get my new book. Well, my mother is one of those people who will buy the same shirt in multiple colors if it looks good and is flattering. She noticed that there were two other books in the series, so she purchased all three for me. (This may sound a bit spoiled, but if you know me, you know that with certain things I just accept without question.) Shortly after beginning the first book, I was hooked. From funny names like Hagrid and Hermione to new words entirely like Quidditch, J.K Rowling's wizarding world had me hooked, and there was no turning back from there.
Of course I finished reading all three books in a matter of two weeks. I have always been a pretty fast reader, and when I get really into something, I will literally sit for an entire day reading until I finish a book (Nora Roberts' Bride Quartet series, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and of course Twilight are just a few that I have done this for). Every year brought a release of a new Harry Potter book. My dad would usually go out very early the morning the books came out to get a copy before the stores surrounding our house would sell out. Once my brother got to the age that he could read, it was always a fight as to who would read the books first. I was older and I read faster; of course I always read them first. My parents have a blue leather chair, that while their new pup thinks is HIS chair, that is actually MY chair. I would plant myself in this chair and read until I was finished. I did not get as into any other series as I did with Harry Potter.
With the help of my mom, I managed to get a job during breaks from college at Borders. It was seriously a great deal. I got to work Thanksgiving, Christmas, and during the summer at a bookstore. It's like the training of a future English teacher. Well, one of the first summer's I worked at Borders was the summer the last HP book was being released. Of course I worked the ridiculous event. Of course I purchased my copy. And of course I stayed up as late as I could to read some of the book before falling fast asleep.
When I finished reading this book, I had a sense of satisfaction as well as sadness. What was I going to do now? One of the greatest series of books that I had ever read was now OVER. What was a girl to do? Well, lucky for me, Hollywood had already started creating the film versions of these books, so I could at least hold on to HP for a few more years.
Now, my brother and I are just like any other siblings. We bicker and argue and he, quite frankly, annoys the crap out of me most of the time (sometimes unknowingly, but I at least try to let him know when he's being an asshole). However, one of the things that there is no argument about is going to see the midnight releases of Harry Potter. This tradition started with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and has continued up through last November. I moved, but this did not deter us from going to see the midnight showings.
Tonight really does mark the end of an era. I know that tonight at approximately 2:30 AM I will be so excited that I have just witnessed greatness, but I know that I'm going to be sad that it's over!
It's going to be great. How could it not be great? It's Harry Potter!
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