Did you cry- yep, Did you like the final movie- yep, Still LOVE the books more- double yep yep!
9 ¾ means more to me than just the magical number of a train station where the train can whisk a young wizard, witch, or devoted reader to Hogwarts. To say I am emotionally invested in the world of Harry Potter is really quite an understatement.
Yes I know that I am not the only one, with thousands upon thousands of fans in the midst of Pottermania, what I can say is that truly it has been an honor to have been around in the beginning, middle, and final end of what I consider to be one of the best written series for children.
You see I came into the series not as a child- reading each one imagining myself as a lucky recipient of a letter clutched in the claws of an owl. No I was an adult- just starting on my book buyer career for the same indie store I still buy books for. It was a curious little book at first just bought by teachers. I would order a couple here and there. That worked for HP1 then I read it at the recommendation of friend who read it while recovering in the hospital. Then HP2 picked up steam and the simultaneous release of HP3 in the US and UK sent it on a flurry.
The midnight release parties that I coordinated for HP4,5,6, and 7 have been highlights of my book career, but none so much as having the opportunity to meet J.K. Rowling back in 2007, and then that being equaled if not shadowed a bit by my first born reading them one after the other 1-7 in about 4 months earlier this year.
And because I have had one movie vs. book rule in our home- read all HP before any of the movies are seen, my eldest got to go to the movie with his mama and daddy and take part in our little tradition of seeing the movies on opening weekends. Liked most, disliked some, felt the last complete movie HP7 P 1 & 2 redeemed itself. But best of all I asked him if he enjoyed reading the books first and the answer was yes!
So it was a wonderful way to spend a blistery hot Sunday afternoon- on a date with a couple of my favorite fellas. A bucket of popcorn, a sprite, and bag of skittles produced a pretty magical effect.
Of course I cried when Fred dies, of course I cried when Severus gives Harry his memories before he dies, and of course I cried when Harry unselfishly goes to battle Voldemort with the new knowledge that he gained from Severus. I cried because above all of the other elements of the story; magic, good versus evil, etc . . . it is really a love story. A love that a mother and father have for their child, a love that friends have for each other, and ultimately for me, a love of an amazing story and an amazing series of good old fashioned paper books- no wires required to make this magical.
So back to that 9 ¾ part- best of all I am still not at that level 10 because I get to do it all over again with Silas in just a couple years when he starts to read them and we will experience the magic with him, maybe then my HP meter will be at a level 10!
By the way- yes I do have my very own sorting hat that lives in my office- pretty sure I am a Ravenclaw- Luna and I would get along wonderfully!