Emily (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
whoisthemonster) wrote2011-07-13 10:34 pm
whoisthemonster) wrote2011-07-13 10:34 pm
Entry tags:
End of An Era, To Be Honest
Harry Potter is ending in mere hours. I know many will say it ended in 2007 with the release of the last book, but for me the comfort in finishing Deathly Hallows for the first time was knowing that I still had a couple of more movies to look forward to. So, yeah. Harry Potter is now officially ending. So, of course, I had to make a post about it.
When I first picked up Harry Potter, I didn't like it. I was seven at the time, and all of my friends liked it, so I borrowed it from someone and decided to give it a try. I got two chapters in and hated it. The "muggles" were terrible, Harry wasn't all that interesting and by the time the snake thing happened I was just done.
Yet, everyone still loved these books. In grade four, about a year and a bit after my first try, the movie was going to be released. I saw the trailer and it looked good, so I decided to try again. By the time Harry got to Hogwarts, I was hooked. I still thought Harry was kind of boring, but I had found my first loves of the books in Fred and George Weasley, who I thought were the greatest characters ever. The idea of a magical castle where kids could take classes in charms and potions was one of the coolest things I had ever seen. Basically, I was hooked.
My Grandpa was the one who took me to see the first movie. He sat with me while I watched Harry, Ron and Hermione overcome their first adventure. Afterwards he told me he had liked it too. We agreed that we would see the next one together and life went on.
I got Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban for Christmas that year. These two books remain the oldest ones in my collection and the covers are all ripped up after so many readings. Upon my first read, I found book two enjoyable, but not incredible. It didn't seem to add much to the world created in book one and it felt very dull to me. Book three, however, changed everything. It was the first book I can honestly say had me staying up late, reading by the light of my flashlight. Here, I came upon the character who became my favourite adult character of the series, my boy Remus Lupin. Book three remains my favourite HP book to this day.
I borrowed Goblet of Fire from the library as soon as I had finished two and three. I remember being worried because there was a waiting list for the book and I didn't know if I could finish such a long novel in two weeks (I was nine, after all). It was the darkest book I had ever read, but I loved it all the same. Oh, and I completely shipped Cedric/Cho. Yeah, that happened.
Then, came the long wait. Granted, I didn't have to wait three years like most people who had been with the books longer, but to my young self, having to wait over a year for the next book seemed unbearable. So, I did what would later become my favourite thing to do during a hiatus. I went online and speculated. Yup, I was traversing Harry Potter forums at the tender age of nine. I was one of those kids who had to lie about their age to get on forums. I would go on the official website (the one that was attached to the original movie) and talk with other fans about the coming books. I was absolutely convinced Cedric was going to come back as a ghost. I even wrote and posted a fic about it. It was Cedric/Cho, of course.
By the time Order of the Pheonix came out, things had changed a bit for me. You see, I had always been bullied a bit, what with me being a complete weirdo and all, but grade five was when it got bad. The bullying got slightly worse and I began to fight back. I didn't like fighting, but it was the only way I could think of to defend myself. I was tired of getting hurt, so I started hurting others. I was so happy to leave that school at the end of the year. After all, I had chosen to go to a different middle school than most of my peers and I figured it would be a new start for me.
This was around the time Order of the Pheonix came out. My Grandpa (who, true to his word, had taken me to see movie two when it came out) bought the book for me. It took me quite a long time to read it (after all, that book is massive) but it didn't affect the love I had for that book. I felt kind of like Harry (weird and misunderstood, told what I thought and believed was wrong, hated for things I couldn't change) which is why I could never fault him for going into capslock mode. After all, I'd done the same. The book also gave me Luna who really became an inspiration to me. She was strange in the same ways I was, but she didn't let the haters get her down. She stood her ground, but always remained calm while doing so. Basically, I loved her and I still do.
More time passed, and I grew up a bit. I saw movie three with my Grandpa during the next hiatus and spent more time on the fan forums (even though I was still, technically, not old enough to do so). Half Blood Prince came out the summer before seventh grade. It was the first midnight release I went to. I remember Grant Park shopping center being so absolutely crowded with people that my Dad (who had taken me) ended up taking me over to the McDonalds to just have a break from the madness. We waited in front of the pile of boxes for a half an hour before midnight hit and the books were handed out. I got the third copy in the store, and let me tell you I felt super awesome.
The next day, while reading, my Dad came into my room with a newspaper article about the release. On it there was a section that, if put in front of a mirror, would show you spoilers. I still hate myself for giving into temptation and reading that section. Harry/Ginny and Sanpe killing Dumbledore was spoiled for me. The book was still awesome though.
Goblet of Fire was the first of the movies that I saw twice in theaters. Once with my Grandpa and once with friends. It wasn't the best movie in the entire franchise, but I have two unique experiences with it, so it's special to me.
Two years later, in the summer between ninth and tenth grade, we got two releases. The first being the Order of the Pheonix movie. Again, I saw it twice but the first time I saw it alone. I don't really know why I did, after all I plenty of Potterhead friends, but I guess I just felt that since the book had connected with me in such a personal way I should see the movie alone. Either way, the movie was awesome both times.
The Deathly Hallows release came next and I will never forget it. The midnight release was taking place at Assinaboine Park and we had gotten there at ten because my Dad though that would give us enough time to see everything. However, by that time the line went from the conservatory to halfway through the huge field area. About half an hour after we got there, it was snaking around the pavillion. We stood in that line for two hours just to get our voucher and then for another half an hour in order to get a book. My Dad and sister have never truly forgiven me.
This was also the book where the universe decided to be cruel to me. I couldn't stay up that night and read it all in one go because I had to work the next morning. After work, I was going to power through it, but my Grandma needed someone to go with her to a play and I'm the only person who likes theater in my family. (Also, the theater we went to was on the corner of James and Lily. Yeah, the universe is cruel). The next day, my Dad decided it would be cool for us to take a day trip to Portage la Prairie and spend the night in a hotel there just to say we had a mini vacation. I have never hated him more. I woke in the middle of the night that night and had to sneak off to the bathroom in order to read for a bit. The next day, however, I managed to read the rest. I cried when we found out my fellow outcast had painted a picture of the people she loved on her ceiling. I cried when one of the boys who originally made me love the series (Fred :'() died. I cried when my favourite teacher in any book died as well. It was amazing (until the epilogue, which should never have existed).
My Grandpa called that week and, while on the phone, he asked me how the book had been. I told him it was awesome. He asked if he would enjoy the movie and I told him he would love it.
I went to the Half Blood Prince move with two awesome friends. We had a blast in the line up and our theater was great. There were literally two people duelling in the front of it. I have never had more fun at a movie (although tomorrow may rival it). I never saw Half Blood Prince with my Grandpa, however, as the cancer he had been diagnosed with a couple of years before prevented him from going. I hear he bought the DVD and watched it. From what I've heard, he liked it.
A month before Deathly Hallows Part One, my Grandpa passed away. It still feels a little wrong to know I'm going to see the end without him.
The movie release for DH1 was amazing. I went with a large group of awesome people and we had so much fun before/during/after. The memories there will stay with me for a long time to come.
Now, in a matter of hours, I will see the end. This series, both the books and the movies, have been with me for nearly ten years. I don't know how I'm going to be when this movie ends (although I think it's going to involve tears), but I know I'll be sad to see it go. After all, the characters in these books have seen me through a lot. It's like losing friends, but I guess it could be said that what Dumbledore says is true. "It isn't truly goodbye, after all."
I will miss the train ride in
And those pranks pulled by the twins
Though it's nowhere I have been
I'll keep on smiling from the times I had with them
-End of An Era, Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls
When I first picked up Harry Potter, I didn't like it. I was seven at the time, and all of my friends liked it, so I borrowed it from someone and decided to give it a try. I got two chapters in and hated it. The "muggles" were terrible, Harry wasn't all that interesting and by the time the snake thing happened I was just done.
Yet, everyone still loved these books. In grade four, about a year and a bit after my first try, the movie was going to be released. I saw the trailer and it looked good, so I decided to try again. By the time Harry got to Hogwarts, I was hooked. I still thought Harry was kind of boring, but I had found my first loves of the books in Fred and George Weasley, who I thought were the greatest characters ever. The idea of a magical castle where kids could take classes in charms and potions was one of the coolest things I had ever seen. Basically, I was hooked.
My Grandpa was the one who took me to see the first movie. He sat with me while I watched Harry, Ron and Hermione overcome their first adventure. Afterwards he told me he had liked it too. We agreed that we would see the next one together and life went on.
I got Chamber of Secrets and Prisoner of Azkaban for Christmas that year. These two books remain the oldest ones in my collection and the covers are all ripped up after so many readings. Upon my first read, I found book two enjoyable, but not incredible. It didn't seem to add much to the world created in book one and it felt very dull to me. Book three, however, changed everything. It was the first book I can honestly say had me staying up late, reading by the light of my flashlight. Here, I came upon the character who became my favourite adult character of the series, my boy Remus Lupin. Book three remains my favourite HP book to this day.
I borrowed Goblet of Fire from the library as soon as I had finished two and three. I remember being worried because there was a waiting list for the book and I didn't know if I could finish such a long novel in two weeks (I was nine, after all). It was the darkest book I had ever read, but I loved it all the same. Oh, and I completely shipped Cedric/Cho. Yeah, that happened.
Then, came the long wait. Granted, I didn't have to wait three years like most people who had been with the books longer, but to my young self, having to wait over a year for the next book seemed unbearable. So, I did what would later become my favourite thing to do during a hiatus. I went online and speculated. Yup, I was traversing Harry Potter forums at the tender age of nine. I was one of those kids who had to lie about their age to get on forums. I would go on the official website (the one that was attached to the original movie) and talk with other fans about the coming books. I was absolutely convinced Cedric was going to come back as a ghost. I even wrote and posted a fic about it. It was Cedric/Cho, of course.
By the time Order of the Pheonix came out, things had changed a bit for me. You see, I had always been bullied a bit, what with me being a complete weirdo and all, but grade five was when it got bad. The bullying got slightly worse and I began to fight back. I didn't like fighting, but it was the only way I could think of to defend myself. I was tired of getting hurt, so I started hurting others. I was so happy to leave that school at the end of the year. After all, I had chosen to go to a different middle school than most of my peers and I figured it would be a new start for me.
This was around the time Order of the Pheonix came out. My Grandpa (who, true to his word, had taken me to see movie two when it came out) bought the book for me. It took me quite a long time to read it (after all, that book is massive) but it didn't affect the love I had for that book. I felt kind of like Harry (weird and misunderstood, told what I thought and believed was wrong, hated for things I couldn't change) which is why I could never fault him for going into capslock mode. After all, I'd done the same. The book also gave me Luna who really became an inspiration to me. She was strange in the same ways I was, but she didn't let the haters get her down. She stood her ground, but always remained calm while doing so. Basically, I loved her and I still do.
More time passed, and I grew up a bit. I saw movie three with my Grandpa during the next hiatus and spent more time on the fan forums (even though I was still, technically, not old enough to do so). Half Blood Prince came out the summer before seventh grade. It was the first midnight release I went to. I remember Grant Park shopping center being so absolutely crowded with people that my Dad (who had taken me) ended up taking me over to the McDonalds to just have a break from the madness. We waited in front of the pile of boxes for a half an hour before midnight hit and the books were handed out. I got the third copy in the store, and let me tell you I felt super awesome.
The next day, while reading, my Dad came into my room with a newspaper article about the release. On it there was a section that, if put in front of a mirror, would show you spoilers. I still hate myself for giving into temptation and reading that section. Harry/Ginny and Sanpe killing Dumbledore was spoiled for me. The book was still awesome though.
Goblet of Fire was the first of the movies that I saw twice in theaters. Once with my Grandpa and once with friends. It wasn't the best movie in the entire franchise, but I have two unique experiences with it, so it's special to me.
Two years later, in the summer between ninth and tenth grade, we got two releases. The first being the Order of the Pheonix movie. Again, I saw it twice but the first time I saw it alone. I don't really know why I did, after all I plenty of Potterhead friends, but I guess I just felt that since the book had connected with me in such a personal way I should see the movie alone. Either way, the movie was awesome both times.
The Deathly Hallows release came next and I will never forget it. The midnight release was taking place at Assinaboine Park and we had gotten there at ten because my Dad though that would give us enough time to see everything. However, by that time the line went from the conservatory to halfway through the huge field area. About half an hour after we got there, it was snaking around the pavillion. We stood in that line for two hours just to get our voucher and then for another half an hour in order to get a book. My Dad and sister have never truly forgiven me.
This was also the book where the universe decided to be cruel to me. I couldn't stay up that night and read it all in one go because I had to work the next morning. After work, I was going to power through it, but my Grandma needed someone to go with her to a play and I'm the only person who likes theater in my family. (Also, the theater we went to was on the corner of James and Lily. Yeah, the universe is cruel). The next day, my Dad decided it would be cool for us to take a day trip to Portage la Prairie and spend the night in a hotel there just to say we had a mini vacation. I have never hated him more. I woke in the middle of the night that night and had to sneak off to the bathroom in order to read for a bit. The next day, however, I managed to read the rest. I cried when we found out my fellow outcast had painted a picture of the people she loved on her ceiling. I cried when one of the boys who originally made me love the series (Fred :'() died. I cried when my favourite teacher in any book died as well. It was amazing (until the epilogue, which should never have existed).
My Grandpa called that week and, while on the phone, he asked me how the book had been. I told him it was awesome. He asked if he would enjoy the movie and I told him he would love it.
I went to the Half Blood Prince move with two awesome friends. We had a blast in the line up and our theater was great. There were literally two people duelling in the front of it. I have never had more fun at a movie (although tomorrow may rival it). I never saw Half Blood Prince with my Grandpa, however, as the cancer he had been diagnosed with a couple of years before prevented him from going. I hear he bought the DVD and watched it. From what I've heard, he liked it.
A month before Deathly Hallows Part One, my Grandpa passed away. It still feels a little wrong to know I'm going to see the end without him.
The movie release for DH1 was amazing. I went with a large group of awesome people and we had so much fun before/during/after. The memories there will stay with me for a long time to come.
Now, in a matter of hours, I will see the end. This series, both the books and the movies, have been with me for nearly ten years. I don't know how I'm going to be when this movie ends (although I think it's going to involve tears), but I know I'll be sad to see it go. After all, the characters in these books have seen me through a lot. It's like losing friends, but I guess it could be said that what Dumbledore says is true. "It isn't truly goodbye, after all."
I will miss the train ride in
And those pranks pulled by the twins
Though it's nowhere I have been
I'll keep on smiling from the times I had with them
-End of An Era, Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls
no subject
This, lol. I don't know anyone who actually liked the epilogue.
Your whole post is so sweet, I remember having some really similar experiences with the books, including disliking them at first, identifying with Luna and the reading the final book getting disrupted by family holidays and stuff... I'm not as attached to the films as to the books, but I know I will be sad when the end comes on Friday.
It's never really the end though. We'll always have the books, the films and the memories. ♥