Around 8 years ago my brother introduced me to Harry Potter; the first three books had already been released when he bought me round the first two – Philosophers Stone and Chamber of Secrets. I had not heard of Harry Potter then and gazed down at the books with a cynical raised eyebrow, wondering why on earth he would expect me to read a children’s book. I thanked him of course and put them to one side.
In the coming days and weeks I had forgotten about the books until one day whilst searching for something else (I forget what, probably my lip gloss which my cat always seemed to have a sinister fascination with) I stumble upon the books once more. Sitting under the table with a fresh layer of dust was Harry staring up at me, behind him a scarlet steam engine and what looked like owls locked in cages. I make a cup of tea and dust off the cover of the first book. I look down and with a shake of the head clearly indicating the madness of what I am about to do, took a deep breath and began to read the first chapter – The Boy Who Lived.
Harry surprised me, I’m not sure if it was my inner child within or the fact you could sense the underlying depth of where this story wanted to take you but I was hooked, the characters were endearing (even those who was not very pleasant) and by the end you just wanted to know more, at least to say why on earth would anyone want to murder a baby. BINGO, realisation, these were just not “children’s” books, at first glance they seem to be just that but there was this wonderful, fascinating, exciting precedence you just cannot explain to anyone, they were intriguing, inviting and strangely even comforting. Needless to say, I had finished Philosophers Stone by the next day and was eager to begin Chamber of Secrets.
The second book introduced me to one of my favourite characters of all time – Professor Lockhart, a secondary character in the Harry Potter world but still one of the best, complete fraud, narcissistic, self absorbed but utterly brilliantly funny. I cannot think of him without picturing him saying “Magical Me” and “celebrity is as celebrity does Harry” with a gleaming smile and twinkling of an eye. Of course Harry once again faces danger and with the help of his best friends – Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger they triumph once more.
I rush to the local bookstore to buy Prisoner of Azkaban, eager to quench my Potter fix, it didn’t disappoint, and we are introduced to the Marauders and some comfort for Harry in the shape of Sirius Black. We learn more of Voldemort and ponder if Professor Snape is indeed good or bad. The magic draws you in with the cleverly written chapters and characters by the wonderful JK Rowling. She has the ability to take every day (muggle) things and twist them into her magical Potter universe. So utterly simple but brilliant! By this time the phenomena were growing, Potter was becoming a worldwide hit; everywhere you looked it was all to do with Harry.
Saddened by the fact I had no more Potter to read I decided to get the internet connected, I delved into a world of Potter Fandom and never experienced anything quite like it. I was drawn to the theory discussions, the depth and scrutiny of the books was overwhelming, I had gained so much from reading them but this was fandom on another level. I quickly became accompanied with the three leading Harry Potter sites, Mugglenet, Harry Potter Boards wb and The Leaky Cauldron. These were the sites which soon become a huge part of my life and my Harry Potter experience for the next several years. Each delivering something different but was a necessity for any HP fan. We debated, discussed, took apart every sentence, page, chapter bit by bit, we shared the ups and downs of the characters, the newly awaited next book and the film releases, but more importantly we shared a moment in time. It is hard to explain to someone who has never read the books or even read them in that precise moment in history, we was experiencing something exceptional which only comes about once in a lifetime. It was more than sharing an interest in a franchise – it was a bond. We created friendships which would last forever; some of my best friends in the world are owed to this magical phenomenon.
Through the years we got to know each and every character inside out, my favourites always being, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, Snape and Lupin but if someone was to ask me who my favourite characters are I would probably end up naming them all, except, well, maybe Cho and Umbridge would be left out! Then the time came to the last book and sadness filled within and everyone around me, it was so bitter sweet. We were finally going to get answers to all we had discussed, debated and argued these past few years. I have to admit, I kind of felt let down the first time I read Deathly Hallows, I’m not sure if it was because of what we came to know about Dumbledore or how actually terrible Snape’s life had been or that it had just come to an end… But after reading it again, it soon became my favourite, or at least on par with Goblet of Fire and Half Blood prince. I soon forgave Dumbledore and realised that he was always meant for great things and his story was really just as sad as Snape’s. Each and every character was flawed but I guess that is why we connected so well to them.
The books had finished but we still had three films to come, The Half Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows part 1 and Deathly Hallows part 2 the latter just released this past July 2011. I was all set to say goodbye until something extraordinary happened, the media was reporting an announcement to come by JK Rowling, the papers and internet alike was tittering with excitement and JK was trending worldwide. We waited with anticipation, what could the news be? Some of us dreamed of a new book, maybe the long awaited encyclopaedia others thought it could be the next generation of books, focused on the trio’s children, Albus Severus at the centre of them. The old fans from years past came out of the woodwork, excitement once again was felt, for a brief moment we was all took back to those magical times and glimpses of what the fandom once was.
Then on the 23rd June 2011 – JK Rowling addressed her fans:
POTTERMORE
Pottermore had arrived! We had seven days, seven clues; seven chances to become one of the first beta testers to experience Pottermore before it was opened to the worldwide web come October. We gathered and excitedly waited for the clues, some of us stayed up all-night not sleeping and others got up extremely early instead. I had failed to make it in the first few days and on the 4th managed to answer the clue and find the feather! I literally screamed at my computer, I hastily entered my email, choose my username and awaited my confirmation. After a few weeks had passed I finally get my invitation to enter Pottermore, I sheepishly enter my username and password, a surge of excitement and nervousness mixed within me not knowing what I would find and how it would be.
Pottermore was simply delicious, the sheer scope, scale and detailed graphics were perfection! You start off at number 4 Privet Drive, everything you see can be searched, find clues, items and get extra info from each chapter, for instance in the first chapter we learn about how the Dursley’s had met Petunia and Vernon. As we proceed we get our Hogwarts letter, buy our items at Diagon Alley and get sorted ourselves by the Sorting Hat – which has been designed by JK Rowling herself. Which kind of makes you anxious because this is the one and only time it ever mattered, her word is final! Imagine my delight as I became Gryffindor and squealed at my screen.
I am not going to give any details away about Pottermore, you can all experience it for yourselves come October and whilst this is spectacular and I am so grateful that Potter is living on, part of me still lives in hope Jk Rowling puts pen and paper to work once more and invites us back to her world we all have grown to love. Until then, in the words of JK Rowling herself: Whether you return by page or big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.” – J.K Rowling
