I hadn't seen a "Harry Potter" film in a movie theatre since 2011. Back then, I was only 17 years old, still in high school and my hair was way too long. And that year, I didn't think I'd ever see another "Potter" film in a movie theater ever again, making the experience all the more depressing.

So, many months ago when J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers Studios announced that they were going to turn the Hogwarts textbook "Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them" into a movie series, I almost screamed. (Okay, I actually screamed. It was loud.)

I was so excited for this movie. It was a "Harry Potter" movie! What wasn't there to be excited about? But then, I started to really think about it. What if they were making this without any story in mind? What if, like so many people had been saying, it was just for profit? Oh my God, what if it was awful?! Now, I was terrified.

As the release date for the movie neared, I started getting worried about the first batch of the reviews that would come through. I imagined ones similar to "Suicide Squad" and my heart sank. But then, when the movie actually came out, I started seeing positive feedback.

God, I was so happy. "Harry Potter" has been such a big part of my life for so long, and the thought of bad "Potter" stuff being out there made me really sad. (I don't want to talk about "Cursed Child", okay?) You never want the thing you love the most to look bad, you know?

I didn't get to see "Fantastic Beasts" opening weekend. I guess that's part of getting older. I don't have the time to dress up like Nymphadora Tonks and go to the midnight premiere. I don't have the time to buy tickets three weeks in advance. It makes me a little sad to think about, actually. Getting older is weird. You love a lot of the same things you loved when you were younger, but you sort of have to love them at more of a distance because so many other things take precedence.

When I did go see it, though, I went in with an optimistic mind. The reviews I had seen were good, and I love Eddie Redmayne so I figured I'd like something about this movie.

Well, I was totally right, thank God, because I adore this movie. I went with two of my friends from high school, one of whom was a big "Potter" fan like I was. I had actually seen the first half of "Deathly Hallows" with him when it was released at midnight.

It was so cool to sit there as people closely encroaching full-fledged adulthood. We had grown up with "Harry Potter" and now, as we had lives filled with student debt, impending graduations, and jobs, we were continuing our journey in this magical universe.

The movie was beautiful. I can't even tell you how much I loved the costumes and the setting. 1920's Manhattan, what's not to love? Something else I really admired about this movie is that it was a "Harry Potter" film that did not rely on Harry Potter's story. There weren't many references to the British magical ministry or the Potter family. Any references made about Hogwarts were necessary to the story.

"Fantastic Beasts" was a good movie on its own, which made me a very satisfied Potterhead. And, of course, Eddie Redmayne brought such an amazing performance to the table as Newt Scamander. It's not often we see a male protagonist who is not impacted by toxic masculinity, and it was really refreshing to see that not occur.

Looking ahead, I know there are four more "Fantastic Beasts" movies in store for us, and this first film has left me hopeful for a continued great story. I really appreciate being able to watch these movies for the first time as an adult. There's definitely things in them that you aren't able to catch when you're a kid.

I'm grateful that "Harry Potter" has been such a constant in my life, and I'm excited that I'll be able to continue to have it in my life. If you get the chance, go see "Fantastic Beasts". It's worth the $10 ticket, and it'll make you feel like you've entered the "Potter" universe for the first time all over again.