I learned to read when I was three years old. I read anything and everything I could, and always wanted more. I was first introduced to Harry Potter when I was five years old. It was my sister’s favorite series, so naturally I resisted being interested because it was “Alex’s thing.” But then, everyone I knew was into them, so when I was around seven, I read the first book for the first time. It was slow at first, and I found much of it scary, but I was intrigued. I wanted more of them. When my family when on road trips however, we would listen to the books on tape in the car. This was when I really got into them. They made the car trips seem like minutes instead of hours, and they were something we all had in common that we wanted to be a part of.

Ever since then, I have become OBSESSED with Harry Potter. I’ve read every book at least five times (the seventh book probably 20), and I watch the movies once a month. I know every line to the movies, and my friends refuse to watch them with me because I take over every actor’s part. If anyone challenged me to a Harry Potter Scene-it or Harry Potter trivia game, they would be sorry because I smash everyone every time. I love Harry Potter everything. Most importantly though, I associate Harry Potter with the relationship I have with my family. Listening to the books on tape lead to many discussions about why Harry can’t see thestrals sooner, or whether or not Snape is actually on You-Know-Who’s side. We all get teary-eyed when our favorite characters die (particularly Dumbledore and Dobby), and I’ve been known to use spells on my sister (mainly Avada Kedavra). Traveling to Harry Potter world, although hot and full of endless lines, was one of the most thrilling experiences I have had. Falling in love with butter beer, screaming at the top of my lungs in the Hogwarts ride, and buying Hermione’s wand made the Harry Potter world that much more realistic to me, which makes me feel like a little kid again. My friend had a Time-turner, and we always played Harry Potter during play-dates. I always insisted on being Ginny since Harry had a crush on her.

I learned lessons from Harry Potter as well. Not just potions lessons, or how to pull out a mandrake, but life lessons. I learned what it meant to truly love something. Harry's love for his parents and their love for him, and Voldemort's lack of love in his life taught me the importance of family, just as much as listening to the books did. Harry Potter taught me what true friendship is. All my high school life I have wanted friends like Ron and Hermione. Loyal, trusting, and loving friends are the only thing you truly need to be okay; but of course defeating the Dark Lord helps too. The series also taught me the importance of reading. Being transported to another word by reading words on a page was so thrilling and confusing and wonderful all at the same time. It made me appreciate books, and made me appreciate my father's job as an author.

A lot of people don’t fully understand why I love the Harry Potter series so much. I get chills every time I watch the movies, I still cry when Dumbledore dies no matter how many times I watch it, and the end of the seventh book and movie get me every time. Harry potter was what I knew as a kid; it was what I associated reading with, and the magic was real to me. I still get discouraged when I don’t receive my Hogwarts letter on September 1st (and this year was my last year I could get it so I was extra disappointed). I love my hometown of Sewanee because it reminds everyone of Hogwarts, which makes me feel at home even more than it already does. My school has as house program, and we associate the different houses with the houses at Hogwarts, which makes it all the more fun, at least for me. I feel at home when talking, listening to, watching, or reading Harry Potter. It brought my family closer together than it ever would have been, and for that I am thankful.

Always.