I think I speak for all die-hard "Harry Potter" fans when I say that the love for this series will live on forever. No amount of time will cause the hype for this saga to die out. While for most of us it seems like just yesterday that "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2" was in theaters, July 15 actually marked the four-year anniversary of the final series installment's release
If you're anything like me, you grew up always awaiting the release of the next "Harry Potter" movie (or book) and spent a lot of time watching and re-watching the movies that had previously been released. Then, every few years or so when a new movie was coming out, it became such a big deal for my whole family; it was kind of like a holiday. "Harry Potter" was something that seized the whole family's attention and will continue to do so for years to come.
Without further ado, here are my top 13 reasons, in reverse order, why "Harry Potter" captured my heart forever.
13. The Hogwarts letter
Every time I see Harry get his letter of acceptance to Hogwarts, I feel a tiny jolt of jealousy. I still hope one day I'll get one in the mail. (I mean, who hasn't wanted one of those letters?)
12. The burrow
If you know anything at all about "Harry Potter," you know that the Weasleys aren't known for having a lot of money, but you also know they still have the coolest house around. The first time at the burrow, in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets," raised all expectations for my future home.
11. Quidditch
I'm not big into sports, but Quidditch is clearly the most exciting game ever invented. If I could turn on a sports channel to watch it, I would.
10. The Deathly Hallows
The Deathly Hallows was a tragic tale with a great meaning. No matter how old I am, The Deathly Hallows will still always be my favorite bedtime story. It is interesting that the more a person is warned away from something, the more they want it.
9. Ron and Hermione's love
Throughout the whole "Harry Potter" series, there are tiny moments when we see Ron and Hermione showing tiny feelings for each other. We were all rooting for them from the beginning, so no matter how many times I watch this scene, it always gives me a cathartic release. It also never fails to be the best first kiss in history.
8. Dobby
Out of all the tragic deaths throughout the "Harry Potter" series, no death hit me quite like Dobby's did. He was always there to really help Harry when he needed it, even if he knew he would receive a beating for even thinking of helping Harry and his friends. Dobby did everything out of the goodness of his heart, never expecting anything in return. More people should take a page out of Dobby's book and be more selfless.
R.I.P. Dobby.
7.The Weasley Twins
Every time I see the Weasley twins together, I only wish I had a twin even more. Their antics always keep everyone entertained and even help lighten darker situations. While they goofed around a lot, they are two people you could go to with any problem, and they would try to help any way they could.
6. The moving pictures
Out of all the awesome spells that Harry and his friends can perform, I wish we had moving pictures in our everyday lives. The way the newspapers and paintings came to live always enticed me. We already have GIFs online; can't someone figure out a way to make those work for our newspapers, please?
5. Flying
No matter how stereotypical it may seem to be able to fly on a broom if you're a witch, I want to learn. The scene where all the first year students are learning to fly still remains one of my favorites.
4. Severus Snape
Snape is probably the most complex character ever written. He was truly a great man for many reasons: He loved a woman he could never have. He cared for a boy he pretended to despise. He granted Dumbledore his dying request and helped fight against the more dangerous wizard of all time. He lived a tragic life full of a lot of pain and had to see and do a lot of terrible things to survive, but he still remained a remarkable man.
3. Dumbledore
Dumbledore always gave the best advice, even if sometimes it didn't make a bit of sense when he first gave it. He was a man with many secrets, who tried to convey his collected wisdom to young wizard minds in Hogwarts.
2. Harry's Parents
We all know the story of how Harry's parents died and how their sacrifice saved Harry, but the story always reminds me of their bravery, and I will always respect how they gave up everything for their son.
1. Friendship
The top reason "Harry Potter" stole my heart is the friendship these three have. Through years of hardships, they have always stuck together and sacrificed for one another. They fought like all other friends, but their friendship never died out. Each complements the others, always bringing each other up and never dragging each other down. They are the very image of friendship goals.
No matter how many years go by, "Harry Potter" will never leave the hearts of fans. The adventures of Harry and his friends are timeless, not to mention great movies for the whole family. So if you ever find yourself bored on a Saturday night, pop a "Harry Potter" DVD in and binge watch the greatest series of our time.
