Back in June, fans all over the world celebrated and rejoiced the 20th anniversary of the first release of “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”. The book that started a worldwide, lifelong phenomenon, Harry Potter has managed to impact almost every little kid’s childhood or anyone who had a dream of getting away to a faraway place and discovering magic. All my life, the series has been a constant companion for me and no matter what, it always takes up a special place in my heart.
1. Remember when Hagrid came and saved Harry from his nightmare relatives?
He also delivered a pretty life-changing truth.
2. Harry, Ron and Hermione met for the first time ever.
They didn’t know it at that moment, but they were about to start a lifelong, unbreakable bond.
3. Seeing Diagon Alley for the first time.
Seriously, how awesome is that?!
4. The Hat almost put Harry in Slytherin...
If you’re sure....better be...GRYFFINDOR!
5. Harry saw his parents for the first time through a mirror.
That’s pretty much a cry moment if I ever saw one.
6. Hagrid gave Harry his own scrapbook of pictures of his parents.
I feel like this moment’s a bit easily forgettable and that’s sad, because it’s his parents and he’s literally never been able to know them.
7. Harry and Ron flew the flying car unsupervised to Hogwarts.
Cause why the f*ck not? You gotta create your return with a bang somehow.
8. Harry freed Dobby
Bless his frickin’ twelve-year-old heart.
9. “There’s no Hogwarts without you, Hagrid”.
How much pure could you get?
10. “NOT MY DAUGHTER, YOU BITCH!”
Molly is just goals all the time, especially when she takes Bellatrix down.
11. Hermione punched Malfoy.
I always wonder how many takes that scene had to have...
12. Harry and Sirius meet.
Later on, Sirius delivers this really deep, touching line.
13. Harry’s first kiss.
Okay, yes, about almost all of us pretty much hated Cho...but why shouldn’t we just appreciate this cute rite of passage for him before it all blew up?
14. Hermione’s Yule Ball entrance.
She kinda proves that just because you’re intelligent, doesn’t mean you can’t look like a beauty queen.
15. Harry’s Felix Felicis stupor.
I think we all had some questionable thoughts about him during this scene.
16. Harry and Luna’s friendship.
She’s a bit of an oddball, but he doesn’t care. This is probably one of my favorite friendships in the whole series and I’m still upset it wasn’t developed a bit more. They had so much in common and they really connected with each other.
17. Raising our wands for Dumbledore.
And now, after every cast member’s tragic death, this becomes a popular gif on social media (R.I.P. Richard Harris (Dumbledore 1-2), Roger Lloyd-Pack (Barty Crouch Jr.), John Hurt (Ollivander), Richard Griffiths (Uncle Vernon), Alan Rickman (Severus Snape), and recently, Robert Hardy (Cornelius Fudge))
18. Neville slays the snake.
Seriously, this guy. He’s such a BAMF.
19. Also Neville’s speech.
20. Harry vs. Voldemort.
No matter how much people weren’t exactly okay with how he died, compared to the way the book wrote it, you gotta admit, at least he’s finally dead.
So thank you J.K. Rowling for your inspirational, amazing wizarding world. You gave us something to look forward to every time we purchased a new book. You gave us something to hold on to even after the book’s end. It’s been a great 20 years. Something I will always treasure.
