I have been a fan of J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series since my mother started reading the books to me way back when I was little. I listened to Jim Dale tell me the stories, and I read each book through at least seven times. When I am sick, upset, just waking up from a nightmare, or simply in need of some comfort, I will pull out a book and start reading again. I call them my “security blanket”. It truly doesn’t matter that I know some passages by heart; the words put me right at home. At this point, my copies are incredibly worn; covers peeling and pages folding. The spine on the first one started coming apart long ago, but I don’t care.
I didn’t know you could fall in love with a story until I read these books. I love them the way I love a person for all they have brought me. If I have kids, I will share these stories with them as soon as they’re ready for them, because I want them to love Harry Potter as much as I do. J.K. Rowling is a captivating writer and inspiring woman, and I will always love opening one of her books. These books are an example of brilliant storytelling; adventure, suspense, love, and, of course, magic. They never fail to transport me. It is the characters, however, that bring me back again and again. I love them as I love my friends, and have learned so much from them.
Hermione taught me being a know-it-all can me downright useful, even if your friends make fun of you for it. I still cheer every time she punches Malfoy in the face. She is funny and loving and incredibly strong. I always wanted to dress up as Hermione when I was little, and even made all my friends call me "Hermy" for a while. I made my mom braid my hair so it would come out wavy and a little bushy, as described in the books. She was always, and in some ways still is, my hero.
Snape taught me how much there is to a person, if you take the time to look. Ron taught me humor and loyalty and love. Harry taught me strength. None of them were perfect and they all messed up, but that made them so much more real. I have laughed out loud and cried thick tears while reading these books. They hold so much to be felt, learned and loved.
Now, I also love the movies. I am always down for a good Harry Potter movie marathon, but they have never replaced the books for me. The books hold the detailed prose describing every curl of Snape’s upper lip and twinkling of Dumbledore’s half-moon spectacles. I’m also a total sucker for the feel of holding and reading an old book. I love my seven books, each sitting on my bookshelf in a row. They might be battered and fading, but they are just as inviting as they have always been.
