ah, harry, how we'll miss you

Isabelle, Jazzmyn, Brynn, Emily,
Shelby, Dawson, & Valerie

This Thursday our home was invaded by Professor McGonagall, Luna Lovegood, Hermione as she is being sorted, a Gryffindor student, a deatheater, a muggle, Aunt Petunia, and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named himself.

Our long-standing tradition of dressing up and attending the midnight showing continued for this, the final movie in the Harry Potter series. Kids (whose parents are more normal and went to bed instead of acting like they were still in their teens) came to our home to watch the first half of The Deathly Hallows and continued on in the gigantic family van to the theater. We were the group taking pictures by the movie poster, watching The Half-Blood Prince on the iPod/Bose SoundDock while waiting in line, and chatting excitedly over which scenes we were the most excited to see brought to life. Hermione as Belatrix, the final duel between Harry & Voldemort, the kiss between Ron & Hermione, the dragon busting them out of Gringots . . .

Brynn & Isabelle

Actually - you wouldn't have been able to pick us out of the line very easily. There were literally hundreds of people just like us standing in line, waiting to get into the theater and grab the best seats possible. And since all three theaters showing the film were sold out, I was extremely grateful that Scott insisted we needed to leave at 10:15 for a 12:05 showing. Even with what I was sure was an insanely early time to arrive at the theater, there were about 50 people ahead of us in line.

The perfect Lupin Moon
as we arrived.

As were sat in our seats watching people stream through the doors, I enjoyed seeing the costumes come in, listening to the excited chatter, and watching our group of very giggly girls in the back of the theater. (Dawson couldn't take it: he moved up and sat with Scott and I with our more sedate group.) There were grandparents with their grandchildren, families like ours, groups of 20, and people who came alone. There was no end to the differences but the same comment issued from all corners.

I can't believe it's over.

Yes, we have discovered Rick Riordan and his Olympians, his Kane Chronicles, and his 39 Clues. Yes we were introduced to Flannagan's The Ranger's Apprentice and Birdsall's Penderwicks. Yes, there are literally 20+ books on our shelves upstairs that we are still waiting to read for the first time.

Swooning over Harry
Simultaneous gagging over the swooning

I know The Hobbit is coming with all its Peter Jackson perfection. I know that, as Scott says, we are living smack in the middle of the golden age of great film series: Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Indiana Jones (ignore the second film, please).

But Harry Potter has truly been magical. Our kids have no memories which aren't drenched in the world  of Harry Potter. They have enjoyed the books and the films as much as Scott & I have. They have journeyed with Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, Snape, Dumbledore, and McGonagall with an utter joy in the storytelling. Our kids are more familiar with Jim Dale's voice from his reading of the audio books than any singer to hit the top ten.

Professor McGonagall looking
over Luna's shoulder

We are all going to miss the anticipation, the discovery, the excitement. I will miss hearing the plots of the newest books discussed in earnest for weeks after the first reading. I will even miss the arguments which inevitably erupted during heated debates over whether a character's choice was wise or not.

And so, as I sat in the theater watching the final film, cheering during iconic moments and crying when my heart was aching, it was bittersweet. Rowling wrote the series to a perfect close. I couldn't have asked for more. And yet, I will miss it.

He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named
confronting Harry

So now, we have all turned our attentions to Keats, Aidan, Abigail, & Elyas. They are our next best hope. As they grow and discover the world of Harry Potter, we'll be along for the ride. And we'll remember again the joys of our own discovery when Harry was new.

It promises to be magically fun.