User blog comment:JoePlay/Wizarding World Giveaway/@comment-4157510-20110717010411

Harry Potter was my childhood. I am recently coming down off a high that was a 22 hour Harry Potter marathon of which I bought tickets to see on the mega screen at a Wehrenberg theater. It was the greatest/saddest day of my life. The first movie was to be shown at 5am. I arrived at 3am so as to get a decent spot in line and I was there until 3am the following day after seeing the midnight showing of The Deathly Hallows Part 2 in 3D. I sat directly in the middle and only left my seat durring a movie when my bladder made it absolutely necessary. In between movies I would run out and inhale a cigarette or dash the the concession stand whilst charing through any who stood in my path so as not to miss a second of the thing that has, as I have previously mentioned, come to define my childhood. I, of couse, knew what to expect having read the books numerous times and had countless viewings of each movie (barring Pt. 2 of course) but nothing could have prepared me for the emotional onslaught that was to come...what came out of me at each and ever turn. Yes, I've read/seen Dumbledore and Sirius die, but watching it on no sleep as my mind continued to wander amidst itself pondering the reality of the imminent end, I found myself on a very real path to a mental breakdown. Dumbledore was no longer just Harry's mentor but MINE as well. Sirius was now MY godfather and last chance at a normal family and after his most untimely death at the hands of one Bellatrix Lestrange, I found myself muttering "Crucio" under my breath, wishing that Harry would say the same as he chased her through the darkened halls of the Ministry of Magic. As we all know, he does not give her that roaring torture I am sure many us of Potter-nuts so desired, but alas that is what makes Harry, Harry. He has taught countless lessons to scores of children through his merciful and loving ways. Yet he is not without reproach which gives credence to the reality of Harry Potter (even if he was created in a fictional world of fantasy). The Harry Potter books gave me my first thirst for literature being that they were the first books I read outside of a school curriculum and the Harry Potter movies gave me my first thirst for cinema (not to mention a thirst Emma Watson and Bonnie Wright, haha) being one of the first movies I can recall seeing in theaters and requesting on the all but deceased format of VHS. I still have my tiny Harry Potter costume from years ago that I dare not attempt to wrap around my body again (although I must admit to, on occasion, digging up that old wand and flourishing it about whilst shouting those silly incantations; "Petrificus Totalus" "Stupefy" and my favorite still to this day, "Wingardium Leviosa"). I am 21 years of age now and making a fool of myself as I continue to make my way back to the theater for yet another helping of Harry Potter with tears streaming down my face only to be caught by my Hagrid-esque beard. This is more than the end of a book series, this is more than the end of an epic saga, this is the end of an era. Once again, for me and many more, Harry Potter was our childhood and now it is over...so pick up those books and pop in those movies and let's start this shit all over again because Harry Potter will never die, not at the hands of Lord Voldemort and not in our memories.