User blog comment:JoePlay/Wizarding World Giveaway/@comment-4157943-20110717023232

The answer to this is impossible to summarize, because Harry Potter is my entire childhood wrapped into 7 books and 8 films. When I was 3 years old, I started to write and for as long as I can remember, books had been apart of my life. I would create and weave tales and have others write them down for me. Books were my favourite things in the entire world, but when I turned 6 -- I suddenly lost interest in them. I grew annoyed with reading and that was when my mother bought me the first harry potter book. At first, it bored me, but when I turned 8 I was forced into a new school and it was a whole new world for me. The only thing that kept me going was a room mother who read out of Philosopher's Stone to us during the latter parts of the schoolday. Immediately, I was hooked. I went home and read -- and I read and read and then I got the next one. For I could relate to the boy with the scar who suddenly found himself in a new world. From then Harry Potter was my life. I was there in line waiting for my pre-ordered books. When the first movie came out, my dad brought me to see it on opening day. From then, every single release had me standing in line at the soonest possible moment. I envisioned my wand, my patronus, and even my house -- ravenclaw by the way! When the fifth book came out, my frustrations with my family were at an all time high because no one would bring me to get my book! However, upon arriving home that night I saw it on the table and was buried for days. I made friends over Harry Potter and was taught life lessons. I learned bravery from the Gryffindors, loyalty from Ron, how it's alright to be a bookworm from Hermione. I learned how to be eccentric from Luna, patient from Ginny, and how to truly make sacrifices like Snape. The twins taught me to joke while Neville showed me how to be a true hero. I feel like I know each and every one of them like friends. They've guided me through every single moment of my childhood. There was a time in middle school when I was forced to live a lonely existence. I was confined to my grandfather's house and everything I loved had been taken from me -- music, TV, internet, friends, and even my parents...and then I realized that there was still one last place for me to hide. I read harry potter and that was what got me through. Harry Potter is more than just a book series like JK Rowling feels like more than a person to me. She's saved my life. Harry Potter helped create who I am. It's been there for me and I've been there for it -- walking the castle corridors and learning spells alongside the students. Not only has it been the only consistent thing in a muddled life, but it's brought me to truly know the only passion I'll ever have -- writing. When the last note of the theme faded into silence and the credits began to roll on July 15, I felt as if something had been ripped from me that would never be replaced. I cried as if I lost a friend and ever since there's been nothing to console me. If I gained the chance to actually go to Hogwarts and drink Butterbeer, receive a wand and see the Three Broomsticks, I would be living my childhood in a more magical way than ever before. There is nothing in the world that could make me happier.