User blog comment:JoePlay/Wizarding World Giveaway/@comment-3249731-20110721090744

Aside from the obvious greatness of the entire story which nearly 3,000 people have already gone over, Potter means a whole lot in my life, and I truly believe that I may not be here now if it weren't for Harry Potter. I was in a great depression when I first entered the Potter fandom, and were it not for my curiosity and desperate need to find "fun" in life again (due to heartbreak and physical disability), I met my current beloved in late 2002.

Snape's story in particular is a story that I can relate to:  Having a childhood love only to have lost her. The pain in that is enough to make one insane, and for me, it did for a while. But I found solace and escape in the books, and once Snape's mystery and his intentions were revealed, it was very moving to me. I could literally feel his heartbreaking (within my own chest) in the movie adaptation of HP7 that's out right now.

And while the Potterverse themes do contain friendship, loyalty, love, for as much magic and wizarding as it contains, their parallels to our world are indisputable. Not every character--even the "good" ones--are perfect. Everyone has flaws. As much of a hero Snape is, he was soured by life well before he met eyes with little Harry during his sorting ceremony. As great as Dumbledore was--as he was "the greatest sorcerer in the world" at one point--he still had demons in his past that he never quite rid himself of. Especially the trio--Harry, Ron and Hermione--as great friends as they are, they aren't entirely squeaky clean characters, even as told through Harry's voice throughout seven books. Somehow, J.K. Rowling was able to create an enjoyable, alternate universe that is not so different from ours, yet entirely based on magic and fantasy...and for that, I will always appreciate the Potter books and their very big contribution to entertainment.