User blog comment:JoePlay/Wizarding World Giveaway/@comment-4145062-20110714023002

Harry Potter has been in my life... for 13 years. That's a majority of my life. I can't imagine what my life would be like without these amazing books. They got me through every part of my childhood. It seemed as though these books went through every stage of my life. Maybe it's because I practically aged along with the books. In the year my depression hit me strongest, the Order of the Phoenix came out and that book taught me how to push through, how to keep going, how in the long run, it was worth it. Harry Potter was my childhood. J.K. Rowling was my childhood. Snape taught me that no matter what mistakes you've made, you can always turn yourself around. You can always make up for it. He was the bravest wizard in the book, in my opinion and he went through the most. He taught me about bravery. I love the books more than anything. So much so that I tattooed my foot. It's green for Slytherin and for Snape... with Snape's wand, his patronus's footprints and the saying "It's Real For Us". Nobody but dedicated fans would understand it. These books are real. What Harry Potter means to me... is my childhood. It means staying at a theater or bookstore all day waiting for the next book or movie to come out. It means friendship. No other fanbase is as dedicated as this one. When you meet a Harry Potter fan, you understand each other. We're there for each other. It means wanting nothing more than to live in that fantasy world. It means waiting for your owl. It means every little thing reminding you of those books you read. It means that no matter how old you are or how many years go by that there are no more books or movies to wait in line for... you will still love them. You will still hold the dream, the story in your heart. Harry Potter to me... means home. It always will. Thank you for everything, J.K. Rowling. Thank you for giving us a home.