Birthday For Two

"And he couldn't know that at this very moment, people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices: "To Harry Potter–the boy who lived!"

Today, two of my favorite people celebrate birthdays, Harry Potter and his author J.K. Rowling. It's hard to describe the impact that these books have had on my life. I can remember sitting in Ms. Higgins' fifth-grade class wondering what all the hype was about; "A boy wizard," I thought, "that's dumb." In fact it wasn't until November of the next year that my eyes were truly opened to Harry's wonderous world.

I went with my aunt and my sister to see Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I remember it was a cold, blustery November evening and the theater was almost empty. I had attempted, back in fifth grade, to read the book that this movie was based on but I didn't get very far. I hated reading and plus, a boy wizard, that was dumb. The movie started and all-of-a-sudden, it was as if my imagination had sloshed out onto the screen. The setting, the characters and the mood of the opening scene on Privet Drive were exactly as I'd imagined them. I walked out of the theater in awe. The next thing we did was head to Target Greatland in search of the soundtrack. I didn't know who wrote the music, or even if you could buy soundtracks in the store, just that something about that music moved me; it was as if I had heard it before, sometime long ago, or in a dream. We found the CD and bought it right away. It was written by some guy–John Williams, I didn't know him.

It wasn't until the next year that I actually picked up a book and began to read. In middle school, we would go to the library once a week. It was a complete joke. Nobody actually read anything, I certainly never did. And then I saw it, sitting neatly on a shelf: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. "Well," I thought, "it wouldn't hurt to at least try to read it before the movie comes out." And so, it began. Every week while my class sat around the library, bored, talking blandly to one another, I would escape to a secluded corner and fall once again into Harry's world. Having never enjoyed reading before, I was slow, managing about one chapter per class period. By Christmas, I had finish Chamber and received Prisoner of Azkaban as a gift. I flew through that book faster than any I had read before. By the debut of the Chamber of Secrets film, I had finished not only Azkaban but Goblet of Fire as well.

Waiting for the next book, I wandered into the amazing online fan community where I immersed myself in editorials, Fan Fiction and forum discussion about the books I had originally thought to be 'dumb'. I celebrated the release of the title, Order of the Phoenix, and mourned the loss of Sirius Black with my new found family of more than one-million. Not long after, J.K. Rowling opened her personal website and fans around the globe rejoiced. Together, we found the clues, uncovered the secrets and reveled over the smallest tidbits of information we were given.

After Half-Blood Prince was released in 2005, I heard about podcasting and decided to see what all the buzz was about. This was it: weekly talk shows made by fans of the books, to discuss theories, interview important people involved with the series and make the most of the books we have come to love, my way of escaping the drama and stress of daily life. Melissa, John and Sue, the hosts of PotterCast, soon became like friends and I am thrilled that I had the opportunity to meet them this summer.

Deathly Hallows marked the end of the books series that has captivated so many. Some may wonder why we are so passionate about these books and, as I said, it's difficult to explain. This world, so rich in detail and mystery and magic, complete with its own history and customs, has a way of drawing you in. As fans, we feel at home in Harry's world as much as, if not more so than our own. For many teens and young adults, Harry Potter has helped them to discover what kind of people they are or want to be. I know it has for me and on their birthdays, I say to Harry and Jo, I am extremely grateful.