Because the magic lives on…

I was 9 or 10 when an older cousin of mine, Ate Vaness, asked me if I know and read Harry Potter. I shook my head and said no. She introduced me a bit about this book about wizardry and magic. But that was it.

Shortly after I came across about the news of the book being made into a movie. I was excited for some reason ‘cause this must be something great after all ‘cause the book was made into a movie. I remember asking my dad to grab some copy of the movie (yes, pirated cds) days or a week after the showing. I was grade 5 by that time, I’m good at my English subjects but not really familiar with British accents and expressions. So it was tough for me to understand the film. So I had to watch it twice to finally understand what the hell was happening in the film. I even invited my friends at our place to watch it all together and gushed over Dan. We were all getting *kilig* ‘cause we noticed that one of our guy classmate resembles Dan. And that boy was my biggest & longest crush, my puppy love, and my first heartbreak.

Before the second movie came out, I already read the 2nd book, the Chamber of secrets, the first ever fictional book that I actually finished, understood, and read with enthusiasm. What’s funny though was that, the book wasn’t mine. It was my late grandmother’s book. Of course my grandma did not read it ‘cause she doesn’t like stuff that has wizardry and witchcraft on it (she was a solid Catholic and she’s half Spanish). I remember having an argument with her and locked myself at our room (yes, I once share the room w/ my grandma) for several hours. I was dying from boredom, so picked up the book and started reading. The following day, i did not eat lunch to finish the book. And on that day, I knew Harry Potter is going to change my life forever.

I borrowed books from friends, forced my parents to pay for movie tickets and watch it with me. Fought with my parents, but more of just my dad, because they did not want me to watch The Chamber of Secrets movie and be engrossed with all these wizardry & witchcraft fandom. But then they have to give up and buy me cds of the movie. Went to a family gathering only to end up ignoring them all because I was busy finishing book 5, Order of the Phoenix. I chanted spells on school games/activities. Read and followed fan fictions and rooted for H/HR (harry-hermione) and Hermione-Draco pairing. Wished I can pull of British accent decently. Cried when I found out Dumbledore died. Hated Cho Chang & Ginny Weasley. Watched and read Twilight just because I learned Robert Pattinson was Edward, and I pretty much gushed over him on the Goblet of Fire movie. Loved boys wearing glasses because they are so cool. I even had dreams about Harry, Hermione, and Ron being my friends, riding a cab, traveling the streets of London.

Basically, I grew up, lived my teenage life, having Harry Potter as books to read and movies that I must watch. I may not be one of the biggest fans of the series, but it was something i enjoyed, loved and has become part of my life.

10 years has passed. Dan Radcliffe may no longer be one of my biggest crushes. And though I might still be in love with the same boy from 5th grade whom I called my real life Harry Potter, the magical and spectacular series has to end. But the story lives forever in our hearts. Just like what J.K Rowling herself has said, Hogwarts will always be there.