This is the story of a young girl meeting
the love of her life. The book love of her life, that is. The story of
me and Harry Potter (dramatic, isn’t it?)
I first heard of Harry Potter when I read
part of chapter four of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone (Harry
Potter og Viskusteinninn if you are interested in the Icelandic title)
in the children’s section of a newspaper. That was just before Christmas
of 1999 when I was 9 years old. I remember reading about when Hagrid
bursts through the door of the shack in the middle of the sea and tells
Harry he’s a wizard. I still remember the feeling I got reading it and I
knew I had to read the whole book. Thankfully, I got the book from my
mom and dad for Christmas and I can safely say it was the best Christmas
present I had ever received, still is come to think of it. This present
would continue to give so much for the next 12 years and even though
Harry’s adventure is officially over, both in books and films, I know it
will stay with me forever.
For the next eight years I would wait
eagerly for each book. Not only to see what happened to Harry, Ron,
Hermione and everyone else but also to get back to Hogwarts and the
world created by the amazing J.K. Rowling. The world it self and the
little things that made it was a lot of the time more interesting to me
than the action. I still think about the little things Rowling never
explained. For example, where do Hogwarts students get their haircuts
through out the school year? Where do they get essentials such as
toothpaste, new underwear and (for the girls) sanitary towels? OK, I’m
over thinking this, aren’t I? Oh, and where do the students who aren’t
old enough to go to Hogsmeade buy Christmas presents for their friends? I
NEED TO KNOW!
OK, back to my story….
I was never really that fan who waited in
the lines for the midnight release. I just got the books as soon as I
could the next day. I’m just not the type to wait all night in a queue. I
did go to every movie premier but that’s not that big here in Iceland. A
premier of a non-Icelandic film is just like any other movie showing
here in Iceland.
But my lack of enthusiastic queuing is not a
sign of a lesser fan, let me tell you! I still follow news on Harry
Potter related stuff and I hired Stephen Fry to read the books for me
every night until I fall asleep (I think some people refer to this kind
of service as “audio books”)
The Harry Potter books aren’t just books to
me and millions of other fans around the world. It’s our second home, a
safe place (well, it is now thanks to Harry!) to escape to when life is
hard. And like J.K. Rowling so beautifully said in her speech at the
last movie premier: “Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home”.
(cue the tears!)
I hope in the future when I have children of
my own that I can send them on that same journey I took all those years
ago. I think everyone should visit Hogwarts and meet all those
wonderful characters who taught me to be courageous in the face of
adversity, believe in myself even if no one else does, be proud of being
clever, that it’s okay to be a bit different (Luna!), chocolate fixes
everything and, like Dumbledore said, just because it’s happening inside
your head doesn’t mean it’s not real.
So that’s it, my Harry Potter story, more or less. I really hope you enjoyed it and please comment telling me your story! 
