Harry Potter

Obsessed. Obsessed. Obsessed. And oh yeah, obsessed.

I started the whole thing the year Half Blood Prince came out. My nephew came home from school with a copy and asked if I wanted to read it as he is too ‘cool’ to read. I replied with a “nah, I’ll wait for the film to come out”, as I was going through a ‘can’t be arsed to read’ phase. I ended up getting so bored while at my sisters that I went upstairs, sprawled out on a bed and began to read.

About two days later I found myself back in my sisters. Asked by my nephew where I was in the book I replied, very enthusiastically, that I was finished and loved the whole thing and that it was the greatest book ever and he should really read it too.

I don’t think he did, his loss, my gain, as a year later when I wanted to re-cap on what happened before I began Deathly Hallows, he gave me his book. It’s now, not only my favourite book of the series, but my favourite book.

Whenever I feel sad, whenever I feel lonely I pick it up and re-read it. Despite it always bringing tears to my eyes at the end. Tears of sadness, tears of anger. “Don’t do it, Snape. He’s your friend, your only friend” a common sentence that can be heard from my room towards the very end. As Elaine so eloquently put it the night before Deathly Hallows, “damn you Snape, damn you to hell” (Snape is her favourite character “do not tell me you would not hit that!?” and we know he was exonerated in the end, but still, it hurt, it was Dumbledore after all.)

Post-DH I really got into the whole thing. Whereas, I first hid my Harry leanings I now embrace them fully. Much to my families embarrassment, they think I’m at that age now when I should be over this sort of malarkey. Reading kids books, collectibles, dressing Hogwarts style on Halloween, pfftt!!! Get a life, Ashling!

Perhaps I’ll ask Chrissie to buy me a life for my next birthday, as her gift of a wand last year can not be beaten

I am not ashamed, I have a life, it just so happens to have a lot of Harry Potter stuff in it. Better than having a life with a lot of heroin in it. And judging by the people I encounter on the leaky cauldron I am not the only one who basks in the world of the boy who lived. So if you would excuse me I am heading back to the lounge to continue a game of 20 questions.

 

POTTER FOR PRESIDENT!