Tonight, I'll arrive at Showplace 12 two hours early for the midnight showing of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2." It's not my first Harry Potter midnight showing, but it will be my last.
My colleague, Benjamin, can laugh if he wants. I'm not crying because it's over. I'm just lamenting as I close a major chapter of my childhood. I'll admit I wasn't always a fan.
I remember unwrapping the second Harry Potter book on my 11th birthday. I knew nothing about the series except wands were involved. Nonetheless, I started reading. I was confused by the wizarding world within the first two chapters, so I set the book aside and let it gather dust on a shelf.
One year later, a friend invited me to see "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" with her on opening day. I was instantly hooked.
For the next decade, a decent portion of my life consisted of midnight movie premieres, pre-ordering books, Harry Potter jokes and the occasional themed party. I don't consider myself a superfan — I don't own a cloak or a wand — but my eyes light up and I jump out of my seat when the books are brought up in conversation.
It's because of the magical world J.K. Rowling created. She's not the first to create an alternate universe, but she's the first to suck me into another realm. Rowling puts so much detail into the world of Harry Potter that I find it irresistible. I doubt I'm the only one, since more than 450 million copies of Harry Potter books have been sold.
Some people say Harry Potter is just an escape, and they're right. Of course I'm envious I don't have a flying car or Rita Skeeter's quick quotes quill. I am a muggle, after all.
But there's something special about Harry Potter. Some people get it, some people don't. There are people who go overboard, spending hundreds of dollars on Harry Potter gear. But compared to some other addictions, that's pretty tame.
Some of my friends who criticize "obsessive Potter fans" have more debilitating obsessions. Just today I received a tweet from a friend that said "NCAA 12 just came out. New video game = men in hiding for a few days." I believe him, too.
I'll admit I'm a 22-year-old who loves Harry Potter. Some people may think I'm too old to be anxious for the clock to strike 12:01, but the series was a big part of my childhood.
I've been waiting for this for 10 years, while others have been waiting 14 (since the 1997 book release of "The Sorcerer's Stone"). After such a long time, it's only natural for us to be anxious for the final installment.
Let us finish our childhood. Give us a few days for the excitement to wear off. OK, give us a month. Either way, just give us enough time to finish the final chapter.
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