The legend lives on

As I stare at a shelf full of Harry Potter things, I cannot help but wish the series will never  end. I feel like I am a part of  the wizarding world and I am afraid that if I finish reading the last book or watch the last movie, its magic will burst like a bubble. It scares me because Harry Potter has already become a part of my life.

I was in grade 3 when I borrowed “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” from my close friend. At first, I doubted  if I was going to like it since I am no bookworm. But as soon as I started to read the book, I found myself immersed in its enchantments and I wished that I didn’t have to return it to its owner. But I had to, so I did the next best thing, which was to read the book three times. And I was amazed to find the same longing each time I finished reading it.

Harry Potter was my introduction to the written world. I became fond of reading because of it.

I was 10 years old when I read the first Harry Potter book. When Christmas came, I only had one wish: to have all of the Harry Potter books from volume 1 to 4. And I was so glad to hold, feel and smell them.

From then on, I quite literally grew up with Harry Potter. I started collecting HP stuff and my shelf started looking more crowded with every year that passed. My shelf is actually small, but it is full of HP stuff.

When my 11th birthday came, I wished that Hagrid would destroy our door and give me my Hogwarts letter of acceptance, but I quickly realized that that would be scary. Besides a half-giant would not fit inside our house, so I thought an owl would do. I waited and waited until midnight, but it never came. I felt like a child who has just discovered that Santa Claus is not real but still likes the idea so she keeps loving the cheerful, red and round guy.

My love for Harry Potter never faltered. I attended every HP movie  premier in the only movie house in our city. I was there staring at the sky, hoping to see a witch riding her broomstick. I was there waiting patiently and gratefully for generous people to present me with new Harry Potter books. The lessons of Professor Dumbledore are still etched in my memory. The jokes of Fred and George Weasley still crack me up, and the friendship of Harry, Ron and Hermione continues to touch me in every way, every time.

It’s a remarkable experience growing up with Harry Potter. The characters in the books helped me in ways that I cannot count or fathom.

Right now I am just a few pages away from finishing the seventh book. As I enter the real world I will always remember Albus Dumbledore’s words: “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”

Even though JK Rowling has already concluded her epic series and the last movie has been shown, I think that Potterheads should not fret for we know that Harry Potter’s legend will live on and stay in our hearts forever.

For now I think young muggles should focus on how we can destroy our own Voldemorts because I believe all of us are “Chosen Ones.” It is up to us if we will harken to that call.  Reality bites, and maybe we cannot bite it back but we sure can change it. We learned from Harry Potter that we should never give up no matter how powerful our opponents are and no matter how lost and confused we are. We should keep moving forward calculating our steps in our struggle to uplift society, protect the environment, develop the economy and bring peace to our country. We should stand up for what is right and we should fight to save ourselves, our country and our world.

I was not able to watch part 2 of the last movie and it pains me. However, I have to rid myself of that feeling because I have a more important duty to my world than the wizarding world. As I leave home and my HP shelf, I bring with me my HP heart, bravery and wisdom as I and other young people from around the globe try to unite our world with the most powerful force of wizards, muggles and all humans know, the force that keeps Harry Potter alive, the force that inspires me to hope and dream of a better future, the force that will help light emerge from darkness: LOVE.

I hope everyone will find that magical force in them and let the legend live on.

Amanda Thea V. Maceda, 21, a BS Math fresh graduate of the University of the Philippines Visayas in Tacloban City.