I’m not ashamed to admit this: I love Harry Potter. So what if I’m a 20 year-old college student? I’ve loved that little bespectacled wizard since I first laid eyes on him, nine long years ago. I was only 11 at the time, an innocent preteen, just beginning to delve into the fascinating world of literature. I’d never read anything like Harry Potter and after finishing the first book, I was already emotionally invested in every character and was aching to find out what would happen next. Nine long years later, I’m still here, impatiently awaiting the next 700-page adventure.
Yesterday was a monumental day for Harry Potter fans everywhere. According to an article in the Feb. 1 edition of The New York Times, book 7, (“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”) the last in the immensely popular series, is due for a July 21 release.
Although I’m obviously overjoyed that J.K. Rowling has given us a date, my ambivalence overcomes me. On one hand, I’m dying to find out what will happen next. I can’t wait to escape into that magical world one last time.
But on the other hand, I’m incredibly sad. I’ve literally grown up with Harry and to think there will never be another book is hard to fathom. And I’m sure I’m not alone in my misery. There will never be another series as influential, globally marketable and insanely likable as Harry Potter. I’d like to take this opportunity to personally thank J.K. Rowling for bringing Harry into our lives. We’ll never forget him.
Aneya Fernando is a sophomore journalism major and the assistant opinion editor for the Daily Forty-Niner.
