Why Nothing Will Ever Be as Great as Seeing Your First “Harry Potter” Movie

By the time I had become a true Harry Potter fan, all seven books had been released, and I was patiently awaiting the release of the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince movie. I was so excited because this would be the first Harry Potter movie that I would be able to see in theaters and not just as a special on Disney Channel or ABC family. Waiting for July 15, 2009, had begun, and to this day, the wait was definitely worth the experience.

My season of waiting started with watching the trailer in order to procure the release date. I remember watching an entire awards show simply because they promised to show the trailer during one of the commercial breaks. I then begged my grandmother to spend an absurd amount of money on a Half-Blood Prince calendar that stayed on the month of July the whole time I waited, with July 15 decorated with lightning bolts and amateur wand drawings. I never really used the calendar as an actual calendar, rather it served as more of a decorative poster after the movie. However, if I was going to wait, it had to be done fashionably.

After the release date was etched into my memory, I began to wonder what my favorite book scenes would look like on the silver screen and if they would match my high expectations. I guarantee that I used over half of my mother’s copy paper just drawing out Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes and what the lavish Slug Club gatherings would look like. I think fans experience this differently. For example, those who grabbed the first novel when it hit the shelf probably had the best time imagining what Harry, Ron, and Hermione would look like on screen. Imagine seeing the Triwizard Tournament coming to life before your eyes or wondering if you had conjured up the correct image of a hippogriff.

Perfecting my attire for the film, to me, felt like being a celebrity finding the best attire to fit the Met Gala theme. For my first Harry Potter in-theater experience, I decided to play it safe and wear my favorite Draco Malfoy T-shirt that I also insisted on wearing to volleyball practice. However, for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, I knew that I had to go all out. My best friend and I decided to go half and half on our movie attire. I went to WalMart and bought two green T-shirts and a pack of paint pens. My goal? I was going to make “Team Draco” jerseys for my friend and me to sport while we went to see the final film. In return, my friend spent several hours sitting in her front yard making wands. Seeing the film in a graphic tee was fun, but I think I appreciated the series so much more by showing up in a homemade T-shirt.

Then, the magical day came. I didn’t get to see the sixth film when it first came out; however, I have vivid memories of cleaning my room expeditiously for a week so I could see it the following week. My dad took me, and I remember staying up and talking rapidly to catch him up on Harry’s adventures prior to the new film. I remember eating popcorn nervously during the Unbreakable Vow scene and turning every ten minutes to see if he understood. By the time Harry had secured his vial of Felix Felicis, my dad was asleep; however, by the time Aragog had died, he had caught up to speed. It was only customary that when we returned home, I repeatedly asked him what his favorite part was, just to interrupt and correct him when he made the slightest mistake or mispronunciation.

I have always been a fan of films, and I know this may sound cheesy, but the Harry Potter films truly hold a special place in my heart. My room will never be as clean as it was during the week I prepared to see the newest film. I don’t think my YouTube has been as active as it was when I would spend hours watching cast interviews, behind-the-scenes features, and fan-made recreations of important scenes. There truly is nothing like seeing your first Harry Potter film in the movie theater, and that will always be an experience that no one can take away from me.