I Love Magic

I recently got back from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Theme park.... Truly an amazing place. That dose not even begin to describe it however.. From the moment you pass under the stone entrance into Hogsmead, that feeling you got the first time u watched the first movie sweeps over you. The rush, the excitement, and the magic. And would'net you know you it, I cried. Not like how I cried in the movie, for loss and "The End" but for realizing, this is not the end, they created something for us, to preserve what we love most. 
    You have right as you walk in, The Hogwarts express, and your first ride, The Dragon Challenge. Now I am not going to give to much a way about the park because everyone needs to experience it in their own way, but a word to the wise, the front is awesome..... the back..... THE BEST. but the how you defeat your dragon is up to you so that is all I will say about that, and let you live the magic.. 

     The shops, you have Dervish and Bangs, Honeydukes, Zonkos Joke Shop, Olivanders, The 3 Broomsticks, The Hogs Head. I got my want and I love it. I got a calender want and I will let them tell you all about how that works, but it is an amazing experience. I wish they would have had Weasley's Wizard Weezes, but they had some of their products which was fun all the same.  You work your way up from their to Hagrids Hut, and the next ride which sadly is not a lot of fun, it is a child's ride after all but it could have been awesome, and that one is the Flight of the Hippogrif. And then..... Hogwarts, no words can really describe the beauty and the reality that goes with it. They got it perfect. That ride is truly BOSS!!! You get to experience some of your favorite parts of Harry Potter from other books, and you get to see Hogwarts. 
     From butterbeer, to dragons, to spells and enchantments. The magic is moving and beautiful. You get to relive and be a part of the world I think a lot of us call home too, just like Harry. You feel the rush of your first wand, and the special tingle of butterbeer. You feel relief and triumph when u when your Dragon challenge. And at the end of the day, when you head back to your hotel or condo or home, you truly can hear people say, "It feels weird to be going home doesn't?" And you know the answer.... "I'm not going home.... not really."                                          

The End? - Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Pt.2 Movie Review

1st things 1st I am soooooo sooo sooo sorry this has taken so long we left for vacation on Friday and it has been none stop since then. today however we are taking it EZ in the condo we did 2 really long days in the park and need to rest, but we will be back to it tomorrow.

So the movie review 1st. I hope by now most of you have seen the movie, if not then i am sorry if i ruin anything for you. But hopefully you have read the book because that is most important.  

    Over all I LOVED THE MOVIE. Definitely met all of my expectations even went above and beyond. I had a blast, i went with my girl Chelsey and saw a bunch of friends. I was in the the very first showing the 12:01 showing, its where all the hardcore fans are. There were duels and even a Harry Potter Puppet Pals reenactment by a few people. I took a pillow and had a like 1/2 my theater sign it.    

As the opening credits began I lost all control and the tears began to roll down. the flashes from the 1st movie to catch you back up to where you were, was a great way to transition movies. The time spent in Bill in Flures place was well done, i understood why it had to be brief and why they could not keep it as long as it was in the book, but over all very good. Once in the bank i felt the movie really took form, Hermione being Belitrix was great. Helena Bonahm Carter not being herself was great i give her props. Once inside the vault, the special effects with the cups was some of the coolest i have seen. 

    As the movie went on and we meet Aberforth and get back in to Hogwarts i felt like the trueness and pureness that is Harry Potter, and that what we fell in love with came back to life. And i think it was all do to the presence of being back where it all started in Hogwarts, and there it ended. 

       From the books to the movies, Rowling has taught us an amazing lesson, one we forget all to often; that sometimes people are not always as we see the, and things are not always as they seem. How many of us hated Snape from book 1? How many of us until book 5 asked why did Snape really hate James so much? And then I know for me, I asked why, why would Dumbledore plead with Snape at the end of book 6? And all these questions at some point got answered, but  the full magnitude of them were made clear, at the end... of course.  

"It was always you?" Snape loved... did we ever think that possible? He loved Lilly, and in turn loved Harry to much for him to know, He killed Dumbledore, because Dumbledore told him to, as part of a way to save Harry. Snape saw the almost cruel way that Harry had been raised, raised to at some point die. Snape died, but not before he most honorably let Harry know everything, something Harry had really wanted his whole life. And he got it from the man who he thought he hated most. In that moment in the movie as Snape gave up all, all he had kept hidden, we see, that Snape all along was good, could be trusted, and became our most loved character. And I bawled.

     Someone else who I think deserves notice in this movie, is Neville. From about book 4 we really start to see someone who, who is more and means more than everyone else thinks. We see how close he came to living Harry's life, to being the boy who lived. In book 5 and in the movie Neville says something, that becomes his reality in the end. "Dumbledore's Army is about doing something real." Those who fought in that final in the movie and in the book, were all part of Dumbledore's army, were all fighting for him, for Harry and the world they love, they were fighting for something real. Neville's speech at then end of part 2 was perfect.  Neville, avenged his parents, became a leader, and I am sure his gram was proud. 

    The movie for the most part was faithful to the book, faithful to our hopes, and had a faithful end. Why? Because we have been faithful. We to found a part of us fighting for Harry, for Dumbledore, for Fred, for Neville's parents, for Snape. Look at all we have done in 13 years, We defeated the Stone. We found the Chamber. We freed the Prisoner . We were chosen by the Goblet. We fought along side the Order. We learned from the Prince. And We mastered the Hallows.... We are Harry Potter Generation.  

What Would James Do? HP7

Parents...... It often seems we can't live with them, and we defiantly can't live without them sometimes. And this is something I have truly admired about Harry, that against all odds, he was able to live, just live and sometimes barely do that, without his parents. Harry grew up pretty rough, no parent, an Aunt and Uncle who treated him worse than an animal, and a cousin who used him as a punching bag. And even against all this, Harry was able find people who loved him, just as much as his parents would have, as best as they could. 

       First person we find that loves Harry like his own is Hagrid, from the beginning of Harry's sad life, Hagrid is there, with a compassion for Harry that he too knows all to well, having lost his parents. He cares for Harry and his well-being.  Next we have the very obvious Weasly family. Mrs. Weasly especially. Making Harry, sweaters, and making sure he is well fed,and a loving embrace,and Mr. Weasly and his fatherly words of wisdom. And then we see the little hope for a family with Serius, and it is all to clear how much he cares for Harry, after all it is his best friends son, his godson. But the one I find as one truly special. Harry and Lupin. Lupin comes into Harry's life right around when his godfather does, and he helps Harry to conquer his fears, and deal with his deepest sorrow. Like his godfather best friends with Harry's dad. Lupin always tries when he can to guide Harry and protect him. We see however in book 7 the tables turn, and the question of what James would really do or approve of is raised into question.

         Lupin as we see has married and impregnated Tonks, he feels like this was a bad choice, and it seems he is looking for an easy out. and he feels if he can mask it as a need to protect Harry and Ron and Hermione, that maybe it won't seem so bad that he is leaving his family. He also tries to use the excuse that it is what James would want. Harry see's this differently, harry may have never known his dad, but from what he has learned and even seen, and been told how much he is like him, Lupin had it coming,, Harry being able to tell Lupin about what he thought his father would think, is truly a sign that Harry is a man, and there is no hiding how much like his father he is. Harry comes across as rude, and confrontational, but look at the situation, he (Lupin) is choosing to leave his family, and Harry's parents died for him. They stood up and faced death, instead of running off and avoiding the situation. Lupin seems to be giving up on his family before it even starts, he is truly like Harry calls him being a coward.. After a blast in the chest, Lupin leaves, and Harry makes a statement I am all to familiar with, "Parents shouldn't leave their kids unless-unless they have to.(215)" This really touches my heart, being a child of divorce, when your parents split its like part of you and part of your life, dies. And I believe that what Harry said about parents is also true about divorce. I would not trade the struggles and hard times and challenges i faced for the world, but nor do i wish that any child go through them.  

      Remember tonight, as you watch the final movie, what and who is most important, to you, and that you should never leave those people unless you have too. Continue to love one another because it is the greatest weapon. And in a situation where you are faced with the choice to leave those who you love think what would James, or even Lilly do?  

Enjoy the movie tonight everyone, i will have a post on the movie instead of my reading after i watch it tonight, then a reading post sometime late tomorrow thanks guys 

A Very Clever Game HP7

I am a lover of History. It was always one of my favorite subjects, so all in all, i love to read historical fiction. This is one thing I love about Rowling, she does not put any clear or actually real life historical events in her books, but more show she draws elements and themes from history that are ever so clear. 

    One of these elements is, the Tyrannical ruler. We have seen it through every decade of history. From Rome to Bonaparte, from Stalin to Hitler, all had their reasons for cruel and brutal ways of dictating, but two of these great powers stand out more  than the other, and have a greater connection to the Wizarding world. Rome and Hitler.Rome wanted one like mind, one way of thinking and believing and they wanted the world. Hitler, was the same way, but he took it a step further, weed out the unclean, or the Mudbloods. Voldemort is no different than they were. He wants a whole world to belong to him and he wants that world to function the way he wants it to function. One way, one mind one origin. Voldemort shows so many of the same qualities as Hitler, unloved by his father, unable to get the job he wanted (Hitler and artist, Voldemort to teach) and both want to rid the world of the unclean and none pure, when they themselves are not pure blood. They want to run from what they truly are because they are ashamed. Like Hitler he wants to start brainwashing and molding minds while they are still soft, as children. Hitler took every male into his service at 14, Voldemort made it compulsory for all children at age 11 to attend school. Voldemort also uses this as a tool for weeding out the unclean, none but pure bloods or of wizard decent could attend school or in Hitlers case, the blonde hair blue eyed and strong could be a part of this world. Neither one of these great rulers was anything close to what they wanted the world to be. Hitler was what he hated most, he was 1/2 Jewish, and Voldemort was only 1/2 pure blood. One thing that is mentioned that was always curious to me, was how truly did muggle-borns get their power, I do not believe they stole them, but I think it is a good thing to know. The ministry wants to know too, but not for knowledge but instead to weed out more. Like my Humanities teacher would say, "It is the right thing done in the wrong way. The greatest comparison here is that they both used the same weapon, a weapon that truly is the key to tyranny.... fear. Fear for leaders like this was the most powerful tool, the greatest weapon of fear is an idea, it is infectious. And Voldemort and Hitler did it the same way. Secret police or Deatheaters, and placing their government in schools or everywhere. They planted the idea that no where and no one was safe. So even whispering against the way of being ruled was dangerous. Voldemort also took a symbol of hope and sown doubt and more fear into people. That was another key, target what little hope is left, and fill it with doubt. Take the one thing you know could be your downfall and make it look the enemy.     

       However their is always hope, because their will always be a weapon and an idea far greater than fear. And that weapon is love. Love brings people together, it reminds them what is truly important, and if planted it to like an idea, becomes infectious and spreads. Love brings forth so much, it brings hope that things will get better, it brings for ideas and strength to stand up. Love is the greatest weapon. Because "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.... Love never Fails." 

An Incredible Treasure HP7

1st off i would like to say I am sorry that I did not post yesterday, it was a very long busy day and by the time, I was able to really sit  down and write I was falling asleep, so there will be 2 posts today. So let us begin.


So often it is the little things in life that bring us the most joy. The single cloud in the sky, the small child playing with a bug, or a hand written letter, these things show us the true meanings in life. And to Harry he was truly able to see that the person he loved most really did live...His mother. As the 7th book moves forward Harry and his friends find themselves at #12 Grimmauld place, with no where else to go. Harry finds himself in Serius's room, reading a letter that his mother wrote. Harry finds that they had, had a cat, that his godfather had given him his 1st broom. So many little things, but to Harry they were the world, the world he never knew, the world that was taken from him. This could have been the life that Harry had lived, but as the letter begins to unfold, the life we see that Harry will have begins to appear, and Harry catches up on it. Wormtail, seems down, but Harry unlike his mother knows it is not because of the recent deaths but because of the deaths that are about to happen, of his friends...the betrayal. And then Dumbledore, living hear them, having his fathers cloak, all these things leading to the life that Harry would have. To Harry these little things mean everything to Him. He is full of excitement over the fact that his mother and him write their "g's" the same way, but at the same time the rush of sadness that fills Harry leaves him still feeling alone.  
      In this little thing that brings joy to Harry, also brings more questions, and more doubts about Dumbledore. Like any young person Harry wants the truth, and Hermione wants him to have it, but not at risking their safety, and yet I cant help but wonder if she is protecting him from some truths about the accusations made about Dumbledore, so that Harry can keep the memories of Dumbledore that he has pure and untarnished. That is not what he, Harry wants though. He does not want to just simply chose what to believe, he wants to know the right thing to believe. 
         Sometimes in life we find ourselves where Harry is, and like him we have a choice, to just accept and continue to believe what we already know, and accept that as truth, or to dig deeper and know for sure if what we already know is true, or maybe that their is more. We however must do so with discretion, and patience. Obsession over the truth will often blur it. And i go back to a point already made, we must never stop believing that there is good in everyone, but to take it one step further, a point that Dumbledore i believe never really emphasized as much as he should have to Harry,  that there is good in everyone, and that we should always look for that in everyone. However, everyone has a past, something dark hidden away, but we should not dwell on what was in the past but instead look to the future of good that is a head and in each person. 

Empty Hollows. HP 7

Self sacrifice is by far the truest color of friendship, because it shows not only what you are willing to give for someone, but what you are willing to lose for them too. And in the 7th book Ron and Hermione truly show this at its best. 

     From book one, Ron and Hermione have given and given up a lot for Harry. Hermione even tells them that being expelled from Hogwarts would be worse than death, but non the less she does just that which should have earned them a one way ticket back on the train. Ron in that very same book and series of events, gives his body up so as to let Harry move forward to retrieve the Sorcerer's stone. At first, in our journey through Harry Potter, it becomes clear that yes their bodies and educations from then on would be at risk, but never did we truly know what extents these to would go to, to help their best friend, and the only hope for the wizarding world , until this book. Ron, not only gives up his education but also he has a way to give something to Harry and protect his family. Ron is willing to give up his family so as to save them, and by give up mean make their situation safer.Ron risks never seeing his family again so as to help Harry. I believe, Hermione's gift is a tad greater than Ron's, his is most admirable and not to be discredited, but it is Hermione that truly shows Harry what they are giving him. Hermione alters her parents memories.... they have no idea they have a child, a daughter, no fond memories, but she, Hermione does have the memories, and she does not know if she will ever be able to allow them to remember them, all for their safety. Hermione says it best, "Didn' realize that Ron and I know perfectly well what might happen if we came with you? well we do." (Chapter 6 pg97)    

         Another part of friendship, outside of sacrifice, is Disappointment. At some point or another those we are closest to, or  who we think we are closest to let us down. Harry, Ron, and Hermione know this all to well. Ron and Harry go through it during the Triwizard tournament, and Ron and Hermione go through it with the Ball and Lavender Brown, and Hermione and Harry go through it with the Half Blood Princes potions book. One disappointment we did not see coming again was between Harry and Dumbledore. We all know Harry lost his cool with the headmaster in Year 5, and then again in year 6 when he found out about Snape and Harry's parents, and we know for sure that Dumbledore was disappointed in Harry for his attitude. Little did we know that even after Dumbledore left us Harry would find himself disappointed in Dumbledore. This takes place over the 1st few chapters, but is not fully birthed until the wedding. Harry comes to find out some pretty crucial information he feels he was entitled to know, way before this. Harry starts to question who Dumbledore really was, did he meddle in the dark arts? Did he lock his sister away in the house, just as Harry's aunt and uncle locked him up? But most of all Harry discovers, that Dumbledore too, "Had lived and lost loved ones in Godric's Hollow." why had he never told Harry he grew up there, that he was closer to Harry's parents then Harry had known? Why? This I believe is the greatest disappointment to Harry, the place where it all started for him, the place where his tragedy was born, was the same place as Dumbledore's. They shared a common link that Harry had never known before...I believe Harry truly felt and empty hollow feeling inside on learning this.... Because I too felt it. 

      Even the best of friends, or the greatest of teachers at some point let us down, it is a reminder that we are all human and fall short. But that is when we move forward and grow stronger. We should in these times, when the facts seem over whelming that the one or ones we thought we knew have let us down, or maybe were not who we thought they were, should we take Elphias Doge's advice, "Don't believe a word of it,...let nothing tarnish your memories..." We need to be like Dumbledore and Doge and see the good in people, we need to when all seems dark and empty trust one another. Let us always be open, let us always be honest, so when our time to comes, like we know it will, we will not leave behind memories, or facts that fill us with that empty hollow feeling. 

Crossing The World. HP7

This is my first post on my reading in the 7th Harry Potter book

    Before the book even truly begins Rowling places two different writings, that I believe deal with some of the main themes of this book and the series; friendship, unity and death. In the poem by Aeschylus the lines that stand out the most to mean is the very last one "Bless the Children, give them triumph now." this is such a truth. The future of our world and any world, fiction or our otherwise, is in the youth, is in the ones we teach. why would there be teachers if we did not think that some hope for a better world did not in fact lie within them. And this has been an underlining theme throughout all 7 books, is that one day the McGonagal's,  or the Dumbledore's would move on, and what they taught us was meant to teach others and to make a better place. 

The 2nd writing that Rowling uses is from one of my favorite historical people, William Penn. The opening statement is truly what grasps me, and as it goes on reiterates the main themes of these books. "Death is but crossing the world, as friends do the seas.." Death truly is just another part of our story, just as we always knew it would be and was a part of these stories. From the beginning these stories dealt with death. And death clearly will be the end of this series. "Neither can live while the other survives." we knew from the time we read the prophecy how this book would end... 

   Sadly this book from the very beginning makes it clear to us how serious death is, and how Harry is going to be dealing with it until either he dies or he kills Voldemort. In the first Chapter we lose muggle studies teacher Charity Burbage, then we are reminded of the death that almost killed us, Albus Dumbledore, then Mad Hedwig and finally Mad eye. Its not going to get easier. In my first time through this book when it came out i was absolutely furious with the whole book. People being killed left and right and i felt like it was just one long camping trip.... I went into this book in the wrong mindset I had forgotten that I knew at some point all of this was coming.... I was not ready to accept the end... the end of all I had come to accept as part of who I was. I felt like part of me would be dying too... but that is clearly not true. I had to accept that like all things death is another part of life... a crossing of the bridge.....

    The most important of these first few deaths is that of Albus Dumbledore. Not that the others did not share a special place, but I know I like Harry realized something.... We truly don't know those we are close to, until they are gone forever. As Harry was reading "Dumbledore Remembered" by Elphias Doge he realized how little he knew about him. Harry had only ever asked Dumbledore one personal question and that was about what he saw in the mirror and even then Harry believed that the answer was not truthful. Never had Harry asked about his brother and the goat, or of his great dual. And as I was reading I too realized that in the back of my mind I had wondered about the Goat, but never pursued it, had wondered about the dual but never gave it another thought. I too like Harry made the mistake of thinking I really knew Albus Dumbledore. Like everything in life we take it for granted when it is dead and gone. 

          Finally friendship is the greatest bond these books have given us. Harry's friends become to save him. Like any good friend he does not want them too, for the sole reason that they are risking their lives for him. Mad Eye even gives his life for him. George gives his ear, Fleur gives up a wedding in France.  Harry's friends love him. They give up so much for him and he being a good friend wants to protect them. I know like Harry I would want to leave so as too keep them safe. But they wont have it. They have to stick together and as Harry point out trust one another. Here in this moment we see a glimpse of a character so important yet we know very little about.... James Potter. Lupin tells Harry he just like Him like so often we have read. Harry knew that because of James's friend he had died, but that did not change the fact that Harry knew that now more than ever they needed one another, they needed to trust one another, and like Dumbledore they all needed to see the good in one another... no matter what. 

    So as i begin this journey through the world of Harry Potter, in a more in depth way than i ever have before, I hope you join me in learning what is most important in life and not taking it for granted because at some point it will come to an end. That we will take our friendships seriously and will honor them... I know right now i need to work on that more than I ever have before. We will cross this world together..... 

      "Death is but crossing the world, as friends do the seas; they live in one another still. For they must needs be present. that love and live in that which is omnipresent. In this Divine glass, they see face to face ; and the their converse is free, as well as pure. This is the comfort of friends, that though they may be said to die, yet their friendship and society are, in the best sense, ever present, because immortal." -William Penn 

   Let us never forget many will come in to our lives and so they will leave but if there friendship is true to us and us to them the friendship will be Immortal... 

Potter Tour

Welcome to Potter Tour. In all the Hype for the next and Final Film chapter in Harry Potter I decided it was time for me to be full and open about my Love and Dedication to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. In this blog I plan to keep you informed on my readings and findings new information on HP events and fandoms. My first several blogs are going to be my views on the 7th book. I am re-reading it for the 14th time  right before the premiere of the next movie, so i have a week. Then I will have a post on my movie experience , then I am going to be spending a week in  Orlando with my family and I will be in the HP park for 3days and there will be blogs on that. Once I am home my postings will go in many different directions. What is going on in the HP Alliance or The Deathly Hallows Campaign, on July 31, Mrs. Rowling's. Harry Potter's and Mine birthday, and for those of you who are familiar with PotterMore I will have a dedication to her and Harry, also I will start my PotterMore section of my blogs.

Harry Potter belongs to those who were there and faithful, just as this blog will be, I want you who Love and are faithful to be involved. Fanfiction, picture, cosplays, findings, I even at some point want to have a followers posting once a week. So please get involved. questions you want answered, I will do my best to get to all of them as I can. Blogging is a whole new concept for me. SO bare with me.

My first post on the 7th book I hope to have up tonight.

Thank you to those who get involved and to those who are Faithful to HP