July 31st

I don't talk about Harry Potter much. It's one of those things that's a part of my life, but it's a part of everyone else's as well. You can try to tell someone that you are the biggest fan of the series, but they will always think their fandom outdoes yours. 

I am sure that my Harry Potter story is similar to yours. I've read the books a million times. My pages are dog-eared to pieces and the spines are withered. I've memorized the inflections of Jim Dale's voice and can predict the next words. I know the characters, main and minor, from their appearances in the books to the histories that never made it through publication. I have dreamed up my own Hogwarts experience, and I have my explanations for why Muggles never notice the disappearances at King's Cross station. 

Harry Potter has always been magic to me in my own special way. My imagination ran wild with these books and my childhood memories would never have been the same without them. At first it was difficult for me to accept that others thought their Potter experience was greater than mine. I knew they couldn't love these books the way I did, their connection could never go as deep. 

But as I have grown I have come to realize that this very concept is where the true magic lies. Within each one of us lies a Potter story of our own. In some way or another these characters touched our hearts, and as such we are each a part of the magic.  

And with that I wish a very happy birthday to Ms. Rowling and Mr. Potter, the individuals who introduced my generation to the true meaning of magic. 

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