"The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well."

In case you don't recognize it, those are the last two sentences in the last book in the Harry Potter series. And while I have a few issues with the epilogue that concludes the series, I thought it made a fitting title for this blog post, which coincides with the release of the final Harry Potter movie. Much has been made of how the beloved saga is finally coming to an end, and so it is, in that there is no more new HP material being released (as far as we know, other than JK Rowling's new website for fans, Pottermore). But in other ways, of course, it's not like the ending of the books and the movies means that we can't go back to read or watch them whenever we want. To paraphrase Neville in the last movie, even after it's all over, Harry & the others are still always with us. [/sappy]

Even as I say that and mean it, though, it does feel like a significant chapter of my childhood has ended. How could it not? I'm far from the only young adult who "grew up with Harry" and his friends, but that doesn't make it less true. Some of us weren't even big fans of reading or fantasy or magic before Harry came along (I was, but I know many, many people who weren't). We are the generation who read the first few books before they were bestsellers, back in elementary school or middle school/junior high, and then waited in breathless anticipation for each new book to be published. We were the ones who were sent into rapturous excitement when we heard about the movies, and would stop everything we were doing to watch the trailer for The Sorcerer's Stone when it happened to be played on TV. Okay, maybe not all of us would hear that distinctive John Williams theme playing and run downstairs just to watch whatever trailer or ad was featuring it, but my sister and I sure did. Even now, when I listen to the soundtrack to the first movie, "Hedwig's Theme" especially has the power to give me chills. Kids who start reading the books now won't have the torture of waiting years for each new installment. Instead, they can just check out or buy all of them at once, if they so choose. In exchange, however, they lose the sheer joy of knowing that the mailman is going to be delivering an all-new copy of the newest book to your door on the release date, or hurrying out to the nearest bookstore to pick up your copy.

I loved many books before I loved Harry Potter. I know I will love many more in the future. But Harry has a special place in my heart, and always will. Now that I've seen the final movie (a detailed review later, perhaps), I do feel some sadness at the end of that phase of my childhood. JK Rowling, you have given us a great gift, and we are more grateful for it than words can express. And Daniel Radcliffe & co., you have also given us a gift. Thank you.

Mischief managed.