Growing Up With Harry Potter

Sparkler sballien remembers well what it was like growing up with Potter under your pillow. Ready for a trip down memory lane, Sparklers? —SparkNotes Editors

Excited for the premier of the latest Harry Potter movie, which hits theaters tomorrow? Well, if HP hasn't cast a spell on you yet, here are some reasons we fell in love with the series in the first place:

The Books

Plain and simple, the books were magical. Yeah, we might have been in elementary school when we started reading them, but that meant we actually believed we'd be receiving a letter from Hogwarts when we made it to our 11th birthdays. Plus, the books were nonstop page turners, and we couldn't wait for the next ones to come out.

The Magic

We all loved the incantations/spells and charms that apply to even the most trivial tasks. Hey, who wouldn't want dishes to be washed with the wave of a wand? Remember muttering a simple spell from the books (ex. acio broomstick) in your room, hoping something would happen?

The Characters

The relatable characters are what convinced us that this world really existed. From smart (Hermione), to brave (Harry), to loyal (Ron), there was a character everyone felt connected with. For years, we've been fascinated with their love lives, their classes, and their struggles because they are fallible people with qualities we admire.

The Movies

We all knew the books were good, and thought anything else Potter-related would just be icing on the cake—until we found out that movies were being made. With the announcement of the movies, the hysterics and MANIA of the Harry Potter world really took off.

So here we are: The countdown to HBP. July 15 is just around the corner. And I hope that when it arrives, we'll all have an enchanting time.

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