7 books. 7 days.

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Harry Potter

After curling up beside my dining table for the past few hours without budging, I finally finished the last few chapters of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Despite it being the second time I read it, the whole experience of it felt new. I had forgotten almost everything; from the fact that it was Neville Longbottom who killed Nagini, to the simple fact that Harry himself was one of the Horcruxes. I even forgot that Snape turned out to be one of the good guys! Hope my failing memory is not one of the things that med school does to you >.<

I realised, too, that by re-reading the series a few years later, all 7 books at once, the whole puzzle seemed to fit perfectly. Why Dumbledore said that by saving Peter Pettigrew, Harry made all the difference. How Harry Potter ended up being “The Boy who Lived”, which was by Voldemort fulfilling his own prophecy by choosing to believe it. Why Dumbledore thought Harry Potter’s life was worth so much more than his…

I’m not saying the book is not flawed. By the end I was still unconvinced with Voldermort’s soul dying as he performed the Killing Curse on Harry, with Harry able to speak to Dumbledore before returning to the mortal world. And also how by disarming Draco, Harry became the rightful owner of the Elder Wand. But all in all, everyone would like to see a good ending, so I’m having no complaints at that =)

Enough Pottertalk! Just wanted to highlight 2 quotes taken. The first one made me break out in a smile and for a moment I was just SO proud of Neville. Taken from the 1st book.

It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but a great deal more to stand up to your friends.

The 2nd quote comes from the last book, and this almost made me cry T_T

Herein lies Dobby, a free elf.

It just made Dobby so much more human, and the fact that his sacrifice for Harry was out of his own free will and appreciation for everything that Harry did. It proves that he fought for what he believed in, and even till death.

Now that it’s finished, I guess there’s nothing else I can do, but to move on with life.

But, at least, all is well. =)

Reliving the magic

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Children Fiction, Harry Potter

On a whim, and inspired by Aimee, I decided to re-read Harry Potter. So far I’ve only finished book 1, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which surprisingly, took me only around 4 hours to finish! (Read it in 2 sittings; I went to bake a blueberry cheesecake for my friend’s birthday halfway through)

To be honest, this is the first time re-reading it after 10 years. My brother first told me about the book when he was studying in the US. I was 9 back then. He told us that there was a craze over this Harry Potter book in US.

Out of curiosity, I read it, ditched Enid Blyton for good, and never looked back. It was probably a positive influence, as it kept me preoccupied and so I didn’t delve  too deep into books like Sweet Valley High which, honestly, wouldn’t do me much good other than feed me with pre-teen girlish fantasies.

signs of ageing

The book was tucked away in the deep corners of my bookshelf, and I had to move the newer books aside to get the book out. I wrapped the book ages ago, but that still didn’t keep the book free of dust. It had a musky smell, like all old books do, and its pages were a rusty brown, stiff yet fragile to the touch. I broke my usual habit of not re-reading books (I buy books faster than I can read them, so re-reading would only aggravate the guilt) but trust me, it was SO worth it.

The first chapter, named “The Boy who Lived”, started off with describing the Dursleys, how they actually believed that their son Dudley was an angel and not the “pig in a wig” (quoted from Harry!! this made me laugh), spoilt brat that he was. I was remembered of how I used to hate the Dursleys, for their sheer ignorance and for being SO dimwitted even for Muggles standards.

I guess Harry Potter was special to me cause I practically grew up with the series. I saw how Harry used to be ignored, peisi-ed (discriminated) for the things he could do, and where he finally found where he belonged. That’s a phase that everyone goes through, looking for the right cliques in school, trying to find a way to fit in. The magical world of Hogwarts also helped me escape reality. Every nook and cranny of Hogwarts was full of jinxes and charms, with ghosts like Nearly Headless Nick and the Bloody Baron wandering the corridors, and of course not forgetting Peeves the poltergeist!

The first book was written as though as it could end on its own, probably cause JK Rowling wasn’t so sure that her book could sell (she was rejected by numerous editors before finally being published) but it definitely left a trail of hope for a sequel. As long as Voldemort doesn’t die! XD But now I don’t think I can stop till I get to the end.

Let’s see if I can finish the series before the HP and the Deathly Hallows part 2 is screened in cinemas! (14th July in Malaysia)