Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II

I don't even know where to start.
How do I put into words what I'm feeling.
How do I describe the thoughts that are racing through my mind.
I can't even,
my heart won't,
it's over.
It's ov-er.
All over.

All week, it's been hard to smile.
I was so excited and so ready to watch the final installment,
but in the back of my mind, I knew this was it,
this was the last one.
The last time I'll ever experience a new Harry Potter film,
the last time I'll go to a Hogwarts midnight premier,
the last time I'll get all dressed up in my wizarding attire to go to the movie theater,
and that my friends, is a sad, sad reality.
I couldn't even go to work all week,
granted I get to choose the days I go - but I chose zero.
All because of Harry Potter,
obsessing about tonight, the party, and making those dang photoshops.

PAUSE!
Almost five years have passed since our first Harry Potter party.
Let's just take a moment to look back,
the fourth movie had just come out.

Professor Trelawny, a Mountain Troll, Moaning Myrtle, Harry Potter,
Hermione, and a random Slytherin student.
We're dedicated.

How lucky am I to have grown up in the age of Harry Potter?
And here we are, at the end.
It's been a good run, Mr. Potter.

 Same glasses.
Same costume.
Same stance.
I'm an HP fan for life. 

We tried to keep the mood light and happy for as long as we could.
We decided it was only appropriate to go all out for this film.
A festive get-together,
full of wizards, magical food, and Harry Potter decorations,
homemade with magic of course - I'm two years over the legal wizarding age.
P.S. Jen came to my house and helped me set up with everything,
and she claims she's not a dedicated HP fan?!

 [Wizard made butterbeer!]

 [I know, I know - but who else did you expect me to be?]

We had all sorts of guests,
Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Professor Umbridge, Draco Malfoy, Moaning Myrtle, a few Cornish Pixies, Dobby the House Elf, Luna Lovegood, a dragon and even two Bellatrix Lestranges.
[One was actually Hermione after she took the polyjuice potion, of course]
and you'll never believe who drove three and a half hours from Gville to watch this premier with us;
Oh wait, he didn't. 

We ate our lightning bolt cookies, cockroach clusters, chocolate frogs,

someone may have snuck some puking pastilles in the butterbeer,
but other than that small mishap, the night went magically.
We played Harry Potter Scene it,
Harry Potter word salad,
and watched parts of Dealthy Hallows Part I. 
Throughout the night - whoever found the most Horocruxes got a prize.
The diary.
The ring.
The locket.
The cup.
The diadem.
Nagini.
and Harry Potter, himself.

[Dorothy won 'Pin the socks on the Dobby']

And the winner for most destroyed Horocruxes was:
Lauren aka a background Hogwarts Student!
We also had the supreme prize,
for the wizard dressed in the best costume.
The winner and proud recipient a new Harry Potter wand was:
Dolores Jane Umbridge aka Becca!

Before we even knew it, it was time to go.
I was having trouble breathing at this point.
I've waited my whole life,
since I turned onto page one of Sorcerer's Stone,
for this moment right now;
to watch the final, most incredible battle in the wizarding world.

At the theater,
we weren't the only people dressed in our wizarding best.
Surprised?
Because I'm not.
We love HP.
While in line, CBS Channel 12 Local News was interviewing the fans,
sadly they never came our way - but Kate, Cassie and I went over to them
with a group of other wizards and were filmed shouting,
"Crucio!" to the camera.
I don't think the clip made it into the actual news,
but we watched part of what they put on and at one point they pan the line waiting for the movie
and we're in it!
We're in the news!

 

 Also, I wanted to dress up in a costume that people would say,
"dang, that's awesome - can I get a photo with you?"
But nothing good enough came to mind,
so I was Harry Potter.
But to my very great surprise,
a mom came up to me and said,
"I'm sorry, but you look great - can I take a photo of you?"
Jaw dropped.
Eyes widened.
"Yes!"
Life = complete.

 [Deep breaths]
I was afraid of falling into a post-Harry Potter depression,
but now I know - it's inevitable.
In fact, it's already started.

Simply put,
besides a few parts that I'll never get over, the movie was
Incredible, magical, and bold.
That movie,
minus the scene
*spoiler*
when Harry and Voldemort are fighting in not the Great Hall
with all the students and death eaters not watching them,
when Voldemort turned to dust? what?
I didn't even know if that was the part he died?
It wasn't triumphant or great.
I was so disappointed,
but besides that,
that movie was everything and anything I could have ever expected for part two.
I really enjoyed it.

*Favorite Scenes*
[*aka spoilers*]
1. Seeing the Dragon in Gringott's.
Just how I pictured it,
inhumane and so sad.
I'm still glad it got away.

 2. Neville killing the snake.
Yes, yes - J.K. Rowling's version is much better,
allowing it to happen in front of the entire school,
but this was good too.
He saved Ron and Hermione - uh hello? perfect. 

3. Ron and Hermione's kiss.
Just kidding, this wasn't a favorite.
All we got to see was the back of Ron's head?
At least do a 360 pan around them, goodness.

 4. Snape's memories.
Probably my favorite part of the movie.
Very well done, beautiful.
It portrayed Snape and the Potter's so well.
I loved all the flash backs of all the previous years,
I'm so glad they gave this part justice.

 5. When Harry's walking down to the Forbidden forest to accept death,
I know this didn't happen in the book, but I was glad that he got to see Ron and Hermione
before he left slash died - but seriously Ron - your best friend was giving himself up to Voldemort,
Hermione gave him a hug and you couldn't even spare him a handshake, really?
Great friends right there.

 6. The epilogue.
I mean, it was perfect.
Yes, it could've been longer and shown more.
But that's every movie, am I right?

I can't believe it's over.
I can't believe we're here, at the end of this Harry Potter journey.
I feel the sadness growing like the cold presence of a dementor.
Harry Potter,
we've been together for so long.
I know it's not truly over;
there is still so much left to rewatch and reread.
but it's painful to say this bitter-sweet goodbye.
"Help will always be given at Hogwarts for those who ask for it."
Thanks for that Chamber of Secrets Dumbledore.
and J.K. Rowling,
'thank you' will never be enough.
In creating this world,
you've created mine.
  "The stories we love best, do live with us forever."
Farewell to an era. 

Long live Harry Potter!