An Anniversary of a Boy – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Five Years Later
Jamieson Villeneuve
June 20, 2008
Five years ago, at midnight, June 20th, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was released.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was the first Harry Potter book that I went to a midnight release for. I had gotten on the HP Bandwagon a little late and had gotten the first four books in hard cover for Christmas two years before the release of the fifth book.
I was on welfare at the time and poor as a church mouse. But, much to the disappointment of my current boyfriend at the time, I pre-ordered the book, something I had never done before. He never understood my fascination with Harry Potter and didn´t understand how much I loved the books.
The books were an escape for me, pure magical escape. My relationship with the boyfriend was a horrible one, looking back on it, and Harry Potter gave me a way to live someone else´s life, even if only for a few hours.
Having read all four in a row, I was so anxious to read the fifth book. It felt like forever between that Christmas and the release. I remember how excited I was. I was working the late shift at my job and left a half hour early so I wouldn´t be late.
I remember getting to the bookstore and being sorted, having my first taste of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans and the pure awe I felt when I saw them wheel out the books. I remember looking around the bookstore, seeing the faces of children and adults alike light up with glee.
I remember thinking that this was magic, that I was witnessing something magical. That everyone in that store, staff included, were waiting with anticipation for the same thing, young and old and older, well it was a beautiful thing to witness. And an even better experience to be a part of.
It's the only time I've stayed up for twenty four hours. I got my book and started reading and before I knew it, it was six o'clock in the morning and I was already a few hundred pages in and I wanted to read more, to lose myself in the words.
I don't think anything can compare to that for me. I wasn't able to do midnight releases for books six and seven, so OOTP will always hold a special place in my heart.
I can't believe it's already been five years! When I think of all the things that have changed in five years…
I got married to the man I love, I became an author with published books, I started talking to my sister again after thirteen long years, I´ve moved several times and had so many different jobs.
But still Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has remained a constant, waiting for me on my bookshelf to be picked up and opened. To relive those first few moments when I held the book in my hand after such a long wait.
Unlike Harry, I don´t need a penseive to remember those long ago years. All I have to do is pick up each Harry Potter book and remember the joy I felt when I held them in my hands.
My memories will do the rest.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was the first Harry Potter book that I went to a midnight release for. I had gotten on the HP Bandwagon a little late and had gotten the first four books in hard cover for Christmas two years before the release of the fifth book.
I was on welfare at the time and poor as a church mouse. But, much to the disappointment of my current boyfriend at the time, I pre-ordered the book, something I had never done before. He never understood my fascination with Harry Potter and didn´t understand how much I loved the books.
The books were an escape for me, pure magical escape. My relationship with the boyfriend was a horrible one, looking back on it, and Harry Potter gave me a way to live someone else´s life, even if only for a few hours.
Having read all four in a row, I was so anxious to read the fifth book. It felt like forever between that Christmas and the release. I remember how excited I was. I was working the late shift at my job and left a half hour early so I wouldn´t be late.
I remember getting to the bookstore and being sorted, having my first taste of Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans and the pure awe I felt when I saw them wheel out the books. I remember looking around the bookstore, seeing the faces of children and adults alike light up with glee.
I remember thinking that this was magic, that I was witnessing something magical. That everyone in that store, staff included, were waiting with anticipation for the same thing, young and old and older, well it was a beautiful thing to witness. And an even better experience to be a part of.
It's the only time I've stayed up for twenty four hours. I got my book and started reading and before I knew it, it was six o'clock in the morning and I was already a few hundred pages in and I wanted to read more, to lose myself in the words.
I don't think anything can compare to that for me. I wasn't able to do midnight releases for books six and seven, so OOTP will always hold a special place in my heart.
I can't believe it's already been five years! When I think of all the things that have changed in five years…
I got married to the man I love, I became an author with published books, I started talking to my sister again after thirteen long years, I´ve moved several times and had so many different jobs.
But still Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has remained a constant, waiting for me on my bookshelf to be picked up and opened. To relive those first few moments when I held the book in my hand after such a long wait.
Unlike Harry, I don´t need a penseive to remember those long ago years. All I have to do is pick up each Harry Potter book and remember the joy I felt when I held them in my hands.
My memories will do the rest.
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