Top Three Countdown: Day 1

Here we are! I've been humming Etta all morning--"At laaaast, my looooove has come alooong..."

Last November, when the movie was originally scheduled for release, seems like a lifetime ago. There's nothing better for a fan than this moment right now, hours away from a new movie. The worst? The moment the movie is over, and the countdown in our heads begins again, for HP7.1.

The plan is to see HP6 this morning, fingers crossed that there aren't any summer camps in attendance. It's going to be glooooorious.

And in celebration of today, here is my most favorite HP moment of all time!

The Mirror of Erised!




Source.


The tenderness of this chapter calls to mind all the great childhood classics--Anne of Green Gables longing for a home, Annie loving on Daddy Warbucks, the Pevensie children sent off to live in the country, Heidi and her grandfather, Huck bonding with Jim on the river...Orphan stories, all, speaking to our deepest fears as children, that we will be parentless and alone in the world. This is Harry's story, too, and the Mirror of Erised, which reflects one's most fundamental desires, shimmers and produces a family for Harry.

The boy returns to it night after night, imagining what might have been had Voldemort not selected him as an enemy. It is only when Dumbledore interferes, advising, "It does not do to dwell on dreams, Harry, and forget to live," that the spell is broken, and Harry is cast back to the reality of his orphan life.

Heartbreaking and beautiful, this chapter from THE SORCERER'S STONE is my favorite, and an early indication of the depth and wisdom this series would offer. Again, the scene is reproduced in the final chapters of DEATHLY HALLOWS, when Harry's family returns, ghost-like, reflection-like, to offer the only thing they can in Harry's darkest hour--the knowledge for Harry that he has been loved.

Ah.

Review of the movie to come, AFTER Jedi J has seen it:)

New Ink from Rowling

Art by suetlilanglz

The Harry Potter prequel we told you about earlier has been posted online. Go here to read about James' and Sirius' adventures with a pair of Muggle policement. The story includes phoenix t-shirts, Sirius' flying motorcycle, and more James Potter cheekiness than anyone should be able to stomach (Oh, Lily, you poor woman). Some fan artist will draw something for it soon, but in the meantime, I've supplied a neat pic of the Marauders for you above.

I must say, the 800 word story feels a bit different from the Potter books. I suppose, for the first time since the opening chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in which we are in Vernon Dursley's head for a long time, the perspective is wholly Muggle. I think it was a good choice for this story.

I also must say that as the story loaded on my computer, I inexplicably danced around my kitchen singing "Billie Jean." Don't ask why. It's inexplicable.

There's also THIS. THIS new picture from the new Half-Blood Prince movie, in which Harry gives Ginny a sweet, sweet lovin' hug. Squee! Enjoy the Potter-y!