When I Met Harry

Harry came to my life when I was in the eighth standard. A bespectacled young boy with ruffled jet black hair, green eyes, and a scar on his forehead; a boy to fall in love with. Don't blame me as I was a teenager who wanted a spell of magic in her life and to run away to the Hogwarts. I hated being a muggle and aspired to become another Hermione Granger. I imagined myself boarding the Hogwarts Express and reaching Hogsmeade, going to that magical school, and learning to wave my wand. I had once written a secret letter to Harry on Valentine's day and later decided to keep it safe in my diary. When I watched 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' for the first time, I lost my mind (and heart!) over that young and extremely cute Daniel Radcliffe. I remember keeping newspaper cuttings of anything and everything related to him. I still have them, safely secured in my old trunk. Well, that infatuation lasted for a couple of years till I graduated from college. And then Harry got buried in my teenage memories.

A recent trip to the Universal Studios Hollywood unearthed those lost memories. I never imagined that I could visit the Hogsmeade, take a trip around the towering gates of the Hogwarts, and drink butterbeer; the closest I could get to Harry. That Forbidden Journey over the Quidditch field or the Flight of the Hippogriff or those dazzling lights at the Hogwarts castle; I was reliving my Harry-obsessed-teenage years. I was ecstatic and sad too. Sad because I grew up to become an adult who understands the difference between the magical world and the stark reality. The reality where I appreciate what Prof. Lupin said to Harry in the 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban':

"....what you fear most of all is..fear itself. Very wise..."

P.S. As an adult, I love Hermione (and Emma Watson) more than Harry. I am going to reread all those Harry Potter books again and sulk over my existence in the muggle world. And I am sharing a bit of my magical experience at the Universal Studios through these photos. Oh, I stumbled upon Pottermore while I googled mindlessly about Harry and hence sharing the link for the benefit of fellow Pottermaniacs.

The entrance to the Magical World

The Hogwarts Express at Hogsmeade

I lost my mind when I saw that sign!

The Hogsmeade Station

The Dreamy Hogsmeade Village

The place for exotic plants and flowers

The Hogwarts Castle

Butterbeer! After tasting it, I would prefer the normal beer though!

See that cute owl on the right.

Sun seems to shine a bit brighter in this magical world.

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