The Final Movie: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and how I prepared for the end of an era

I had just moved back to Pennsylvania, and some friends from my grandmother's church convinced me to read the first book. I was immediately hooked. It was right before the 4th book came out, so I tore through the first three books in one week and even ignored visiting family in order to do so.

Each new book release, each movie premiere, each page read has been an ultimate adventure to me. As I face the end of this journey 10 years later at 22 years old (adult? what's that?), I find that I'm needing to take steps to help come to the realization that the Harry Potter Generation is indeed ending.

My best friend Katey and I decided we were going to make t-shirts. We've known this for the past two weeks, but we didn't know exactly what we were going to put on them, and we didn't even buy the shirts until last night. Last night Katey and I were like, "Oh!" and bought materials. We spent close to 2 hours on our masterpieces.

We both decided that we would have the same thing on our shirts, just with varied colors. The front of our shirts say "Until the very end." This phrase is part of J. K. Rowling's dedication in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

The dedication reads thus:

|      THE

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|        DEDICATION

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|           OF THIS BOOK

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|        IS SPLIT

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|   SEVEN WAYS:

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|TO NEIL,

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|   TO JESSICA,

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|      TO DAVID,

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|         TO KENZIE,

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|                TO DI,

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|         TO ANNE,

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|      AND TO YOU,

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|   IF YOU HAVE

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|      STUCK

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|         WITH HARRY

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|              UNTIL THE

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|            VERY

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|         END.

What Katey and I decided to put on the back of our shirts is another phrase from the books, but it's something Harry himself says: "I'm not going home. Not really." At the end of HP and the Sorcerer's Stone (American title), Harry turns to his friends Ron and Hermione and says this before he leaves with his aunt, uncle, and cousin for the summer away from school.

Katey and I wanted to have our own dedication to Jo and her amazing series of books, and we thought choosing words from the books was the perfect way to do this.

Katey and I decided that these words describe exactly how we feel. We will be leaving the theater tonight with our hearts heavy after the ending of this era that has lasted over a decade. These stories have become our "homes," and we wanted to express this. We have even decided that after the movie, we will be switching our shirts backwards so that the back becomes the front.

Because the last premiere is during the summer, we decided that we were not going to wear our usual Hogwarts students uniforms like usual. With it being so hot outside, we have opted for comfort over fashion. I am wearing black shorts with the above t-shirt, a black and green cloak, and a witch's hat.

I have done my nails. My toenails and fingernails match. With a silver background and glitter top coat, I have drawn Deathly Hallows symbols on my thumbs. I figure my Deathly Hallows tattoo on my right big toe is enough design for my feet.

I am about to step out the door and see the very last Harry Potter movie premiere there will ever be.

This is it. This is the end.

Wish me luck! I am taking a box of tissues with me as well because I know I will be crying throughout most of the movie. Why did I put on eye makeup again? Where is my phone? Where is my wand? Good thing I'm not driving; I won't be able to see through my tears!