Every story has an ending

Written by hootenannie on November 30th, 2007

[Attention: if you have not finished the Harry Potter series, don’t worry. There are NO PLOT SPOILERS in this blog. Read on, my readers. Read on.]

I just finished “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” which, if you’ve been living under a rock, is the seventh and final book of the Harry Potter series. The book came out in July, and because of life circumstances, I didn’t have the chance to read it until now. Somehow, I miraculously (or… magically…) made it until now without having the ending spoiled, but I began to realize that I was pushing my luck.

It became a race against time – I didn’t tell anyone what I was reading for fear that they might give away the ending. I snuck onto the plane to Richland on Tuesday, and as covertly as I could, slid the HUGE, HULKING volume from my bag, trying to block the title from everyone around me to avoid a plot-spoiling comment.

I have spent the past few nights lying awake in bed for hours and hours, turning pages and savoring each image. Each time that a chapter would come to a close, I would think, “Just one more.” This continued until my eyes saw spots and drooped unwittingly. And then, when I would wake up in the morning, before even brushing my teeth, I would simply roll over and open the book again.

And yes, I made it to the end of the book having maintained the surprise.

The ending of a series has always felt like a death to me. When I finished “Lord of the Rings,” I sat quietly in my little armchair for what felt like an eternity, just staring at the blank page at the end. A good story brings characters to life, and they become close companions. A poignant tale can delineate my thoughts, and punctuate my emotions. I am not ready to give up Harry and Hermione and Ron and the rest, just like I was not ready to give up Peter, Susan, Edmond, and Lucy.

I feel sad. When a family member dies, we have the promise of seeing them someday in heaven. Maybe it’s silly, but I wish I could see the Hogwarts crowd in heaven, too.

4 Comments so far ↓

  1. Nov
    30
    7:49
    PM
    Marijke

    oh man. LOVED those books.

  2. Nov
    30
    10:32
    PM
    Jeremy Parsons

    I loved the first two movies! And the first 20 pages of the first book.

    Someday I will read them. . . .and hopefully the ending will be a surprise.

    Thanks for Scherm’s email.

  3. Dec
    2
    3:28
    PM
    Flavia

    Dearest Annie:

    Your road continues to turn and return in so many ways. I’m so sorry to hear of your grandfather’s passing – and you WILL see him again in his baseball cap and hugs for you!

    I love to read of God’s gifts to you: music and a Martin guitar. I pray for that Mazda 3 in your hear future.

    Thank you for your voicemail recently – I regret that we couldn’t make coffee ‘happen’. It shall do that some day soon!

    Your smile and words always warm my heart, Mistress of the Blog!

    Love,

    Flavia

  4. Dec
    3
    1:54
    PM
    Elle

    Love those books.
    Love the characters.
    Miss them something horrible!
    A small part of me wishes to see them in heaven too. :)

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