My First Love

I was with him from the beginning. I walked with him through self-discovery, through making new friends, unveiling old enemies, first love and heart-ache, through death and despair. We went through it all together. Our journey is over now, but the opportunities for us to relive those moments are yet to come to an end.
I first met The Boy Who Lived when I was eleven, the year for me was 1999, and I've stuck with him ever since. Harry Potter, the stories I grew up with, I've read every book over and over, and seen the films even more.
The first film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, hit Australian cinemas on the 29th of November 2001, it was a Thursday morning, I was in the 8th grade. My mother let me take the day off school to see the very first session, 10am at Hoyts Belconnen. I almost wore my "Sorting Hat" but I thought better of it, and allowed my memorabilia rest at home.
I remember the mystery of getting "The" first letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, hand delivered by a half-giant named Hagrid, who soon became, not only an ally, but our friend and confidant.
The journey ended in July of 2007. I was 19 years old, yet I sat crying over the loss of many great friends in the Battle of Hogwarts.
Harry Potter was a pilgrimage I shared with my generation, for those of us yet to experience some of the maturer events in the real world, Harry introduced us to the shallow end of the pool. And for those of us older than our years, we had a friend doing life with us through the hardships we were unprepared for.
The Harry Potter voyage is approaching the absolute end now, Deathly Hallow Part 1 is being released later this year, and I for one, could not be more excited. The film saga began with Chris Columbus' directing. He took care of the Philosopher's Stone, translating it to the screen with the grace and respect it deserved. And the finale has been reared by David Yates, who picked up the baton in 2007 with The Order of the Phoenix.
Today I watched the official trailer of Deathly Hallows Part 1 for the first time, and it sent tingles down my spine. I do have a tendency to approach all book-to-film translations with apprehension, but I refuse to this time.
Mr Yates, I do have faith in your work. I trust that you wish to do the best for Harry. And please, please, don't add any unnecessary scenes, like the Battle at the Burrow again. That was ridiculous.