2015-07-31

I solemnly swear that I am up to no good


Today is the birthday of my one and only queen Joanne Rowling, and my all-time favourite guy, the boy who lived, aka Harry Potter. The aim of this post is to express with words how much Harry Potter means to me, and I found that extremely difficult to do, but I'll give it a try.




I first read Harry Potter when it was translated to Swedish, in 1999. I was eight, and over night my world changed. The books, the incredible Rowling and Harry himself all mean the utmost to me. The magical world that Rowling created was an escape for me. I was bullied as a child, and the wonderful wizarding world of Harry Potter became my safe haven. My biggest wish was (possibly still is) that one day a letter would arrive for me by owl, and I would be invited into this magnificent place of magic and adventure.



As I grew older into my teenage years, I felt like my peers didn't understand me, the bullying continued (and got worse actually), but I had my sanctuary. Harry Potter became the one place where I could be me without a worry. Like so many other kids I became obsessed with everything to do with Harry Potter. I read and reread the books, watched the films over and over, and depleted the internet of HP-stuff. It went so far that I learned the spells, and I was convinced that I had to improve my English in order to get my letter to Hogwarts. When Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was published in 2000 I read it in English. It was the first "real" book I read in English.


Top: Mademoiselle R by La Redoute
Skirt: Miss Patina
Scarf: 9 3/4 in London
Wand: 9 3/4 in London
Necklace: Asos
Tattoo: Tattify


Harry Potter has been such a massive part of my life for the majority of my life (two thirds to be exact). As the films came to an end part of my childhood died. I remember watching the live stream of the premier of Deathly Hallows part 2 with tears streaming down my face, because it was "the end". Pottermore has filled that void that I feared so much. And I still reckon that the owl must have gotten lost on it's way to Sweden, it got confused by all the snow. Obviously.




In 2013 I had the opportunity to do something I had been dying to do for years. I finally went to The Making of Harry Potter at the WB Studios in London, and as the doors to the Great Hall opened I cried my eyes out. I couldn't even photograph because I was crying so much, but a woman working there assured me that they do have "cryers".  I've added a photo of me standing in front of the Ravenclaw (GO RAVENCLAW!) table once my crying seized.


And that, my friends, was the one time I have felt most at home. In the Great Hall I felt like I was finally where I should be. I felt like it clicked, suddenly everything made sense. And on that note I'll end. Harry Potter makes sense to me. Without Harry Potter I'm not who I am.



I wish Joanne Rowling a very Happy Birthday. Thank you for everything you've created, thank you for giving me refuge in a world that is purely magical. And to Harry Potter, my first love (even though he's 11 years older than me), you will always live.


10 comments:

  1. Ahhh...this is so precious and I understand your love of Harry Potter because I love him so!! The movie is just one of my favourites and I feel so fantastic when I watch it. Bullies are terrible and sadly so many of us are bullied growing up. I'm happy that you found escape though through the books and stuff. We need that really. These pictures are marvellous, love them. I hope you have a great weekend doll xx

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    1. Oh! <3 Harry Potter is just magical, you can't help but to love the stories! I agree, the movies are amazing, just re-watched PS yesterday for the sake of this post. Loved it as much as I always do!
      Bullies are terrible, I'm sorry you've had to go through bullies. Harry Potter helped me a great deal growing up, and it still manages to do that now. Thank you so much for your kind and sweet comments. My nerdy heart is very happy with how the photos turned out. Thank you, you have a lovely weekend too beautiful lady <3 <3

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  2. Loved this post, Mona! Thank you so much for sharing your love of Harry Potter with us! I remember reading the books when I was younger, and loving them. I'm sorry to hear you were bullied growing up, but also glad you had Harry Potter as an escape. I, too, would read to escape. I devoured books all through middle school and high school to escape from my peers...(and this paid off, because I am now one of only a few of them who can write decently, haha.) I just finished the book I was reading, and I think I may have to start rereading Harry Potter this weekend! :)

    Have a great weekend!

    P.S. These photos are adorable!

    -Lindsey
    have-clothes-will-travel.com

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    1. Thank you so much Lindsey! It was my pleasure. I'm more than happy to talk about HP :D
      There's just something about the books, you can't help but to love them! Reading is such a great escape - I totally understand what you mean. Haha, glad it paid off. I just started rereading the series and am on CoS now, love to reread them so I say go for it!
      You have a lovely weekend too! <3
      Thank you, I show a bit of my nerdy self :P

      Much love to you!

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  3. Happy birthday to them both! I remember my first encounter with a Harry Potter book (the first one), also in 1999. I was in the art club of my elementary school and saw the book on my teacher's desk. After that, I went out and bought it and would read it everywhere I went. You could imagine how excited I was to later find out that a movie was to be made! As I got older though I didn't catch up with the rest of the series, I was only about three books in.
    And I understand the bullying, I was bullied too as a kid so I completely know how you felt when reading those first couple of chapters. :) They are literally memories you can't forget.
    P.S: You're so lucky to have visited the actual set!! Sorry for such a long comment. Hahah

    Vegetarian Courtesy

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    1. Yeeees! :D Such a great memory to have of the first book Adi, that's awesome! I remember being very excited about the movies too, I remember going to the premiers - so much fun!
      There's always time to catch up if you want to ;) The books really only get better and better so it's definitely worth reading.
      I'm very sorry you were bullied, that sucks, and I hope you had a nice escape like I had with HP.
      I know, I was really lucky to visit the set, it was so great, and I cried so much. Hahaha. Never apologies for long comments - love them! Love to get to know about other peoples Harry Potter stories! Thank you so much for your comment :D
      Much love to you!

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  4. You are so gorgeous <3 This is a really great and emotional post. So nice to read.
    :*

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    1. Oh you are too sweet. Thank you so much <3
      Much love

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  5. Oh, I just loved reading this post! Thank you so much for sharing how much Harry Potter means to you. I can absolutely relate to how much the books can be an incredible escape. I try to reread those books once every couple of years; they never ever get old. Also, if you ever find yourself in Chicago, let's play a round of Quidditch! I used to be on the team in college and could certainly rustle up a few of the old crew for a match. :-) By the way, wonderful pictures! You look like you're having so much fun!

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    1. Thank you so much beautiful!
      I agree, you can reread them how ever many times without them getting old!
      Absolutely! I'm totally game for quidditch! As long as I get to play chaser. Amazing that you had a quidditch team! I wish I could find enough nerds over here for that :P Haha
      I had soooo much fun! Really, these are my fav photos of me ever. Haha! <3 <3

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