I don't know how you people did it. I honestly don't. I just finished The Half-Blood Prince about half an hour ago and already I'm on pins and needles here in sweaty-toothed anticipation of tomorrow. How on earth have you slept these past couple of years? How will I sleep tonight? Wow.
The Half-Blood Prince was by far the best book in the series (with The Goblet of Fire coming in a very close second). What a story! I'm not going to review it here because, well, first of all, I'm two years too late for that. But more importantly, if you're one of the few Muggles out there who have yet to read it, there's really nothing I can tell you expcept: READ IT! Well... read the other five books first, of course. Every single thing you've heard about their greatness is true. The hype is real.
"I am not worried, Harry. I am with you."
Do you remember those words? Dumbledore spoke them gently to his favorite pupil as they came out of the cave together. They resonate with me.
So tonight, I will sleep. And tomorrow, I will wake, and go pick up The Deathly Hallows. Then I will drive to New Hampshire and spend the next week on the lake, reading the final installment in J.K. Rowling's brilliant, heart-wrenching, beautiful, magical series. For the first time, I'll be sharing this experience with readers everywhere. Up until this moment, I have been behind in the game. But no more. I'm here now. And I'm not going anywhere, except with you and Harry, to once and for all defeat the evil Lord Voldemort.
It's really a great feeling to know that you'll be reading the same words as countless other people around the world tomorrow isn't it? How often does this happen? Not as often as it should. We're all going to be connected through Harry. We're all going to share his experiences one last time, together. I'm going to be thinking about you all when I crack the book open for the first time tomorrow. And then... well, then...
I will not be afraid. I will not worry. Because I will be with Harry. As will you, dear friends.
Happy reading.
