So, I finally finished the Harry Potter series! I have to say, I was amazed. There are some books that I thought I loved, but they are nothing compared to the Harry Potter books. I always heard that they were amazing, but I always figured I wouldn't like them because I never really liked fantasy and usually always go for fiction. Still, I thought I should at least try them and make sure I wouldn't like them before I gave up on them. Obviously, I loved them. I really had no idea how good these books were. I don't know if liking these books means I will always like fantasy, but I know these books really surprised me. I have to say that these books are definitely my favorite books ever. It was also great knowing what people were talking about when they referred to something having to do with the Harry Potter books. I really liked how all of the books were about a different thing, which of course was in the title (Like Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows was about the three Deathly Hallows.). Anyways, to sum up, I was very impressed when I read the series and could not put the books down. They were a lot more than just Harry vs. Voldemort, which made them much more interesting to me.
While reading, I was surprised to realize that the spells used had something to do with what the spells did. This was pretty obvious even in the first book, but I didn't even think about it at first. It must have really taken a lot of thought and research to come up with the spells and have them relate to Latin meanings like they did (For example, the spell/charm used to summon things was accio which, in Latin, translates to something like to call or summon). If I had been writing these books, I probably wouldn't have thought to do this and just made up words (That would be actually possible to pronounce.). But the author of these books really seems to have put some thought into it. Whenever I came across a spell that sounded like what it did, I tried to make a note. One I found was lumos which made light come from the end of a wand, which to me sounded like illuminate (The lum part). After I looked it up, I saw that the Latin word lumen means like a light or a lamp. Of course, it's pretty obvious even in just the first book that the spells actually meant something, but I thought it was interesting to see exactly where they came from and what exactly they meant. I would say that almost, if not all, spells in the Harry Potter series have some meaning that shows that the spell would do.There are way too many examples to list, but I will try to list a few.
Accio
Brought an object to the person who used it
Latin: summon
Reparo
Fixed things
Latin: Restore, renew, revive
Crucio
Used as a torture curse
Latin: torture
Nox
Made the light at the tip of wands go out
Latin: Night
Stupefy
Stunning spell
Latin: Stupeo: To be stunned, numbed, astonished
There are more, but I don't think it would be fun to read or list all of them, so I won't. Plus, I'm sure I don't know all of them. So, I'll leave it there. Another thing I loved about the Harry Potter series was the surprise endings. (Although I think most people who would read this post have probably read the series, I still feel I should say SPOILER ALERT. Because I'll pretty much be saying the endings to the books right now.) Although all of the books were a surprise to me, I think the third and sixth books were the most surprising. In the third book the whole thing was surprising- finding out the dog was Sirius Black, then that Professor Lupin was bad, then that both Sirius and Lupin were good, and then that Scabbers was Peter Pettigrew, who was one who really betrayed Harry's parents and was on Voldemort's side.. Basically, the whole thing added together was a shock. The reason I'm saying this is to point out how this book really made me think to understand what was happening. I always love the part of a book where everything connects or the final piece of information is revealed. Then, in The Half-Blood Prince, I thought for awhile that Voldemort was the Half-Blood Prince, because the textbook was made fifty years ago, which was when Tom Riddle was at Hogwarts and opened the Chamber of Secrets. Also, Voldemort is a half-blood, his mother being a witch/squib and his father being the first Tom Riddle, who was a muggle. Another is that even though Voldemort was evil, he was still a great and amazing wizard, so he would know how to do the potions and spells written in the book. So, I thought that Voldemort might be the Half-Blood Prince. Also, some of the spells in the book were very evil, so it would fit Voldemort, considering he is evil and was probably good at spells. I'm saying this to show how these books can change very suddenly, which is always interesting to me. Now, thinking back, it makes sense that Snape would be the owner of the book, considering he was the potions master for awhile. I was still surprised when Snape said he was the Half-Blood Prince. Another thing in the sixth book that surprised me was, of course, when Dumbledore died. I couldn't believe when Snape killed him; I really thought when Snape showed up that Dumbledore was saved. So, I was completely shocked when Snape killed Dumbledore. I really like surprising endings; I think the reason is that if you could predict the endings to books, then they wouldn't be any fun to read. It would just be boring if you knew how a book ended and I would feel like I was reading for no reason. Still, somehow I always figure that I have an idea how a book will end and then I am always pleasantly surprised to see that really, the book ends in a way I never could have imagined. It makes it interesting to keep reading and see if you're right. Anyways, I really loved the Harry Potter books and I'm really sad I finished the books; It makes me wish I would have read slower! I hate finishing a series that is really good. It always makes me feel sad to see it end. And then I have nothing to do for awhile. Although I was glad to finally know how the whole series ended, I was so sad to not have anything more to read about Harry Potter. Still, I was not at all disappointed with these books and they are definitely the best books I have ever read. Now, I am watching the movies. So far I have finished the first five and am halfway through the sixth one. I always love seeing movies after reading the books and I have loved the movies almost as much as the books. My only complaint is that Peeves is not in the movies! I really like Peeves. I love at the end of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows when Peeves sings, “We did it, we bashed them, wee Potter's the one, and Voldy's gone moldy, so now lets have fun!” Although it's hard to remember everything Peeves said throughout the series, I'm pretty sure that that quote is my favorite thing he says. I really feel bad for all of the people who have seen the movies and not read the books; There are so many things the books have that the movies don't, not just Peeves. Anyways, all I have to say is that if I could go back to when I was first starting the series, I would!
