On July 31, 1980, the character Harry Potter was born. On July 31, 2017, Harry Potter turned 37 years old. The elusive “Nineteen Years Later” epilogue of “The Deathly Hallows” happens this year. From 1998 to 2017, the experiences of Harry Potter and his life in the wizarding world were uncharted. This gap between stories provided fans with a sort of bliss period, in which “all was well,” and people could be nostalgic for Harry’s teen years. It’s so much easier to forget that Harry Potter has been growing up, getting married, and having children.
It’s been a magical summer for the Harry Potter universe, both in the story and in real life. The series itself turned 20 years old on June 26. On September 1, both the epilogue of the book series and the opening of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” are supposed to take place. And while, of course, this series is a work of fiction, there’s a wonderful comfort in imagination. The magic hasn’t died and will continue to live on and live with us.
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” – J.K. Rowling, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”
Additionally, Pottermore has launched the “Wizarding World Book Club,” which allows fans to reread the books and have discussed the stories with each other. Outside of Harry Potter’s direct time period, the “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” series is releasing four additional films, the second film coming out in November of 2018.
The “Harry Potter” series sparked a revolution across languages and cultures, bringing millions of people together. Everyone knows Harry Potter’s name. It’s a franchise that outlives the pages of the books and the scenes of the movies: it inspires and connects people. It teaches people the importance and power of love.
