I'm Harry Potter--no I'm not

I know...

With book 7 out, the series having ended, I'm a late bloomer Harry Potter fan from Manila, Philippines. In fact, in a way I'd like to try looking like him. But, not really.

It started out as a dad-to-son-project of mine, get my kids interested in books again. I'd like to think that Harry's become my eldest--he did bring the kids to liking books again--including me. I bought all the books, save for the Deathly Hallows. The movies were icing on the cake.

When the first book came out, it was a bestseller everywhere including here and I was not interested at all. But when my kids started talking about Hogwarts, the Leaky Cauldron, the Weasly twins, and magical spells and charms I couldn't understand, I decided I needed to start reading it so I'd learn the 'HP speak.' Well, after book 1, I couldn't stop reading it.

I just finished book 4 and immediately started The Order of the Phoenix. My kids and I committed to reading the book before watching the movie, and I can't wait.

I know now why J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter was a hit--it brought out the kids in us. Admit it, at one point in your life, you imagined (or wished) you can do magic just as I did when I was a kid.

At times, I'd like to think I'm Harry Potter, what with all his rule-breaking and misadventures, but I'm really not, in that a lot of things I imagined I did or achieved because I worked hard for it/them--I'm Harry Potter without the wand.