On July 31, 2015, all the Potterheads in the world paid homage to Harry Potter and his creator J.K. Rowling for Harry’s 35^th and J.K.’s 50^th birthdays. Ironically the weekend before, ABC Family held its annual Harry Potter Weekend. As any loyal Potterhead would do, I watched it. From start to finish, I watched the entire Harry Potter series from the finding of the Sorcerer’s (or Philosopher’s) Stone, to the destruction of the Horcruxes in the Deathly Hallows. I stayed with Harry just as I, and so many others, had before. Watching the films made me nostalgic and I have now started to reread the series. With each film, came an emotional connection. This is what most Potterheads experience rewatching the film series. Also, spoilers, of course.

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone"

J.K. Rowling finished her first installment of the series in 1995, the same year I was born. It was published in 1997 in the U.K. and in 1998 in the U.S. with the film adaptation coming out in 2001. I was six years old when the first film came out. How different were our lives before the introduction of Harry Potter and friends? Before Hogwarts. Before the history that came with magic as if it had been there all along. Before Harry Potter, magic was simply a slide of hand card or coin trick. But as we found out Harry was a wizard, we explored this new world with him. Watching the first movie over again is like revisiting an old friend. We get just as excited when Harry gets his letter, and are still upset that we never received our (I’m still waiting, Ms. Rowling). And just like when we were in our first year in school, we watch Harry become friends with Hermione and Ron. Watching the first film is so exciting. We revisit the exact same emotions we had when we first saw the Great Hall, Hagrid’s Hut, and Fluffy. And we tear up when Hagrid gives Harry the photo album of those who love him. But we leave our first year at Hogwarts knowing that there are more years to come.

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets"

With our second film, re-watching it we begin to realize the dark tones, which follow the first film, and continue to become darker and darker. We also learn more about the dark secrets lying in the school and within Harry himself. Year two prompts a lot of questions. We’re just as confused as Harry is that he can talk to snakes but are reminded of the magic that occurred in his first year; the zoo incident on Dudley’s birthday. Confusion, complexity, and the thought of losing someone when Hermione becomes petrified is what we, Potterheads, experience in this one. As we watch Harry and Ron piece together the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets, we're reminded of just how confused we were our first time watching and reading the books, but it only leaves us wanting more.

"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban"

One of the best films/books in the series, and one of the most pivotal, Prisoner of Azkaban also gives us more mystery. Sirius Black is an enigma to the reader and the audience. We believe one thing, and are told another. All speculation. Of all the books in the series, Prisoner of Azkaban is a page-turner, and the film keeps our attention the whole time. But it’s also one of the more emotional ones. Re-watching the series, we know what happens to our beloved characters. At least in the books we can escape the visual aspect. When at the end of the book/film Harry and Sirius have conversations about being together, being a proper family, we get choked up. And it only gets more emotional from there.

"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"

Also known as Harry Potter and the year of raging hormones, Goblet of Fire is a turning point in the series. It’s the year that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named returns to his most powerful physical form. From his snake like description and demeanor in the book to the embodiment of him in the film, Voldemort is a character we fear more than ever. With a physicality that is the stuff of nightmares, and a plan of new order in the wizarding world, Voldemort is a character we have come to fear, but no matter how many times we read the books or watch the films his reveal in year four still haunts us. Watching the films and reread the books again, we know what happens to Cedric, and the heart-break that comes with it. As Hermione says in the film “Everything is going to change now, isn’t it?” And yes. It does.

"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"

The most irritable we see Harry is in this installment of the film. He’s an angsty adolescent who also happens to be the only thing standing between Voldemort and ultimate power. But as this is the longest book in the series it feels no less like the longest film in the series as well. I get frustrated reading and watching this installment of the series simply because for all Hermione, Ron and other characters do to assure Harry they stand by him, its all about how the chosen one is sulking and feeling alone. But I can level with Harry. Re-watching the film and rereading the book I'm just as frustrated as Harry that few adults believe him. At the age of 15, Harry and his friends are still kids, but they are mature beyond their years and take as their task to make others hear them if they won't listen. Not to mention we once again relive every Potterheads least favorite character Dolores Umbridge. Each time you watch the film or re read the novel, you just hate the color pink more and more. To make matters worse is the death of Sirius Black. Properly done in the film, I’d say, Sirius’s death is sudden and hits us with a lightening bolt scar to our hearts. And to think it takes all of this for the Ministry to realize Voldemort’s back.

"Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince"

For Potterheads everywhere, we knew what was coming in this one. The final passages of Snape killing Dumbledore are emotional and unforgettable. We’re left with so many questions, but we know the answers to them. Still, it’s so hard to watch the enigmatic character of Snape kill the man who became the teacher we all wanted. Beyond plot design, rereading and re-watching Half Blood Prince simply reaffirms to every Harry Potter fan just why we stick with the series. From the beginning, we are taken on a journey with similar themes; love, friendship, courage, but in a whole new world. It isn’t until Half Blood Prince the reality sinks in just how close we have become to these characters, and how much they mean to us. If we could have, we all would have raised our wands at the loss of Dumbledore. We would have even followed Harry to try, as he might, to fight Snape yelling at him to fight back. Of all the books, next to the conclusion of course, this was the one where we shed tears. The sacrifice and the mystery of Dumbledore becomes yet another reason we love the Harry Potter universe and yearn to be a part of it. Beyond the emotional side, we still see Harry, Ron and Hermione are still just 16 year old kids. The triangle with Lavender, Ron and Hermione

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows"

From start to finish, the book and film adaptations are a long journey. About 700 or so pages, the first half of Deathly Hallows is a lot of walking, a lot of talking, just as the film shows. For Potterheads everywhere, when someone says they couldn’t get through this one because of how long and boring it was, we wish we could just pull out our wands and yell stupefy, sending them out of our perfect wizarding universe. Of all the books and films, Deathly Hallows is the most emotionally draining. So why do we come back to it? Why do we torture ourselves watching beloved characters die, watching Voldemort become all the more powerful, and knowing the outcome? Because of something we have learned in throughout the books and the films. Hogwarts is a place we can go back to, to feel safe, to feel at home. As Harry enters the forbidden forest to confront Voldemort for what may be the last time, his close family members appear around him. They never really left. By the end of Deathly Hallows, we cannot help but want to start all over again. And we do it, again and again.

The Harry Potter franchise, unlike any other I have seen in my 20 years, has been a book and film series that has touched so many. I was one of the lucky ones who got to grow up with Harry and company from age 6 until age 16. Now that I am older, I revisit the series as often as I can to find things I never noticed, reaffirm how much I adore the characters and the lessons and, above all other reasons, to return home.