Goodbye

It was 21^st of July and I woke up so early around 5:30am despite my eyes were still too lazy to open widely. I forced myself to get up then ate a simple breakfast, brushed my teeth and took a bath. After an hour, I double checked my things and quickly sprinted towards National Bookstore near the place where I work.

I reached the place but went first to the nearby ATM Machine to withdraw some cash I needed. After that, I quickly went to the bookstore and found myself standing with two ladies and an old man who were also waiting for the bookstore to open. It was 6:45am. You might be probably wondering it was too early for a bookstore to open its doors to their customers at that day since, most bookstores around the city usually opens 9:00am or 10:00am.

But that day was special. It was a special day to not only the four individuals standing outside the door but to another people around the world. Because it was the day when the seventh and final installment of JK Rowling epic tale of Harry Potter was released. The book was titled “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.” Yes, it was the last and the long story must end there. Harry’s destiny is at hand.

I admit that excitement crept over me when the release date of the final book was announced. As the date is drawing closer I was restless and couldn’t help myself to consult countless internet sites looking for possible and believable clues of what will happen in the final part of the series. I too busied myself in browsing different interviews on JK Rowling about her final book trying to get some important clues out of her during her interview that I hoped might slip… But she’s very careful with her words—careful enough to prevent spilling direct information related to the final book. It was her style.

With little difficulty of solving the puzzle by connecting her hints to the opinions of others and my opinion, I decided to remain firm in one theory of what will happen in The Deathly Hallows. Harry must (or will) die as well as Voldemort. I remained first on that conclusion and also added to myself that I should also keep my fingers crossed though I disliked the idea that Harry himself must die.

It was 1 minute left to 7:00am and I saw the bookstore ready to open its doors. I straightened myself up and prepared.

“The destiny is finally at hand,” I said to myself.

Then, the clock announced that it’s 7:00am and the security guard opened its doors. I looked back before entering; there were not so many people there. In my own opinions, maybe because the place was not popular as I heard that there’ll be going a whole day celebration in Fort Bonifacio Global City where Harry Potter fans will gather to celebrate the release of The Deathly Hallows.

I quickly walked towards the Customer Service corner and presented my reservation receipt and finally… the final installment of the series is clutching tightly in my hands. But a weird sensation crawled over my whole self. I felt that something was not right within me as I’m holding the book.

I looked upon its covers and it was exactly the same one I saw over the internet. Then, I opened a few pages to read the different names of its chapters and looked shortly at the drawing on the first chapter. Then, I closed the book and left.

While I was sitting in the canteen lingering my eyes to the front cover of the book, I felt a different sensation inside my own mind as it was like I’m seeing the whole thing clearly as I’m looking to the cover of the book. I saw Harry smiling, standing proud and waving goodbye later joined by his two closest friends Ron and Hermione both of them waving goodbyes too followed by the students, faculty and staff of Hogwarts next by the Wizarding community and finally Albus Dumbledore. Together they disappeared slowly beneath the front cover of the seventh and final book which I’m holding. What I felt at all was half joy and half terrible sadness.

A single tear came out of my right eye. I felt the bitterness of parting from the book which I loved. It is the book that pushed me into reading and taught me to love reading. The feeling was like I’m parting to one of my closest friend.

I do not know when I will read stories about Hogwarts or the Wizarding community again as the author already laid down her pen to rest after long years of hard work.

But I will keep the memories of this enchanted world always alive in my mind.

The magical world I entered is now at peace.

“All is well.”