The love of HPfGU and a HP confession (was quetion and HPFGU)

[Saitaina]

Okay, after seeing oh so many odes to the group and how people fell for
Harry Potter I had to come out after nearly two years of belonging to the
group (joined in Jan 2000).

The Discovery of Harry Potter

When Harry Potter first came around I was on the other side of the divide.
I was the person who laughed at those that read them because they were
'children's' novels.  I rolled my eyes at the hoopla over GoF and laughed at
those 'poor fools' camping outside bookstores.  I refused to read them for a
complete year before being dragged, kicking and screaming into the HP
fandom.  I gave into a friend of mine and finally (FINALLY) agreed to read
Sorcers Stone (I got it for free through a group so I read it, only reason).
After reading the book I still had a low opinion of the series (plot just
didn't do it for me) but there was...something in the books that grabbed me.
I would like to tell you just what it was but nothing could describe the
feeling inside me after completing the book.

I grabbed Chamber of Secrets from it's box (I had two from that club, lucky
me) and delved into it while ignoring the same friend who first told me to
read them and soon completed the book.  It was in that final moment that I
knew I had found the new love of my life (and no I'm not talking about
Tom...yet).  I had ordered Prisoner of Azakaban and Goblet of Fire (also
free) but they had been delayed and I was rather desperately eager to read
the next tales of our young hero so while waiting for the book I ran out to
the bookstore and paid for Prisoner of Azakaban (on sale, 75% off...aren't I
lucky!) and headed home after reading the first few pages in the parking lot
while smoking my cigarette.  Upon arriving home I saw a small brown box on
my doorstep, Prisoner of Azakaban and Goblet of Fire had arrived while I was
at the bookstore.  I read them both strait through, finishing around
midnight that night and headed for the computer, looking for someone to talk
to about them.

Between Falling and Finding

I had found the group listing in the Yahoo! Groups directory but stayed away
from joining as I was a little scared of the 'Adults' part of it. After all,
I was still 18, just barley an adult.  I joined several rpg lists though and
spent my time enjoying just playing the characters for the time.

During this time I had found my new best friend-audio books.  A way to take
Harry Potter EVERYWHERE with me.  I soon spend 120$+ on all four books and
carried them with me in my car, taking my favorite characters and stories
with me no matter what.  Soon how ever I got tired of not being able to
discuss anything about the books with anyone as no one around me is an HP
fan.  I came back to the Yahoo!groups and re-found the link to HPfGU.

Harry Potter for Grownups

In the long time I have been a member of this group, I discovered friends I
could never imagine now not knowing.  I have had an outlet for my HP mania
and have changed the way I few the books.  I no longer just read them, I
explore them, looking for little mysteries and nit-picks.  This group has
helped me grow as a person, as a friend, and as a fan.  I have discovered
that not everything is as it seems, weather it be the books, a group, or
myself.

So I thank those who I've known in my time here and give schnoogles to those
who are new, hopefully, you as well will become as in-love with this group
as I am.

Saitaina
*****
Giles (to the Council members): You all stand around and look somber.
(Indeed they do.) Good job.
Quentin: You used to respect us, Giles. You used to be one of us.
Giles: You used to pay me.

"The only way to get rid of temptation is to give in."
-Oscar Wilde