The gratitude I feel towards Rowling is that which could never be given justice through words alone. I find it hard to believe that the series ran for 10 years and in all that time i've been hooked. No other book in my small library can boast what Harry Potter can and now that it is al over I feel a dull ache where anticipation for the ending has been replaced with the saddening knowledge that there will be no more. I feel almost as if my last vestige of childhood left me the moment I tearfully closed that book.

I did surprisingly well until the (SPOILER)Heaven scene. This book tarnished Dumbledore's name when it began revealing that he wasn't the essence of purity and friendliness that has had been shown as for the first 6 books. After growing up with this notion having it taken away after he had died seemed a bit harsh of Rowling. Especially when it is revealed that he has long since sentenced Harry to death. So when he appeared to Harry as his confident, happy and warm-hearted self that we all know and love and explained that he had hoped beyond hope that Harry would indeed survive...Well, it brought me to tears. Of relief more than joy.

After that I was on the edge until the epilogue, managing to hold back even during the (SPOILER)very end of their childhood in the story, the last time we'd know Harry, Ron and Hermione as their young selves.

But I couldn't help but let loose a torrent of tears onto the book when all the meaning behind Harry (SPOILER)calling his child Albus severus Potter came crashing in.

(SPOILER) Some people thought the ending tacked on and pointless, but I, like some others, enjoy that it prevents any future sequels being made and reducing the quality of the series in everyone's memory.

The star that burns twice as bright, lasts half as long. It should stay that way.

I don't think I will even be more engaged in a series of books than I have been since 1997 with Harry Potter. I never thought I could be so euphoric and as torn at this thought, much as Rowling herself said. I only hope she knows how much she has touched the world.