When Cyrena and I first started talking about our trip she insisted we go to the Harry Potter Tour. I had honestly no idea what she was talking about until I looked it up. After a thorough google search I was in love and insisting upon the visit as well.
The morning of the tour started with a cup of Costa coffee and a confusion about what Tube station to take (quite like every morning of our stay in that sense). Our first stop was to pick up the car we were renting for the day. I expected to end up with my knees up to my chin in the backseat of a tiny electric car. Instead, we received a shiny black Mercedes Benz
Crossing streets in a busy city is difficult. Crossing streets in London when you're from America is stressful because you don't have any idea which way the cars are coming from. Having your dad drive the streets in London, trying to understand the GPS and not having the tiniest clue of where you're going, now that's a nightmare. My dad's a good driver in America. He was a driving instructor when he was younger and he taught me and my two brothers how to drive. But London was a test for everyone's nerves. First, that pretty Mercedes Benz? Yeah the engine shuts off when you come to a stop. The air vents were louder than the GPS with no conceivable way of lowering them without turning them off completely. Plus the driver's seat was obviously on the other side than what I'm used to. The GPS would say turn left but you would have to turn right to turn left.
Our next stop was Stonehenge. Arriving at Stonehenge was a breath of fresh air after our days in the city. The calm of the area felt like walking into a library. The stones were great and I got to recreate a photo I took with my dad at age 2.Then it was back in the car and heading to the studio with a quick stop at a gas station to get Costa and a potato dog (absolutely delicious and highly recommended). I was starving at that point and the potato dog and granola bar I had felt like my own little slice of heaven.
From Stonehenge to Leavesden, the driving was smooth sailing. We got our tickets and decided to get some more lunch. This part I will remember until I die or get Alzheimer's: I ordered a Thai chicken salad and almost as soon as we found a spot to wait for our food in the crowded cafeteria of the studio the fire alarm went off. Everyone was ushered out the doors and we waited back in the car until the doors opened. When we got back and our food was ready my poor Thai chicken was dried through and as tough as stone.
The rest of our wait before we got in line was spent looking at the amazing gift shop. Cyrena and I lost my parents in the crowd and pointed out what we would get for her sisters, our friends and my roommates.
Now before I bring you into the tour I want to give you a bit of background information at this point about how I came to know Harry and his friends. The books started when I was in kindergarten and by the time the first movie came out I was not allowed to watch or read anything Harry Potter related (because of "witchcraft" which my mom thought would turn me evil). When I was in second grade some of the kids in my school would point and whisper (how kids "whisper" at least aka talking with their hands cupped over their mouths) that that girl looked like "Hermione." I didn't have a clue who Hermione was so I just glared at them. I started hating Harry Potter for awhile after that. In fifth grade my mom finally told me I could watch the movies if I wanted to but I felt so deprived that I refused. Fast forward to the end of eleventh grade. I didn't look much like the "Harry Potter girl" by then and people were only reading the books when a new movie was about to come back. One weekend I was invited by some friends to go see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (the sixth movie). I went and was hooked. I began reading all the books that summer. I brought them everywhere: the pool, vacation, doctor's offices, the mall, etc etc. Wherever I went, Harry went. When I finished a book I watched the movie and by the time Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 premiered, I was caught up.
All of this is to admit, I didn't grow up with Harry Potter. A lot of my friends did and to this day they know the details far better than me but I love Harry Potter in spite of my own shortcomings. And now I love Hermione and I can see the similarities between young me and her when looking back.
After waiting in the infinite line we were ushered into a dark room where a brief clip played about the magic of Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling. And tough old me who hates public crying as much as being stung by a bee, cried a few tears of joy. Just being in that building made me feel apart of something as all readers of the series are.
On the tour I got to see up close all the things I never dreamed I would. I saw the horcruxes, the Griffindor common room, the Weasley's home, 4 Privet Drive, Snape's Potions class, wardrobes from all the movies, the Knight Bus, the Potter's house, the bridge to Hogwarts, Dumbledore's office, brooms, wands, and Hogwarts! I drank butterbeer and sat in the Weasley's flying car!
That tour was one of the most magical days of my life. You got to walk through at your own pace and get these little passports stamped. I felt on top of the world that day and I want to go back there as soon as I possibly can.
Yours until the end of the Internet,
Eiggam
