“After all this time?” ALWAYS. 

I grew up watching Harry Potter. This wasn’t just a movie for me. My entire childhood was about it. Daniel Redcliff was my crush at a time when I barely understood the meaning of this word. I remember how I used to long for Saturdays because we had our library period on that day(ohh yes, you heard me right) and I would get a chance to read Harry Potter. (Back then, buying this book was an expensive affair).  I had maintained a scrapbook where I used to paste the pictures of every character from this movie. I either used to get it from a newspaper cutting or from a cybercafé. I bunked my school to watch Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.(Our headmistress was present in the same movie theatre sitting three rows behind us).

I knew Hogwarts was not for real but every year on Christmas’s eve I used to sleep with socks tucked under pillow wondering Santa would come and bring me my Hogwarts letter. 

I fantasized if it could become a reality, I would be a wizard and live at Hogwarts. I would be smart as Hermione Granger passing each and every course. How would the sorting hat see me? Ambitious Slytherin or Brave Gryffindor? Loyal Hufflepuff or  Witty Raven claw?  Would Snape be my professor? Slughorn, McGonagall , Flitwick? Would I have Professor Hooch to teach me how to ride a broomstick? Would I punch Draco Malfoy? What would it be like to trick Professor Umbridge? 

I would fight against Voldemort. “Crucio” escaping my wand. “Avada Kadavara” and “Imperius” too.  I wondered how he would respond. How would I manage to find the hocruxes? How would I manage to save Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape?

Years passed by, but I never received my Hogwarts letter only to get it in February 2020. Yes, you heard me right. I got my Hogwarts letter from my Professor Dumbledore aka Swamiji. I got an email confirming my initiation.  I found my Professor Dumbledore in Swamiji, Professor McGonagall in Sadhvi Vrinda Om Ji, Hagrid in Raghu Swamiji. (I will soon figure out the rest of the characters). 

Thank you Swamiji for giving me my Hogwarts letter. I know you will ALWAYS be there to protect me from my inner Dementors and Lethifolds. You will use your Patronus Charm to guide me. 

P.S – “But you know, happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”

Merry Christmas. Ho Ho Ho