20 Years of Harry Potter

June 2017 marks 20 years since Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was first published by Bloomsbury. Officially the publishing date was 26th June 1997, when I was only two-years-old. It would be another five years before I entered the wizarding world. 

As a seven-year-old, I was obsessed with all things Harry Potter. And I mean obsessed. I had figurines, plushies, Gryffindor robes (both standard black and Quidditch red, of course), wands, and I collected Chocolate Frog cards and ate Sherbet Lemons which I'm gutted they don't still make. 

I had Harry Potter bedsheets, wallpaper, curtains, and in fact my whole room was kitted out in wall stickers. 

It's interesting that after all this time, I'm still so involved in this fandom. I might've packed away all my toys, and much of my merch, but I feel closer to this world than I did back then.

The past couple of months or so have been some of the best of my life. Over that time I acquired a few little things I'd to show here. Some of them I've fangirled over quite a bit. 

I really treasure this first one. It is an invite to the party held after the Opening Gala on 30th July last year, just a few days before I saw Cursed Child for the first time. It was given to me at cast change and I truly cherish this.

I was very excited when I saw that Bloomsbury were going to publish new editions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, this time as house editions. I, of course, got the Ravenclaw edition. As I ordered from Bloomsbury I got a free Ravenclaw bookmark also! 

Here they both are, along with all my other Ravenclaw merchandise. 

A closer look at the Ravenclaw bookmark!

This is probably my favourite page in the new Philosopher's Stone 20th Anniversary Edition - a portrait of Rowena Ravenclaw herself! It's very much styled like a woodcut picture, which I think adds to the feel of Hogwarts and the ancient founders.

I really appreciate the symbolism in this portrait. Rowena is shown displaying an open book with her diadem on her head. Around her are the four house animals.

I've saved the best for last - Scorpius Malfoy's wand. 

I had wondered for a while if the Cursed Child store were going to bring out a range of wands, and now they have. I currently only have Scorpius's, but I hope to get Albus's later in the year. 

It's beautiful. It has a slight curve to it, and looks almost like it has been stripped, whittled or burnt right back, perhaps by Scorpius himself. Scorpius has carved Roman numerals/a tally system into the handle himself. 

Scorpius has also cut 'SC' right at the bottom of his wand, and there is also a small 'A' for his poor mother, Astoria.