15 Times We Cried While Watching the Harry Potter Movies

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” Banner (Credit: Warner Bros.)

As we dive into the new world of ‘Fantastic Beasts,’ now would be a great time to look back on the ‘Harry Potter’ movies and remember how far we’ve come.

Welcome to the land of Harry Potter, where dragons fly and the people you love the most die.

When J.K. Rowling released Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 1997, I’m sure she couldn’t imagine that her novel would turn into the franchise we all know and love today. I mean, we’ve all heard the stories about how many times she was rejected before anyone took her novel.

Of course, we’re all glad she kept pushing because what would the world be like without Harry Potter? Admittedly, Rowling’s world became our world. Hogwarts became our home. And the more lives we lost, the harder it became to go on.

Naturally, reliving the saddest moments reminds us how far we’ve come. Or rather, how hard Harry, Ron, Hermione, their families, and every good wizard fought to end the Wizarding War. So many people sacrificed their lives for Harry to succeed, and though it weighed him down, he understood that light, goodness and kindness would prevail.

So, whether you’re sitting in the theater watching Fantastic Beasts this weekend, or just sitting down for yet another Harry Potter and the Whatever movie marathon, remember what Dumbledore told Harry in The Order of the Phoenix, “You think the dead we loved ever truly leave us? You think that we don’t recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble?”

Get to the end of this and remember how fortunate we are to have met these brilliant characters, and to have books and movies to return to over and over. And remember how lucky we are that there’s no magical end in sight as the Fantastic Beasts franchise prepares to launch this weekend.

Alright, here we go…