Prof. Miette Bynny
At this time, the website was still on the very basic look. It was hosted on Rapidforum. Throughout the years as the website evolved into what it is today, I will look back to that time and just laugh at how young the original site was. It was a baby that grew out of the love and meaning of the books. We made friends on the website. More and more people would join every year, every term. It made me smile because something that grew out of one man’s idea became a huge community for over 11 years. This community has seen its fair share of drama, but what kept it going was the people’s love and desire for the books and movies. We have also met wonderful people on here and created friendships that have lasted longer than people’s marriages.
My intent of this article is to basically tell everyone on HOL that I have come in contact with and haven’t, how much you all mean to me. You have made the past 11 years so awesome and so enriching that I have grown so much individually. I feel so proud that I have been able to see people go on to college, graduate college, get careers they’ve dreamed of, get married and have families.
Sometimes we forget there is a real life because we sit behind the computer screens. We all, myself included, have gotten involved on the drama. We have lost friendships because of that drama. When I look back at it today, I regret ever getting involved in something so petty. I miss those that I no longer talk to. I wish them all the best. I now know that this is just another step in the growing process of us all. We may not like certain things that go on, but we need to forgive just for ourselves for this is our only way we can truly grow and accept love.
With saying this, I must bid Hogwarts Online, a place I have called home for over 11 years, a farewell. As I sit here writing this, tears are streaming down my face. Not because I won’t ever talk to you again, but