Until The Very End

If you know me at all, you know I love Harry Potter. I love everything about it: the books, movies, music, theme parks, merchandise, and fans. I especially love the inspiration it brings. There are so many good morals and quotes to help give motivation, hope, and love. One quote that has become popular is in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows when Professor Snape is talking to Professor Dumbledore about how Harry is a horcrux and must end up dying for Voldemort to die.

"'But this is touching, Severus,' said Dumbledore seriously. 'Have you grown to care for the boy, after all?'

'For him?' shouted Snape. 'Expecto Patronum!'

From the tip of his wand burst the silver doe: She landed on the office floor, bounded once across the office, and soared out of the window. Dumbledore watched her fly away, and as her silvery glow faded he turned back to Snape, and his eyes were full of tears.

'After all this time?'

'Always,' said Snape." (Chapter 33)

When this first came out, I loved this quote, but then I realized there's a better quote that describes what love ought to be. When Harry is talking to his parents and friends using the resurrection stone right before he "dies".

"‘You’ll stay with me?'

‘Until the very end,' said James." (Chapter 34)

Harry's parents and friends will never leave his side. They will be with him every step of the way. James loved his family. He loved Lilly way better than Snape did. Yes, James was a bully when he was a child, but he changed because of Lilly, whereas Snape did not. Yes, he did double cross Voldemort in the end, but only out of guilt for Lilly's death. Voldemort had taken Lilly from him, so he had to take revenge on Voldemort. He never did anything because it was the right thing to do. In the first quote, after Dumbledore accuses Snape of caring for Harry, Snape replies that it is not for Harry, but for Lilly that he is doing this. Snape's love was full of revenge, obsession, and jealousy. James's love is full of change, hope, and friendship. Snape's creepy "always" is in no way comparable to James's "until the very end".

The summer of 2017 was a hard one for me and my friends. One friend's dad had been struggling for a few years with aplastic anemia. He had been doing really good then suddenly passed away on June 27th, which also was the ten year anniversary of my brother's death. Then, another friend's parents told her they were going to get a divorce. In July, I got let go from my job at the Provo Library and was feeling like I was a disappointment to everyone, even though it was not my fault.They have since decided to work things out and stay together, but that wasn't the case at the time.That summer, I got let go from my job at the Provo Library and was became really depressed because I felt like I was a disappointment to those around me. There were a lot of tears that summer. Tears of hurt, sadness, confusion, depression, and change. I needed my friends to know that no matter what crap was thrown at us, that we would always have each other. I had to let them know that in fifty years, if we some how lost touch, but they called me and needed me, I would drop everything for them. That's when an ad on my Instagram popped up for a company called Life Token.

Life Token is a company that makes custom bracelets for people. They are "a jewelry brand with the mission of spreading KINDNESS through positive affirmations." I loved the idea of this and bought the four of us matching bracelets, even though I had no money because I had just been fired. I felt like this was super important, and I knew it wasn't just a coincidence that this ad had popped up at this time of my life. I was trying to think of something not too cheesy to put on them. I googled quotes, tried to come up with acronyms with our names, but nothing was working. Then I narrowed my search to Harry Potter quotes and realized I had the perfect one. I ordered four black bracelets with "You'll stay with me?" "Until the very end." with a heart, all in gold.  This describes our relationship perfectly. We love each other with no judgment, we help each other change and grow, and are there for each other no matter what, and we will be until the very end of time.

I wear it every day and will continue to do so until it breaks. As a Hufflepuff, I am a very loyal person. I will never leave those who I love. This goes out to everyone out there, not just my three friends I've mentioned. If you need me, call me, and I will be there for you instantly. It doesn't matter if we talked ten minutes ago or ten years ago. I am your friend and am here for you until the very end.