In real life, kids have been heading out for their first days of school for a couple weeks. That means 18-year-olds finally leaving the nest, kids having to coach their siblings through 4th grade, and parents dealing with the emotions of it all.
However, in not-real life, today is the most important back to school day of all time.
Today, September 1st 2017, is the exact day that the Harry Potter crew drops off their kids at Platform 9 3/4 and sends them off to Hogwarts in the Deathly Hallows epilogue. Needless to say, people are emotional about it and leading the charge is, naturally, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling.
Today's the day Albus Severus Potter boards the Hogwarts Express at King's Cross for the first time #19yearslater ⚡️
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 1, 2017
The Twitter hashtag #19yearslater is filled with people getting weepy all over again about the ending to the story that has meant so much to them. It’s pretty beautiful.
These books literally shaped my life. You made me fall in love with reading. Thanks for bringing magic into an otherwise mundane world.
— Salman Khan (@BeingSalman5555) September 1, 2017
You've created something where the magic never ends but extends generations. We can't thank you enough for sharing your heart. #19YearsLater
— Kristen Nicole (@ClassicalyWrote) September 1, 2017
Today is the 1st September 2017 #19YearsLater it is the beginning of the end for us Potterheads. Good luck Albus Severus ? #BackToHogwarts pic.twitter.com/Kkjr261aoB
— Holly (@HollyHollybumps) September 1, 2017
im crying this parallel between harry and albus,, james and lily should've been at harry's side just like harry and ginny are #19yearslater pic.twitter.com/Kcb2G0hozr
— ellie (@hugvvarts) September 1, 2017
It just goes to show you how truly powerful the Harry Potter series was in culture. 20 years after the release of the first book, and it’s still one of the most relevant and resonant stories ever told. I bet we’ve all wished, on an occasion or two, that we could step into the wizarding world and escape our own troubles. And days like this let us feel like we can — even if it’s just for a moment.
I’m not crying, you’re crying.