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Howling for Harry Potter
Lauren Buchanan
December 8, 2001
When terms like muggles, Hogwarts and Quidditch become commonplace, it's a sure sign that Harry Potter mania has hit the country.
Perhaps the recent film and the books aren't enough to satisfy your interest, though. Do you find yourself wishing for a place you could go to discuss the books and the movie, get all the inside details of the next book, enroll in Hogwarts, be sorted and even play Quidditch?
Such a realm exists.
The official Harry Potter web site at www.harrypotter.com allows you to do all this and more.
When you first enter the site, images of the Hogwarts Express flash up on the screen. You can either watch this, or hit "skip intro".
After the introduction you come to the main page where you can do any number of things. You can enroll and be sorted at Hogwarts, after which you can go to Ollivander's and pick out a wand that's just right for you. You can also create your very own magical creature. After you've been enrolled you can go practice your Quidditch skills-the most popular sport at Harry's school of wizardry-as a Chaser, Beater, Keeper or Seeker.
There are also many options outside of Hogwarts. Under "Diversions" you can play a game involving potion-making or find out about the Harry Potter Trading Card Game.
The next category down is "Diagon Alley". Here you can send an Owl Post to a friend (including Howlers), try out a few Berttie Botts Every Flavour Beans or go to Flourish and Blotts where you can download or print bookmarks, colouring pages and even screen savers.
"Platform 9 ¾" is your central station for all your Harry Potter discussions with other fans and your link to other Harry Potter fan sites.
The "Daily Prophet" gives you up-to-date news on everything going on in the Harry Potter fan world.
If you're in the market for any kind of Harry Potter merchandise then you'll love the "Wizard Shop" where you can buy anything from toys and games to clothes and costumes.
Whether you're just a casual fan of Harry Potter or an absolute fanatic, this site is worth checking out. It is fun for parents as well as children, and you can keep going back again and again because it is constantly being updated with all the current happenings. So check it out and explore that magical world we have all fallen in love with.
Lauren Buchanan is the Community Access Program member who staffs the public access computers at the Oxford Centre branch of the Oxford County Library.
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