The magic lives on

Millions of people said goodbye to several friends early this morning as the final movie in the Harry Potter saga hit theaters, concluding the story and ending a decade of friendship on film.

The series has spawned a subculture very near to the surface culture. Dozens of websites exist to explain, explore and chat about the wizarding world created by author J.K. Rowling.

The fans who create and visit these sites also dress in Hogwarts uniforms for the movie premieres. They know what a portkey is and can recite the names of all four Hogwarts houses.

Reviews have called "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" operatic. In my opinion, it should be. This is the end of a cultural event, a childhood touchstone.

Only "Star Wars" and "Star Trek" seem to rival the level of devotion these stories command.

I spent part of Tuesday and much of Wednesday helping create the front page you see on this section. SE Live tends to stay within a template from week to week: A best bet for your week ahead and the most popular CDs from PMac anchor the page, while a powerful photo accompanies a story about an artist, band or show.

We felt that the final entry in the Potter history called for special treatment.

I thought by the time I sat down to write this column, I'd be Pottered out. I was wrong.

Whenever I finish a book, I go through a period of post-literary depression. It's something I've carried with me, cuddled in bed with and gotten to know. The movies let me revisit that story, if only for two and a half hours.

Rowling's "Deathly Hallows" ended the print version of the story four years ago, but we've been able to revisit Harry, Hermione and Ron, along with loads of new characters, with the two movies that have been released since then. With this movie, the broomride is over.

While we may not have a time-turner to go back to the beginning, at least we have seven remarkable books and eight brilliant films to revisit.