"In the wake of author JK Rowling's continued transphobia and the announcement of a Harry Potter TV series reboot, fans need to decide if they can still find magic within the beloved franchise," writes Gabi Zietsman.
It would be difficult to find a millennial who doesn't have stories of camping out for book launches or dressing up for cinema premieres when it comes to the most famous boy in the world - Harry Potter. I first started reading an Afrikaans version of The Philosopher's Stone in primary school, and the first film came out as I turned 11, the same age as Harry. Right up until The Deathly Hallows, I grew up alongside the Boy Who Lived, turning 17, just as his Hogwarts journey ended in the books.
It was a story of friendship and love triumphant over hate and evil, set in a world that mirrored ours in a fantastical setting. The love for the franchise was further cemented by the films, where Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint forever became the faces of the daring trio. When we finally said goodbye to them, not only did a beloved story end, but it also felt like a chapter of my life had closed.