Letter to all of you

[author_by_night]

Dear Harry Potter fandom friends,

Five years and one month ago, I started delving into fandom.

It's funny how far I've come.

Now the end is near; we're approaching book six, and after that, there will be only one left.

I'd love to think that we'll all keep in touch, but I know that's not going to be true. I've already lost touch with quite a few people - either due to RL, or due to changing as people. While I really don't want it to happen, I know there may be a few of you I'll never speak to again after a certain period of time. It may not be book seven, it'll more likely be RL, but still... :(

So, I want to let you all know now that I love you guys, and that I'm sincerely grateful for having been in this fandom. I may rant, I may scoff, and I may even get stressed over odd things (like RPG's and fanfics), but I'm appreciative of you all the same. Heck, some of you were among the first I came across.

And besides that... yesterday made me realize even further the impact of this fandom. We all came together, helped one another find friends, and notified one another of news. The same thing happened with a lot of tragedies, and a lot of other tough events - we're all in this together, and if one of us is hurt, so are the rest. A few weeks ago, a LJer was unable to get emergency attention she needed, so someone got her help. Someone else at a yahoo group I belong to attempted suicide; she too recieved help, thanks to people who know who they are, and who'd better realize that being willing to call 20 people in Pennsylvania until they reached the right people makes the fic title Promises Unbroken even deeper.

People who say "online friends" aren't real friends haven't a clue what they mean; real friends love  one another, will go at ends to help each other, and can also laugh at (and with) one another. They also share strange obsessions (such as Werewolves and the number 87).

Friendship isn't defined by way of meeting. It is defined by caring.

That's a lesson I might not have learned, had I never been in this fandom.

So... thanks. I'll miss you guys when it's over. *Hugs*

Love,

Amy

(aka Azaelia, Author by Night, Ayla Lupin - not anywhere anymore- and amyeliza385 on the old AOL HP boards).

P.S.

Because I knew you... I have been changed for good.

Elphaba, For Good (From Wicked.)

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*Hands tissue*