Fifty Points for Gryffindor!

Top: Forever 21. Bottoms: Anthropologie (similar). Shoes: Steve Madden (similar).

I remember the first time I encountered the Harry Potter series. I was in third grade, it was 1997 and the first book had just come out. My teacher knew there was something special about this one, and spent what felt like half of the school year reading it to us.

Since that moment, I was enthralled. My grandparents bought me a copy every summer and left a little note on the title page for me to read. I remember sitting in a hammock consuming the words on the pages. It's the only book that really transported me in a magical way right into the world the author had created. I've never felt a love like that for a story since (and I was an English literature minor).

I knew, without a doubt, that I was a Gryffindor. As much as any other person knew they were a Slytherin, Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff, everything about me knew that if that acceptance letter ever came in the mail for me, that's the house I'd be sorted to.

When J.K Rowling debuted Pottermore, I flew to the site to try out the sorting hat. No surprise: GRYFFINDOR!

Even though I can only head to Universal Orlando to be a part of the world of Harry Potter, I'm massively proud of my house. Nothing feels better than being a Gryffindor.

“A thousand years or more ago,
When I was newly sewn,
There lived four wizards of renown,
Whose name are still well-known:
Bold Gryffindor from wild moor,
Fair Ravlenclaw from glen,
Sweet Hufflepuff from valley broad,
Shrewd Slytherin from fen.
They share a wish, a hope, a dream,
They hatched a daring plan,
To educate young sorcerers,
Thus Hogwarts school began.
Now each of these four founders
Formed their own house, for each
Did value different virtues,
In the ones they had to teach.
By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Ravenclaw, the cleverest
Would always be the best;
For Hufflepuff, hardworkers were
Most worthy of admission;
And power-hungry Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition.
While still alive they did divide
Their favorites from the throng,
Yet how to pick the worthy ones
When they were dead and gone?
'Twas Gryffindor who found the way,
He whipped me off his head
The founders put some brains in me
So I could choose instead!
Now slip me snug around your ears,
I've never yet been wrong,
I'll have a look inside your mind
And tell where you belong!” 

-J.K. Rowling