June 26 this year will mark 21 years since JK Rowling’s debut novel, a little-known book called Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, first hit the shelves.
Can you believe it? In around six weeks, that book will be old enough to order a beer in all 50 US states!
However, while Harry Potter is basically part of the furniture for most of us – whether in book, film, online, on Broadway, or in that series of erotic fan-fiction I composed starring Professor Snape and a hippogriff – there are some people out there who still haven’t got on board with all the literary magic his wizarding world has to offer.
I know – Muggles, right?
But while most non-Potter fans have realised it’s safest to just keep their head down and pretend they know what a ‘Dumbledore’ is, one particularly brave (stupid?) Twitter user who goes by Chef Shwasty decided to make a confession:
Alright, everyone, I have a confession.
I fly the geek colors. I bleed in Mbps. I can quote Firefly, tell you about the extended Star Wars universe, and have a 15' shelf dedicated to video game collectibles.
But I've never seen a single Harry Potter movie.
— Chef Shwasty (@ChefShwasty) May 5, 2018
But, having got this vile sin off his chest, he did what any decent sinner does and decided to atone:
That being said: I've got the line up. I've got a fever and a bad flu with nowhere else to be.
So… #HarryPotterLiveTweet here we go. pic.twitter.com/FuSCefsirA
— Chef Shwasty (@ChefShwasty) May 5, 2018
What has followed is literally hundreds – possibly thousands – of tweets, as Chef Shwasty spent his time in bed with the flu absolutely dedicated to his self-created hashtag #HarryPotterLiveTweet.
In fact, it got so popular that when he was well enough to return to work, he put up a poll, asking his followers when he should next take time to live tweet the next film.
At time of publication, the Chef is only up to Part 5 of the eight-film (if technically seven-part) saga, so there’s still three more threads worth of magic to come.
In the meantime, what’s already there is equal parts hilarious and sweet.
For those who finished reading the books all the way back in July 2007, there hasn’t really been a lot to be shocked about in the Harry Potter canon over the last 11 years (aside from the delightful little surprise that the first Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movie was really good – didn’t see that coming).
Following along, even on Twitter, as someone gets all the twists and turns for the first time in their life is a surprisingly thrilling ride. Click the first tweet for each movie to read the full thread (sorry, we couldn’t find the thread for the first movie)!
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
WAIT I'VE HEARD OF THIS THING. THIS IS THE WHOMPING WILLOW. I DONT KNOW WHY I KNOW THAT, BUT I KNOW IT.
GUYS I KNEW A THING!
— Chef Shwasty (@ChefShwasty) May 6, 2018
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Day 3, movie 3.
Not a lot going on with this cover except some flying thing in the background. Harry seems to have grown several feet taller. Tall enough to pimp slap Dudley is his goddamn mouth? I hope so.
Here we go: #HarryPotterLiveTweet of the #PrisonerOfAzkaban! pic.twitter.com/XoX92k9NAr
— Chef Shwasty (@ChefShwasty) May 7, 2018
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Alright! #Livetweet of #HarryPotter #GobletofFire starts now! (1PM PST)
Never seen any of these before. Today is day four.
The kids have long hair now, and there are OTHER WIZARD SCHOOLS?!?! The fuck?
Let's jump right in shall we? pic.twitter.com/z2gqOwdTh2
— Chef Shwasty (@ChefShwasty) May 8, 2018
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Alright! #HarryPotter and the #OrderOfThePhoenix #HarryPotterLiveTweet PART FIVE. Hitting play!
Also, lots of people have been asking to send me stuff like a scarf, etc. Someone even drew me as a wizard! If you want to send something, send it to PO Box 17244, Salem, OR 97305 pic.twitter.com/xgbmTZvuJt
— Chef Shwasty (@ChefShwasty) May 9, 2018
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