*thinks back* When did I get into HP? Was I fifteen or sixteen? Hmm...I think I was fifteen...I was sixteen when I joined PK, and I think I had been into HP for about a year before that.

Anyway, I'm eighteen now, and still just as much as a Harry Potter fan as I was when I first got into the fandom.

Jennifer

I'm 21, fairly new to speaking up over here at Portkey, but I've been lurking for a while, even before I actually signed up for an account.

Anyway, I was very unfairly prejudiced against the HP books when they first made their way over to America...figuring anything that absurdly talked up and popular must be somewhat lacking in quality and substance. Luckily, I ended up stuck somewhere for several hours with nothing to do and HP novels hanging around shortly after GoF was published...and immediately got hooked.

I didn't read the books with an eye to shipping when I started them, I was paying attention mostly to the overarching storyline. It wasn't until it became clear to me that love was at the heart of the overarching storyline of the series that I became aware of Harry and Hermione, and really, based on the evidence, I can see why people might be duped into following Ron and Hermione, but honestly can't fathom that this is the true direction of the books. I feel like whatever the "answer" to the central theme of love is, as it's about Harry Potter, Harry should figure centrally into it...and I can't see Ron and Hermione falling in love as accomplishing that in any real way.

I'll turned 19 next month, so I choose 19-21. I get into HP in year2000, at that time I was 16.

http://talk.portkey.org/html/emoticons/people/baby.gif
im 14 nad turn 15 April (next year)

ive liked HP and H/hr since i was *scratches head*...hmm..since i read book one i guess,which was when i was 11...i think

Mod Note: please avoid net speak- Mirtilla

I was 17 when i started to read HP and became a fan! of course it could have happen long before that!( # years to be exact) but i was one of those idiots who thought HP was for Kids! (i've learned better) I'm going to be 19th in just a few weeks! So i've been a fan for 2 yrs!

Well...let's see. It started when I spotted a kid in my 5th grade class reading the first book. I was an avid reader even then, so I was naturally curious about this book that I'd never seen before. I was probably around 9 then.

Anyways..I opened the cover flap..and plunged into Potterverse. I have no idea when I started shipping H/Hr, I guess I've just pretty much been doing it since I finished the book.

I'm turning 15 next Tuesday (November 16th). So that would make me a H/Hr shipper for about...6 years. Heh.

*looks at poll* Hah, there are at least nine 30-somethings here, including myself. Good! Get in touch with your inner child and all that. I recall a few 30-something PK-ers contacting me for modly assistance, 'cause I was near their age.

Ok guys, bear with me. At more than 100 votes, I suppose it's time for me to move this thread to Prof. Binn's Library. I've got a motive for doing that, but it won't do for me to declare what it is.

Thanks to everyone for voting and sharing their answers.

~Pen

Hm...I remeber the first time i read Harry Potter, it was in my Spanish class, unusual isnt it? My spanish teacher think Harry Potter's Spanish is easier for us high school spanish 3 class students than any original spanish children literatures ///.........

Anyways, i am 20, i read it in spanish when i was 17, but i didnt care for it until 19 years old when it read it again in...CHINESE! hahah, then after the movie came out, i decided to read it in english, and turned out the story is pretty interesting, but i got hooked on the interaction between harry and hermione, have you ever seen something so right together, and if you seperate them in to other different combination, it would look all wrong? HHR is that thing, like cookie and milk! hahahahahah

I just turned 25 last week ^_<

I am a 15 years old Harry and Hermione shipper And I am new to Portkey

I'm 18, new to Portkey but not to the Fandom. Anyway, hello fellow H/H fans. I'm much joyful to realize the wide range of the H/H fever.

For me I'm 20 right now....but give it in 8 months.....i'll be 21 ......hehehhee.....

LionA02

I'm 14 years old ...i was introduced to harry potter when i was about 8 or 9. However, i didn't even try reading the books until the age of 10. I didn't give it a chance. But then when i saw the movie when i was 11, I LOVED IT!!! it was my favorite movie ever. My Harry Potter OBSESSION started in 7th grade when i was 12, which was when i started shipping H/Hr and found portkey. I am now in 9th grade and i'm glad i found portkey and gave hp a chance!!!

I'm 16 years old, so I kinda fit into the "mid-teens" category that seesm to be the most populated. LOL

I was first introduced to HP when I was 12 and I haven't looked back since. I became a H/Hr shipper when I was 13 after I read a fanfiction with a H/Hr theme. From then on, I was hooked on the ship!

Well i'm gonna be 16 in about 4 weeks and i started reading them when i was 10 i think? anyway i didn't realise i was a H/Hr shipper until one of my friends said " i hope ron and hermione get together" and i suddenly thought noo way if harry is going to be with anyone it is hermione therefore hermione must not like ron
I've always been a romantic person and never realised it. Even when i played games like final fantasy i actually cry when they realise how much they love eachother i think it might be the same with harry potter and keeping my fingers crossed until i can rejoice that hermione and harry (my fav characters) will be together.
OH i'm new to portkey by the way so hi! i'm sure ill be posting here often

Well, I did the calculations, because I was bored, and the average age of Portkey-ers so far is 21-22 about.

I am 15, so I feel pretty stupid on here with all you smart people. But it's good for our ships, because it shows that H/Hr shippers pay more attention and are smart just like JKR.

I've been a Harry Potter fan and H/Hr shipper since I was 12; for 3 years like a lot of people. The scene in SS/PS with Hermione telling Harry he was a great wizard and what-not in the movie is what made me a shipper. I remember biting on the lid of my soda bottle and getting all nervous because my sister said Hermione was going to kiss him on the cheek (I didn't know she was talking about GoF) I'll never forget that day...lol.

I'm 19. There are a lot of people here in their 20's and 30's, I cant believe my mother says I'm too old to ship.
H/Hr shipper 4Ever.

I'm 15 meself.

I am 16, so I guess I'm in the not-too-old-not-too-young category. Ok, one of the younger ones at PK. Anyway, I lurk a lot around here as I get into real life crises very often. I do post when I can though.

Being an immigrant from Taiwan to New Zealand means I had quite a poor English when I got here. That was when I was about 10 when we moved. I've never heard of Harry Potter before I got here. Even after I got to New Zealand, my poor English stopped me from knowing much of the English literature of any kind. It was my mother who heard of HP as a really good set of books to read in English and bought it for me to study English. Seeing that was the reason I got HP, anyone can guess how much I hated these books at the beginning.

About a whole year after my mom bought me the books (which I conveniently "lost"), I got really bored during holiday and digged them out to read. At that time I was 12. I read the first chapter, really slowly as my English ability was really not up to scratch. Somehow, I know don't how, I got really hooked into Harry Potter even though I read slower than a snail. I finally got through book 1 after five days' hard work. Being so entranced, I moved onto book 2. My reading speed actually increased. It took me 3 days to finish that book. Then my speed increased yet again, I used 1 1/2 days to read book 3 and 4 to read book 4. By the end of Harry Potter, I discovered that my English was a lot better than before. At least, I wasn't so slow anymore. By the time I went back to school the following term, I actually became one of the fastest readers of the class. My teacher nearly died of shock when I told her I can read just as fast, if not faster, as everyone else. Harry Potter taught me English and saved my life by doing that, if nothing else.

As for shipping H/Hr. There's been no other thought in my head ever since I read the first book. Often I would ask myself, if I were Hermione who would I choose? My answer has always been Harry. There's no doubt about it. I believe that the best friends makes the best lovers, and as far as I can see, Harry and Hermione were better friends than Ron and Hermione ever were. With that settled, how can I board any other ship apart from out beloved HMS Pumpkin Pie when I received my computer and plunged into the big world of HP fandom?

~Miss Moral

I'm 16 too, like a few others here. Shipped H/Hr since book one. They just fit perfectly. That "friendship and bravery" scene was the first time I ever *squeed*, and I didn't even know what a *squee* was.

I'm 19 years old and I was 17 when I first read the books all in one go. My sister had bought the books herself a few months ago and they had intrigued me. I had always been a fan of larger books. I first read LoTR cover to cover (as in all three books) when I was 11 years old. Anyway my sister had gone to her friends house for the weekend so I snook into her room (I know naughty me) and slipped out with PS in my hand. I had read it within 3 hours, yes I can read that fast. I think I trained myself by trying to read LoTR as quickly as possible. So I got the next one and the next one. By the end of Saturday I had read all three books. Sunday I read the entirety of GOF and started on OOTP. It took me a further two days to read that book by that time I had some explaining to do to my sister . I have shipped H/Hr since then even though I did not know what it meant. I didn't join the fandom until November 2004 when I discover JKR's site which directed me to the Lexicon, where I drank in all the info and read that fabulous essay by Penny, and that absoloutly awful essay by Angua. A shame she's named after one of my favourite charahters from Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. Anyway from their I went onto mugglenet and COS forums where someone mentioned Portkey. And I have been there since.

Phew. Sorry about that I have a tendancy to ramble on and tell an Autobiography when a paragraph will do.

jatkinson.

Sorry, but I haven't read the five pages of stuff here...

I'm 14 right now, my birthday's in June. I found the books at an elementary book fair, which would have put me between, oh... 7 and 9 years old (that would have been 3rd to 5th grade) when I discovered the series.

Oui, oui, je suis un young-un

Hi

I'm 34 and I have 4 kids, 2 of which also read the HP books and I'm still a shipper, I think it heathy to have some sort of an obsession otherwise you might die of utter boredom!!!

I started reading the books when they came out in 1997, I have read them to my kids as they have grown up and they got hooked and now at 8 and 9 they are reading them themselves, my 3 year old loves the films and sits and listens if we read the books, so I have passed on my HP love to the next generation...my work here is done

I actually know quite a few other mum's that are all into HP and all have their favourite ships too. In this day and age it seems to be the done thing!!

I'm 22 and at college at the moment. I didn't start reading Harry Potter until I was about 20. I started reading my younger brother's HP books after I saw the first movie with my girlfriend (of the time).

I will have to clear out that my brother is not THAT much younger than me. He's 19 and also in college.
Both of us believe in a H-Hr coming soon. I've been that since day one.

But just because we are older, doesn't mean we are that much "mature"...

Had to buy myself my own copy of OOTP because we wouldn't share...plus our mom is into it. (but she's a R-Hr, shocking i know).

I learned my lesson though. I pre-ordered my own copy of HBP, which will be in my hands July 16, guaranteed.

I'm 24 and I actually didn't start to get into HP until after I saw the first movie. I didn't have any interest in the books or anything before that. Or even the movie! (Yes I know that's shocking) But after seeing the movie I was hooked. So my friend who was and still is a complete HP buff let me borrow her copies of the books (1-4 at the time) and I read them all in a week. I believed in H-Hr right from the start. Especially after the whole thing at the Yule Brawl. When Ootp came out I almost didn't get a copy cause I was foolish enough not to pre-order it. But I've learned my lesson this time and I have pre-ordered my copy of HBP (it also helps that my aunt works at Borders Bookstore hehehe) so I will have it on July 16th.

Even my parents are into it. My dad is big supporter of H/Hr. And he's only read all the books ONCE! He actually read them all for the first time this past summer. So that's saying something. My mom is undecided last I knew. My girlfriend is same as me, H/Hr. I'm of the firm belief also that Jo will develop H/Hr relationship further in HBP. I don't know if they'll actually get together in this one or the last book though. I guess we'll just have to wait. But either way I'm excited.

I can hardly wait though. Only 43 days left!

*makes lots of stuttering noises of bafflement* I cannot believe I never voted or answered this poll. I was positive that I had-----I am in shock!

I just turned 16 this month (noooo make that last month, in May. Forgot it was June ahaha). I was 14 when I came here to PK too - My gosh that's a long time. I suddenly feel rather old.

Kris

It's been so long since I've been here so much has changed! I swear! And apparently I have allready voted in this poll! which would indicate that perhaps I have allready posted here... but I'm too lazy to go back and check

Sorry!

But just in case I didn't, and I don't think I've been here since my last birthday anyway! And just for the record, I'm 18

Gosh... speaking of how long we've been here, I arrived at Portkey at the ripe old age of 16...

Seems so long ago!

Love Millie
xox

EDIT: I'd like to add, for those looking at the date "I joined" and going, "that woman is crazy" I first joined under another username!

I just noticed I haven't posted here...

I'm 14, joined when I was 14... yeah... but I'll be 15 in about a month...

- Mark

I'm 17 and I started reading the Harry Potter books after the shipping wars had already been going on for a while. I was in 8th grade (14 years old) and very anti HP. I just figured it would be a stupid book about a boy (I was wrong, obviously...)

Anyway, We were going to have a debate on HP and the effect it was having on children (lutheran gradeschool...) and I was going to debate against it. To make a long story short, my side didn't win. I couldn't find many things wrong with it.

On the topic of shipping... Before I did any searches for HP on the net or reading any of the other books, I decided that I wanted Harry and Hermione to end up together. They just fit so nicely (and it was just logical!) Then, after reading the other three books that were out at the time, I asked my friends what their opinions on the future romance between H/Hr were and they told me I was crazy! They are so sure it is going to be R/Hr... I laugh at them...

I'm 14 now, and I started reading the Harry Potter series when I was 9. My mom recommended it to me actually, and although she's 'grown out of it', I'm still a fan of the series.
I started reading fanfiction when I was 12, then same year that I discovered FA and PK. Soon, I became addicted... and the rest is history.

I'm 16 and have been a fan since I was about 11 or 12... Always an H/Hr, from the first book and still one. I dunno how long I've been reading fanfiction though, probably like, 8th grade? Two years? Well, however you spin it, I'm still 16 and an H/Hr fan

I read the books 1-4 from ages 14-15, I think. But now I'm almost 20.

And still crazy as ever.

I'm 21 and I used to dislike Harry Potter before I read the books. My friends wouldn't accept my criticism of the series until I read the books, so I did, and my old criticisms still remain, but I like the later parts of the series well enough. I was H\Hr before I even knew there was a shipping debate. Indeed I was surprised that there was anyone who didn't see the obviousness of H\Hr

I'm 17 and started reading the Harry Potter books the summer after sixth grade, so I was 11-12. It took me the whole summer to read the first book and half of seventh grade to read the second book. I thought the first two were terribly boring, but continued to read them because of my friends bugging me. Once I got to the third book in December I got hooked though, and immediately went out to buy the fourth book. I remember that the only reason I bought the first book was because we were having a book fair at school and I didn't want to be the only one not to buy a book. Plus everyone was always talking about the Harry Potter books that year and I didn't want to be the only ond not reading them. The funny thing about it is that I'm absolutely hooked on the Harry Potter series and all my friends hate the books now! I love all the books now, but when I was 11-12 I hated reading. Now I understand the beauty of books and understand that the Harry Potter series is truly a magical book series!

Amen!

I started reading HP in September of 2001. My sister, who was 11 at the time, was reading SS in school, so I--ahem--borrowed her school copy and was instantly hooked. I bought the first four books, discovered fanfiction, and started writing my own in that short period between September and the release of Movie 1. Back then, I was 15.

Now I'm 19 (20 in January) and still obsessed, still a militant Harmonian, and still a child at heart.

I started read HP when I was... 11 I think... All thanks to my big sis by the way! Thanks again Sam! Look what you've turned me into! Andy way, now I'm 16, turning 17 in two months... 9 days before GoF comes out!!!!

I'm in the ripe young age of 19, my second year in college. Go Mville!

Anyway, I think I got into H/Hr when I was 15, which I think was around the time Book 4 came out.

::looks around and feels... older.

I'm--umm--27 and married. Lol! When I started reading HP I was single and concentrating on my career. HP was such a stress reliever, I'll tell you. And GoF was the absolute BEST. So I guess getting married between GoF and OotP was a testament to how long it took between books!

Wow, I'm a youngin. 13, y'all. I wonder how I got into the fandom (NO, I don't remember, even though it was just last year or so). Anyway, I think H/Hr is a more mature-ish relationship because there's a deep bond that they share, unlike R/Hr where they're just bickering all the time, that's more like puppy-love or a crush if you ask me. No offense to all the Herons out there, I'm just speaking my mind.

~Ill Subliminal~

I guess I'm average. I'm 17, but will be 18 in 3 days. Woo.

I'm 19 years old, pretty average, first got in to the fandom when i was 16 so i'm a relative newbie compared to some of you lot. HBP was my first time experiencing a new book coming out and going through all the emotions that went with that. And obviously it was a bot of a disappointment. I'll hopefully have better luck when book 7 rolls around!

I got into Harry Potter at the age of 11. I had to do a book report and I had wanted to get an "A" so I had to read a book with at least 700 pages. I found Goblet of Fire at the library and at first thought it was boring. During the time I was reading it, I had Sourcer's Stone and picked up and started reading it too. Before long, I was hooked.

I became a H/Hr shipper after reading halfway into Goblet of Fire because of the Hermione helped Harry through the 1st task and when she kissed him on the cheek at the end of it.

Now I'm 16 and will be 17 in 4 months.

I was 11 when i first read Harry Potter (right before it became a phenomena) and I was instantly a H/Hr shipper, then in GOF switched to R/Hr, then came back to the light for OotP and have been a die hard harmonian and redmooner since. ^-^

I'll be 18 in exactly 3 weeks.

17, going to be 18 in December. I first started being a Harry/Hermione fan after GoF. Crazy I know but yeah that's when I first started likeing them together. Before that I guess I was a half hearted R/hr shipper but that changed obviously as I got older. I guess I just changed my perception on love in general. Plus Harry and Hermione are so adorable together.

I'm 13(14 in 18 days).I became hooked on harry potter when i got The first one for christmas when i was like 9.I wasnt into books so my sister read it instead .Then my sister became hooked on them and said i should read them ....and ive been hooked ever since.

I wasnt actually introduced into fanfiction till I wanted to get HPB but didnt have enough money but i wanted to see what happened in the book,so I went on google and saw mugglenet.Then i stayed up till 5 in the morning reading this really gud fic .Cant remember what it was called but it was a h/g and hr/r.up until about last september i was a h/ger but i got bored on the h/g r/hr section so i decided to go on the harry and hermione bit.Read The Forest Of Kavan and LOVED it .So Iasked the author for the sequel and she directed me here.Ive been a faithful Harmonian since.

___________________

Sign on baby's bib: SPIT HAPPENS


*Walks into a Harry Potter bar*R/Hr?.....H/G?....chocolateers?.......HERONS?!.... .........oh,how the mighty have fallen.*Shakes head and walks away*

I'm 21 now, but started reading HP when I was 16, and have been at portkey since just before my 18th!

I just turned 18 years old in January



My mom reads the books as well and so does my sister who has just started reading them at the tender young age of 11 lol.

My mom isn't as into it as some of you other moms though But she isn't nearly as cool as you guys either though

She is a H/Hr shipper though. I just know it cause when I asked her who she thought would be a couple she said, "Isn't it obvious? Harry will love Hermione." SQUEEE!!!

I am...old enough to be a mom to many of the others here. I had been working in a bookstore in the mid-90s and hearing rumbles of a new kids' book that was really good, on the level of Roald Dahl without his somewhat chaotic plots and his rather vicious characterization. I found PS/SS when it first came out in paperback in a bookstore and picked it up and started reading to see what it was like.

I think I came up for air around chapter three. I bought the book and drove home at breakneck speed to finish it. And I was solidly hooked through five books. (I'm trying to convince myself to re-read HBP and look for the things that others say they've discovered.)

I always liked Harry and Hermione's interactions, but became a serious H/Hr shipper after reading Penny's essay over on the Lexicon, which spelled out what I had subconsciously noticed as the de-emphasizing of Ron in the overall action of the books. It also described the kind of equal-partners and mutual-respect relationship that I aspire to with my husband and enjoy reading about the most.