On Friday night, I attended ‘Late at the Library,’ a special event held at the British Library to showcase their new History of Magic exhibit. And it certainly didn’t disappoint.

I’ll freely admit that A History of Magic genuinely surprised and delighted me.

Which isn’t to say that the British Library hasn’t always exceeded expectations when it comes to their special exhibits. But as a long-standing Potter fan, dating back almost to its original publication, there wasn’t much left that I felt I hadn’t already seen.

I’m glad to report that I was completely and utterly wrong.

Between repeat visits to the Studio Tour at Leavesden — I might be an old hat at it by now, but experiencing the wonder of your friends’ first time there? Nothing short of magical — and attending any and all Potter events I possibly could, fandom fatigue was starting to set in.

It’s not a unique phenomenon. I’m not the first, and certainly won’t be the last, person to experience it. So, when I was invited to check out the exhibit, I hesitated for the first time. Ultimately, I agreed to attend — there was something there, a spark of interest stoked by the possibility of seeing some of the centuries old history behind the Boy Who Lived — but that little niggle of doubt was still nestled deep within my gut.

When I walked through the courtyard of the library and into the event, however, I was almost ashamed of myself for hesitating at all.

The British Library had turned the lights low, and backlit several house banners with purple light, as you walked through the mains doors. Tables were set up where event staff were guiding guests in creating their own protection amulets, and scratching out runes on parchment. The music, equally, made things increasingly more atmospheric — but the star of the show was the exhibit itself.

Turning the corner into the exhibit elicited the same breathless response I got during that moment on the Studio Tour — if you’ve been, you know exactly what I mean, but for those that have still to go? I certainly won’t spoil it for you.

The library has spared no detail, with floating books guiding your way through a corridor, and down the steps to some exquisitely painted Jim Kay portraits of Dumbledore and McGonagall. Jim Kay’s art, as you might expect, is a frequent and recurring feature of the exhibit, and with good reason. You may be familiar with some of the pieces dotted throughout, but there’s something about seeing them in person, all the carefully intricate lines and swathes of paint, that can’t accurately be captured in digital form.

If you were a frequent visitor of Rowling’s original website, some of the pieces on display will hit you with a sudden wave of nostalgia. Several of her sketches, which were first painstakingly uncovered by fans as we clicked through her desk and unlocked secret doors, are framed behind glass here — Peeves, the Dursley family, Professor Sprout. Getting to see those etchings, pieces of Rowling’s first manifestations of just how the Potter world looked in her mind, was an emotional high I hadn’t expected I would be experiencing.

But that’s certainly not all.

There are interactive displays — and I teamed up with some other fans to correctly brew a potion to keep night goblins at bay — that open up the world even further, and make you feel very much a part of it. No expenses has been spared on creating a truly magical atmosphere, and you’d be remiss if you didn’t look up as you wander through — there are surprises waiting from ceiling to floor. Pages of notes from Rowling’s editors, hilariously annotated, are also present, as well as one of the first ever published copies of The Philosopher’s Stone, chock full of scribbled insights from Rowling herself. Oh, and that infamous, rejected synopsis and query letter? That’s one of the first items you’ll see as you enter.

That, alone, would make the trip worth it for the dedicated Potter fan, but those gems are nestled between some truly incredible magical history. Our magical history.

The exhibit is split into themed sections, from potions, to herbology, to astronomy, charms, the dark arts. Within those sections are centuries old cauldrons, studies of plants, star maps, the original tapestry documenting how to create the Philosopher’s Stone, Nicholas Flamel’s headstone, and so much more in between.

Knowing Harry Potter, and the world J.K. Rowling has immersed us in over 20 years, as intimately as we do is one thing. But the reminder of all the wondrous, incredible items from our own rich, varied history, across several countries and centuries, was where this exhibit came to life.

I spent hours pouring over each and every item on display, and the placards of information accompanying them, and eventually left the exhibit feeling like I knew Harry Potter just that little bit more than when I entered.

So whether you’ve been a fan for as long as you can feasibly remember, or are just starting your Potter journey, the exhibit is something to truly behold for yourselves.

If you can’t make it to London, and the British Library, the exhibit will be heading to New York in 2018. There is also a book, published by the library, about the exhibit, the items they’ve curated, and their history. It is available now, and is a must own for any Potter collection.

Let Harry continue to surprise you. I’m glad I did.

A History of Magic is open through February 2018, limited tickets are still available now