Potter Premiere: Fans stake out for first part of stunning finale

Maya Amjadi/Staff Writer

J. K. Rowling has made over $1 billion with the epic Harry Potter series, putting her in second place for richest woman alive after Oprah Winfrey. The series of seven books has resulted in millions of copies printed worldwide and six hugely successful movies. On Nov. 19, part one of the seventh movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, will make its debut in theaters.

It is a dream come true for many fans. “I love Harry Potter. I am so ecstatic about this movie,” senior Kaiti Faye said.

Fans have been kept in suspense for long periods of time due to the movies coming out over a span of several years. Senior Catherine Dunbar said, “I have been having a countdown for about a year, just waiting for November.”

The second part of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out June 30, ending the long lasting legacy once and for all. But not all fans are so excited for the beginning of the end. Junior Jesse Streicher said, “I am way excited for the last movie to premiere. However, knowing that with these last two movies, the series will be over makes me so sad. It makes me wish she would have written more books, but I know that if she did it might ruin the series. The series is perfect the way it is, so I hope nothing messes that up.”

J. K. Rowling has publicly announced that she will not be writing any more Harry Potter books; she is done after seven, and quite bluntly, she is set for life. But are her fans as satisfied as she is about the ending to this famous series? Senior Alex Huffman said, “ I am beyond sad that everything is coming to a close. I grew up with Harry and he became a large part of my childhood.” Huffman said that waiting in line for books and movies is one of her favorite parts of the franchise. “I love the fans and Harry Potter community,” she said.

For others the end doesn’t hurt too badly. Dunbar said, “It’s not so much of a letdown, as really bittersweet. Watching the movies is the last piece of new Harry Potter that the fans get, and the fact that this is part of the last one ever is incredibly sad, but I knew it’d be coming eventually.”

Then again, fans shouldn’t be too sad — the movies can be watched over and over, and the timeless books have made the most prized place on the shelves of many readers. Sophomore Hanno Fenech said that he has read all 870 pages of the fifth book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, 47 times.

“The books can never become dull. Every time you pick any of the books up, your world vanishes and you are totally emerged in Harry’s world. It’s wicked,” Huffman said.

Sophomore Meredith Main also agreed, “The books never ever get old. You always notice something new every time since it’s so complex.”

Tickets for the Nov. 19 premiere at 12:01 a.m. sold rather quickly, too. Within hours many fans had ordered their tickets eagerly. Fenech bought tickets the first day they were online and plans to go to the Ultrascreen in Waterloo. He said, “I hope it will be a grand finale.”

Many other CFHS students plan to attend and have been looking forward to this night for a long time. Dunbar plans to camp out beforehand. “Hopefully everyone at the premiere is dressed up, and I’m bringing blankets and hot cocoa so I don’t freeze to death in line.”

But will the long, cold wait will worth it for fans? Dunbar said, “I have a lot of faith in this seventh movie.”