Locals Bewitched By Final Harry Potter Film

Hundreds of Harry Potter fans, many carrying wands, and wearing wizard robes and other theme attire, stood on line at midnight outside in Holtsville early Friday, eagerly anticipating the eighth and final installment in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2. 

The wildly popular Harry Potter film series, based on the best-selling books by J.K. Rowling, has inspired controversy, a theme park and a fervent cult following that is legion. Friday, July 15 marked the beginning of the end for the multibillion dollar franchise.

"It's very busy tonight," said Steven Troy, 22, an usher supervisor from Ronkonkoma. "It's never been like this before.  We have 15 theaters playing Harry Potter. We sold over 3,000 tickets just for Harry Potter. Everyone's been really nice, a good crowd."

Three friends, Melania Scott, 19, Jacqueline Tromp, 19, and Shannon Ward, 19, were all wearing black glasses they made out of wire and electrical tape.

"We ordered tickets a couple of weeks ago, for 3-D," said Scott, prior to the screening. "We're so excited."

Tromp predicted that the movie would "live up to the hype and beyond."

Ward expected the final installment to be a very emotional experience.

"I'll probably cry the whole time," she said. "I'm going to make my children watch this. They're going to be Harry Potter fans. They're going to read the books too."

In a fit of "Potter-mania", Ward exclaimed that she might even name her children after the characters.

For a generation, those now in their late teens and early 20's, the series has been a rite-of-passage. They literally grew up with the characters. To them this final chapter signifies saying goodbye to their childhood.

Kristin Smith, 20, from Patchogue, had tears streaming down her face after seeing the movie.

"It's a big thing. This has been a whole era for my generation," said Smith.  "I got picked on a lot in school.  These books were my escape.  They did every book justice including this one ... I don't think I ever cried so hard in my life."

"So many kids and teenagers feel like Hogwarts is their true home," said Angela Yhl, 20. "I think a lot of people wish it could go on, but it was a nice closure.  It came full circle.  Everyone had a happy ending to an extent."

Not everyone was as euphoric upon leaving the theater.

"Cheesy one-liners broke up the heavy pacing of it. They tried to make it too childish to entertain.  It absolutely ruined it for me," said Chris Lisinski, 18. "I'll get over it.  I'm going to go home and read the books."

Pauline Nelson, 17, encapsulated the crux of the Potter phenomenon.

"It's like a different reality to this one.  Most of the people here wish they went to Hogwarts.  It's the childhood you wish you had — magical."