Magic at midnight: Harry Potter casts spell on Dubai residents

For nine long years the 'vanishing spell' was cast upon us Muggles (read: a non-magic person) and the world of magic went dark.

But on Sunday, July 31, the train to Hogwarts stationed at Virgin Megastore, Mall of the Emirates aptly named 'Platform 9 3/4' was scheduled for departure at 1.30am.

Pic: Debapriya Chakraborty

For those oblivious of the Potter Universe, it just means that JK Rowling's 'eighth' installment of the Harry Potter series was available at Virgin Megastore for Dh100.

The heights of Pottermania was witnessed as hundreds of Potter fans lined up for hours outside the store to lay their hands on the book.

The date coincided with Harry Potter's 36th birthday and celebration was in order.

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Harry Potter cast its spell and fans were buzzing with excitement for 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' that imagines the fictional boy wizard as a grown-up father of three.

There were three queues outside the store - one for walk-in buyers, one for pre-booked customers and another for the media.

Debapriya Chakraborty, who accompanied her son Debojoyti and Diya Chakraborty, said, "We reached the mall at 10.30 pm since my kids didn't want to miss a thing. We didn't know what to expect and was overwhelmed how efficiently the organisers handled the event."

Pic: Debapriya Chakraborty

The store opened its door at 1.35am and it seemed fans found portkeys and were instantly among all things Hogwarts, surrounded with wizards, witches, wands, broomsticks, sorting hat, spells and potions.

"They transformed the store into Hogwarts with tables to replicate the great dinner hall, they were candies, popcorns, coffee and everyone was sucked into Harry Potter's world," said Debapriya.

The tables were divided into four houses - Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin, accessoried with golden candles, plates, and inflated balloons.

Pic: Debapriya Chakraborty

An excited teenager gushed, "This is like a magical night in my life."

Fans could also get the taste of 'blood drops', 'dragon eggs', 'poison worms', delicious 'cockroach clusters', we can also call them candies or gummy bears.

Pic: Debapriya Chakraborty

At 3am fans could finally lay their hands on hard copies - the smell of new books (almost intoxicating)!

Professor Severus Snape interacted with fans and performed some magic - no he didn't offer any potions but entertained with card tricks.

The half-giant wizard Hagrid visited the store and didn't mind posing with eager fans.

Pic: Debapriya Chakraborty

The launch encouraged visitors to dress up and we spotted fans in Hogwarts uniforms, witch’s hats, black cloaks.

There were grownups as well. These 20-30-somethings are a far cry from the twinkly-eyed young fans who queued up at midnight outside the local bookstore - remember Potter was a child too and he is 36-years-old now.

One buyer said, "No matter how old I get, I'll always be a Harry Potter fan."

Pic: Debapriya Chakraborty

"When the last book was released I was 10 and I can't tell you how excited I am for this one," said one fan.

Priyanka Chakraborty, in her 30s, says, "I have been way too excited for this book. I had been waiting and wondering like the entire fandom and all the Potterheads whether JK Rowling will give us another glimpse into the magical world after Hogwarts or not. Our prayers have finally been answered.

Pic: Debapriya Chakraborty

"I have already pre-booked my copy online. And yes it was a long wait but am sure the book is going to be as good as its predecessors."

Priyanka who is not in Dubai right now says, "I do regret not being in Dubai today, else I would've bought my copy by now. I am expecting my hard copy in another two weeks."

Pic: Debapriya Chakraborty

The store had 1000 copies to sell and as Debapriya and her kids picked up their copy and left the Virgin Megastore store at 3.30am they saw a long queue of readers still waiting for their turn.

The book is also available at all Borders branches in Dubai for Dh95.

It's a Script Book

Pic: Debapriya Chakraborty

JK Rowling has teamed up with playwright Jack Thorne and director John Tiffany for the installment – this time, for the stage.

Set 19 years after the events of Rowling's seventh and final book, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows', the play sees a grown-up Potter working at the Ministry of Magic.

The official plot outline for the play reads: "While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted.

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"As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places," it said.

Like many of his fans, Potter has now grown up and has three children with his wife Ginny Weasley, the sister of his friend Ron.

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He still has his trademark round-rimmed glasses and the scar on his head, a permanent reminder of his nemesis Lord Voldemort, but must now help his youngest son Albus confront the family's dark past.

Rowling's books have sold more than 450 million copies since 1997 and been adapted into eight films.

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