The moment muggles all over the world have been waiting for finally arrived at 12:01 a.m. this morning — the release of the final installment of Harry Potter — “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.”
The first person to get his hands on the book at Hasting’s, 1646 Industrial Road, exactly at 12:01 a.m. was Sean Stafford, of Madison. He beamed as the book was finally in his hands and quickly rushed out the door with his treasure. Stafford said he arrived at Hasting’s at 4 p.m. and had been in line for an hour before the release.
“I just want to know who dies,” Stafford said as he stood in line. “I don’t think Malfoy will make it. I’m pretty sure the Phoenix will bring Dumbledore back.”
Earlier in the evening, around 8 p.m., Hasting’s was hopping with live music, Butter Beer and contests.
Andelyn Pouton, 10, of Emporia, was cruising the store in a Ravenclaw cape. Pouton, who later took second place in the costume contest, said she enjoys all the fantasy in the books. She offered her predictions of what will happen in book seven.
“I always thought Voldemort and Harry will kill each other,” she said.
Clinton Rife, of Emporia, was dressed as Hagrid. Rife said he likes the books because of the story line.
“It makes one guy the hero not everybody,” he said. “It’s good verses evil.”
Kristal Rife, of Emporia, who was dressed as Moaning Myrtle, said she is looking forward to finding out if Professor Snape is evil or not.
“I don’t know,” she said. “I think Professor Snape is going (to be) good but you never know.”
Around 8:15 p.m., Hasting’s hosted a Harry Potter trivia contest. Do you know what Tom Riddle’s middle name is? Adam Schondelmaier, of Emporia does.
“Marvolo,” Schondelmaier answered for his win. The answer landed him a free copy of the book.
At 9 p.m., the Memorial Union Bookstore at Emporia State University was loaded with activities. Participants could make dragon eggs, wands out of pretzels dipped in a chocolate fountain and make magic potion drinks. There also was a Harry Potter spelling bee and a trivia contest.
Caitlin Martin, of Emporia, tried her hand at wand-making. The process proved a bit messy as her hand was covered in chocolate from the fountain. Martin said she was looking forward to seeing if Ron and Hermione would become boyfriend and girlfriend.
“And I want to see who dies,” she added, with a smile.
Lee Allison, of Emporia, brought his niece, Lauren Paccapaniccia, 9, of Kansas City, to the bookstore. They were at a table making dragon eggs just before 10 p.m. Paccapaniccia said she likes all the creatures that Hagrid meets.
Allison said he brought his niece to the bookstore because of all the different things to do.
“We went to it two or three years ago and there was a lot of neat stuff,” he said. “Everybody did a good job. There’s lots of stuff for the kids. It’s a lot of fun.”
Downtown Emporia had a party of its own hosted by Town Crier. The bookstore took over the entire 700 block of Commercial for the bash. Inside the bookstore there were owls from the David Traylor Zoo and a tarot card reading table. Outside, there was a large screen where Harry Potter movies were being projected as well as several individual stations including the Art Mobile and an L-CAT bus.
Kieffer Dobson, 5, of Emporia, was busy making a tie in front of the art mobile while his mother, Dana Dobson, stood beside him. Dobson said she was excited to see how the book ends.
“I predict Harry and Voldemort will kill each other,” she said.
Joel Knapp, of Emporia, is an avid Harry Potter fan. He said his family read the first book, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,” so much that it is falling apart.
“I’m like one of the scary fans,” Knapp said, laughing. “I even make fun of fans like me.”
Knapp offered his prediction of what will happen in book seven.
“I think Voldemort is going to possess Harry’s (body) and Harry is going to be the next Dark Lord,” he said.
Like many fans, Knapp is looking for closure in book seven.
“There are many loose ends from the other books,” he said. “Hopefully they will be tied up.”