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STAMFORD, Conn. All the wizards were at the Bow-Tie Majestic on Summer Street: Harry Potter and childhood friends Hermione and Ron, the evil Lord Voldemort, kindly headmaster Albus Dumbledore and mysterious Severus Snape.
And they were up on the screen, too, at the final Harry Potter movie, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2."
With more than 1,500 people lined up inside and outside the Stamford theater to enter all six auditoriums for the midnight showings, many were dressed as characters from the series based on J.K Rowling's popular books about a magical school known as Hogwarts.
"I had to come as Harry. This is the last time in my life I will get to dress up at an event this spectacular and feel like I'm part of what has become a magical worldwide phenomenon," said 23-year-old Greg Lico of Greenwich, who resembled the character with his dark hair, round glasses and Hogwarts suit and tie.
He even had a magic wand that was lit up at the tip, just like Harry's. Lico, who came with a group of friends also dressed in Harry Potter attire, said he grew up with the series, having read all the books and seen all the movies. "It's a wonderful night ... and a sad one, too. But the message of the story is that we can never give up in the fight against evil."
Susannah Lawrence, 20, of Darien, dressed as Hermione Granger, one of Harry's closest pals, said she had been reading "Deathly Hallows" all day as a reminder of how the first half of the book ended.
"Tonight my childhood ends, which is kind of depressing, but all good things must come to an end," said Lawrence, carrying Hermione's magic wand. "I have loved every page of every book, and every minute of every movie."
Catharine Perkins, 21, of Stamford, also dressed as Hermione, said she expected to cry during the movie. Afterward, Perkins said she did tear up during two crucial scenes one involving the surprisingly touching Snape and the other when Harry met up with his deceased parents.
"It was a fantastic movie and it ended with just the right touch," said Perkins. "Even though everything wasn't exactly like the book ... the movie managed to capture the magic of Harry Potter and all the amazing characters brought to life on screen. I'll be under its spell for the rest of my life."Have you seen the final Harry Potter movie? Did you think it lived up to the hype? Let us know in a comment below.
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