48°
FAIRFIELD, Conn. Abby Thompson is under a Harry Potter spell. The 10-year-old loves Harry Potter so much she's trying to talk her mother into taking her to Thursday's midnight release of the eighth and final movie, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2."
But Michelle Thompson, of Fairfield, said although she also loves the books and movies and has put up with Abby's "Harry obsession," going to a midnight showing is where she draws the line.
"I'll take her the next day, but I'm not going at midnight, with long lines and getting out at 3 in the morning," Michelle Thompson said. Abby frowned, as only a Muggle can. (A Muggle is the series' term for a nonmagical person.)
Michelle and Abby were browsing Thursday at the Harry Potter display at Barnes & Noble in Westport, because area cinemas aren't the only ones about to reap the benefits of Harry mania.
Book stores throughout the region are already cashing in.
"I've read all the books and seen all the movies, probably a few times," said Abby. "It's the best book series I've read, but I'm here looking for other books even nearly as good."
Abby said her favorite character is Harry's friend, Hermione Granger. "I like how she doesn't let Harry and Ron [who rounds out the close-knit trio] boss her around," said Abby. "She's so smart, and I love when she uses her magic wand."
But Abby is sad Harry's magic will end with the final movie. "There won't ever be anything like it again," she said. Michelle Thompson said Abby started reading the books when she was 6. "She's been mesmerized by the story and characters ever since," Thompson said. As have millions around the world.
At Diane's Books in Greenwich there hasn't been so much excitement over Harry Potter since author J.K Rowling came to the store years ago and people lined up to get her autograph.
"I wasn't working here at the time [but] we got all of them signed," said Mary Murphy, a sales associate in the children's section at Diane's Books. "Diane [the owner] even had dinner with [Rowling] a few times, too, and somewhere in here she signed the wall."
Do you plan to see the final Harry Potter movie? Have you read the books? Let us know if you're a Harry fanatic in a comment below.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Fairfield and receive free news updates.
