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The witching hour was the stroke of midnight, when J.K. Rowling’s latest in the series – “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child – Parts One and Two (Special Rehearsal Edition)” went on sale.
The book, which is the script of a play that opened in London Saturday, visits Harry 19 years later.
Harry and Hermione look-alikes walked around the store, waving wands and quoting from the Potter stories.
Dozens of teens and children dressed as Hogwarts students signed the Muggle Wall and played trivia games at four tables set up throughout the store, located at The Shops at Riverside on Route 4.
Each table represented one of the four Houses at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – Slytherin, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Hufflepuff.
Nine-year-old Gwyneth O’Connor of Tenafly played games at the Slytherin table while dressed as her favorite character, Luna Lovegood.
“She’s unique and she sees a lot of crazy stuff that I love,” Gwyneth said. “And she’s really cool.”
Many fans who weren’t in costume had painted a lightning bolt on their foreheads, just like the one Harry got when Lord Voldemort tried to murder him.
One woman sported “Hufflepuff” in silver glitter on one side of her face.
Even some booksellers dressed like characters.
Ridgefield friends Emma Petersen and Zaynah Majid, both 20, signed the Muggle Wall.
“We grew up with Harry Potter,” Petersen said. “We were the same ages as the characters when the books were being released. That was really cool, at least for me.”
A theater major, she is excited that “Cursed Child” is a play because someday she may be able to act in it.
Majid was introduced to Harry and his friends by her babysitter, who would put on the movie, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”
“I just sat there with my Cheetos and chocolate milk and watched it every single day,” she recalled. “My babysitter would also read the books as they were coming out.”
John Alberga, business development manager at the Hackensack Barnes and Noble, said it was great to see that the countdown event was multigenerational.
The celebration continues all day Sunday, starting at 8 a.m., at the Barnes and Noble at The Shops at Riverside with events and activities. It’s for those who missed the midnight party or fans who stayed up to read “Cursed Child” and want to be with kindred spirits to talk about it.
The Barnes and Noble on Route 17 in Paramus, where blue laws prohibit sales on Sundays, is hosting its Harry Potter event at 8 a.m. Monday. There will be giveaways while supplies last.
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