Tempe Marketplace was a flutter with trivia games and interpretive dance competitions as hundreds of Harry Potter fans camped out to see the midnight premiere of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1” on Thursday.
Fans of all ages lined up as early as 4 a.m. to experience the first half of the final Harry Potter film.
“We pretty much live and breathe Harry Potter,” says Marie Carter, a sophomore psychology major at Mesa Community College.
Katie Berry, an Arizona State University sophomore agrees. The two fans bought their tickets October 15 — the day they became available.
Their passion for the franchise is obvious in their face paint, matching Gryffindor T-shirts and "Deathly Hallows" hardcover books in hand. Together, they have been to all of the midnight releases of the novels. They are veterans to the waiting game, which came in hand during their 12-hour post for the premiere.
Berry, a Potter fan since age 9, says the anticipation that comes with waiting for a new book or movie has been the most fun for her.
“I’m sad future generations won’t get to experience the waiting [for the books and movies],” she says.
With their wands (that double as pens) in hand, they thrived on the energy hundreds of fans generated.
In the front of the line was a unique group of fans who went above and beyond.
All 11 were in Potter costumes, ranging from Luna Lovegood, Mad-Eye Moody and Bellatrix Lestrange, to a human Womping Willow and an actual Platform 9 ¾.
“I’m a mildly obsessed fan,” says Molly Smart, a biology sophomore dressed as Lestrange who lined up at 4:15 a.m.
“We all have to unite as friends or else Voldemort wins,” she says.
Smart, who stood in line the longest, knitted and studied for her chemistry test while waiting. She only took a break to run back to campus and actually take her chemistry test.
For Kira Golay, an ASU pre-med medical biochemistry junior who dressed as Moody, the atmosphere at the midnight showing is the best part of camping out.
“I would say I’m a dedicated fan,” she says.
Further down the line of wannabe wizards and witches, Christina Lopez, a microbiology senior, watched as screaming fans ran past her in their finest Hogwarts uniforms.
“I’m more of a reserved and introverted fan,” she says. “I’m not into the whole face painting and T-shirt-making thing.”
Despite being low-key, Lopez is excited for the film.
“[At a midnight premiere] everyone is really really into it,” she says. “There is more energy here than in, say, a Tuesday afternoon showing.”
Lopez is certianly on to something. As 12:01 a.m. nears, more characters from the novels come to life and walk through the crowds. A full-size Hagrid has his pink umbrella in hand and a nose-less Voldemort tries to terrorize fans, but seems quite loveable in cloth flip-flops.
Chelsea Janicek, a criminal justice sophomore, says she likes being surrounded by her “own geeky kind.” But while the finale's first installment may be a time for celebration, she is not pleased to see the series end with the final installment in June.
“I’m excited now, but come June, I’ll be sad and cry,” she says.
Contact the reporter at apanguia@asu.edu.
