Harry Potter fans flock to theaters for midnight showings

Diehard Harry Potter fans flocked to Valley movie theaters Thursday, clamoring for seats to the midnight premiere of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2."

Some fans arrived at the Harkins theater at Tempe Marketplace as early as 4 a.m. to wait for the last installment of the beloved series, lingering in cars or stalling in coffee shops until doors opened at 6 a.m.

"I got done watching (Harry Potter) movies five and six at about 12:30 last night, and I was back at the theater at 5:45 this morning," said Phoenix resident Megan Knight, 25, who was wearing green wizard robes and a Slytherin House tie.

Knight, who bought her ticket to the premiere in mid-June, said the combined 12 hours of sleep she had gotten over the last four days were "totally worth it."

By late morning, the Tempe theater's lobby and halls were scattered with people decked out in robes and other costumes that honored the popular series of books by J.K. Rowling. Some entertained themselves quietly with Harry Potter card games, board games, books or soundtrack music. Others snoozed on pillows and blankets brought from home.

Sisters Nora Kuby, 23, and Olivia Kuby, 20, of Tempe, passed the time chatting with other fans. Olivia dressed as house elf Dobby, complete with ears and a dirty pillowcase dress. Nora said she had spent the previous day creating Hermione Granger's trademark, bushy hair.

"Might as well go all out since this is the last time we're going to get to do this," Nora said. The pair got the fifth and sixth spots in line after showing up at 4:30 a.m.

Though Mesa resident Amy Pezzelle opted not to don a full costume, she had meticulously painted her white sneakers with a scene from the final book. Harry Potter dominated her left shoe, and an image of bad guy Voldemort covered her right.

Pezzelle, 23, said she prepared for the premiere by re-reading the books and re-watching prior movies.

All fans interviewed by The Arizona Republic said they anticipated an excellent show.

"I'm expecting it to be very good considering the buildup, the reviews and the enormous praise," said Amber Hunt, 17, at the Harkins Scottsdale 101 theater.

Their excitement was bittersweet.

While waiting for a premiere to begin, "you usually make new friends with other fans and at the end say, 'See you at the next premiere,' " said April Cohee, 25, of Gilbert. Now, there won't be a next time.

"Harry Potter made being a geek or a nerd cool again," Knight said. "It does feel like the end of an era."