Close to 300 people of all ages and sexes lined up along Platform 9 in front of Village Books last Friday at midnight. The festive mood gave Swarthmore'”Diagon Alley”‘a party atmosphere as people milled around, greeted friends and worked on Harry Potter trivia and word searches while waiting for “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” to go on sale. There were no Dementors around (in Harry Potter’s world, the kind of people who suck out happiness and hope, leaving misery) as the line stretched past Mort’s Deli. A thick fogged creeped in, mixing with the street lights, lending an air of Holmesian mysteriousness. Before joining the line, Corinne Bourdeau and Andrew Koski held a Harry Potter wizard gathering at their home for 26 children and 14 adults. “We had a martini party to help ease the pain of coming out here,” said Corinne, who had read all five books. Many had ulterior motives for standing in line so late. “My son goes to sleep-away camp at 7 a.m. and I wanted him to have it,” Suzy Pion said. “We’re driving to Idaho tomorrow with our two children,” Ruth Wesson said. “We’re gettting Harry Potter on tape for the 21-hour car ride.” Seven women from the Smith College class of 1976 were visiting Colleen Quinn for a mini-reunion. They were in line to buy the book. One of the women, Mimi Dolan, a professor of biology at the University of Indiana, was headed to the airport. “Colleen got a pre-paid copy for me, so I can read it on the red-eye tonight.” At the very end of the line was Charlie Pasternak and his girlfriend, Taylor Fisher. “I have not read any of the books and I’m not reading any of them until the seventh is out,” said Pasternak. “I’ll read them all at once. I’m only here because of Taylor.” Taylor conceded that it was a nice boyfriend who would come and stand in a midnight line with her. Mrs. Weasley’s chocolate chip cookies, Honeydukes’ Avalande Surprise, cauldron cakes, cockroach clusters and butterbeer (cream soda) were available to waiting customers, many of whom were in costume. Donna Shapiro-Castillo, dressed as Dumbledore, laughed and said, “One of my children had it as a Halloween costume this past year and I stole it.” Once inside the store, Muggles and wizards over 21 were treated to glasses of Muggle juice (champagne). Signs around the store reflecting the Wizarding World, like potions, defense against the dark arts, and sorcery, were made especially for the occasion by Jackie Doyka, 16, a student at Marymount High School. At exactly 12:01 a.m., the doors opened to customers eager to purchase the sixth installment in the wildly popular J.K. Rowling series. Greg Aspell, 14, was at the front of the line. Store owner Katie O’Laughlin had donated the first spot as an auction for the Relay For Life, a cancer benefit held at Marquez in May. Rex Kirshner originally won the raffle, but he gave his winning spot to his friend Aspell for his birthday. There were 17 entries in the poster contest. Winners were Jake Boyle, 7, in the 7-and-under; Mia Ahmet, 11, in the 8-11; and Kathryn Wilson, 13, in the 12-15 category. Honorable mentions were given in all categories, with imaginative awards for “striking use of red,” “magnificent use of watercolor,” and “excellent depiction of a Quidditch match.” Boyle also won best Harry Potter costume in the 7-10 group; Lili Boyle, 9, was best witch; Patric Verrone, 10, Sirius Black (most original); and Marianne Verrone, 8, Dobby (best representation). In 6-and-below, Tommy Daigle, 6, and Teddy Verrone, 5, tied for first for best Harry Potter costume. In the 11-13 category, there was a tie for first between Johnny Lazebnik, 11, a Dementor, and Tait Johnson, 13, Draco Malfoy. Palisadian-Post intern Alex Boone read the book in one sitting. “It’s good’a fantastic story with excellent characters,” he said. “It has the same qualities as her other books, but I was disappointed that it was shorter (652 pages) than her previous novels. She could have gotten into the story quicker.” When the series originally started, Boone had no interest in the “other” world fantasy that Rowling’s books inhabit. Friends offered to give him $50 if he would read the first two books and tell them truthfully that he didn’t like them. After Boone finished, his friends kept their money. Boone was in London when the fourth book came out at midnight. He was one of the first Americans to have a copy and read it before booksellers in America were even allowed to sell it. Village Books opened at 8 a.m. Saturday, with eight people already in line. By the end of the weekend, 558 copies of the Potter book had been sold. “I’m super grateful for everyone who bought it here, ” O’Laughlin said. She still has copies available.
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