Finally the magical moment !

By Isuri Kaviratne. Pic. by Saman Kariyawasam.

Two Harry Potter fans at the Vijitha Yapa bookshop at Bambalapitiya.

Both young and old fans of Harry Potter queued up from 4.30 a.m. yesterday at all leading bookshops not only in Colombo but in outstations including Kandy, Galle and Matara for the international launch of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” the 7th and final book of the wizardry series.

Vijitha Yapa Bookshop General Manager Lakshman Siriwardhana said even customers who had paid and reserved the book earlier were among the early comers to buy the book.

“Everybody was eagerly awaiting this book. The enthusiasm was such that even those who had reserved their copies came early to collect them,” he said adding that the crowd this time was much more than for the last book, “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince”.

Many who had queued up told The Sunday Times that they were especially excited because it was the last book where all the magic would end and answers to long standing questions would be answered.

Mr. Siriwardena said that an adult couple who had visited his shop this morning had bought two books to prevent a “book war ” erupting between them. “I can’t wait till my husband finishes reading the book and he can’t wait till I finish it. So we are buying two book so there won’t be any problems,” the wife said.

SThe Sunday Times also learnt of a boy who had sneaked out of his home early morning to buy a copy although his parents had not given him permission.