Potterheads from across Oxford joined forces Thursday to celebrate the Harry Potter universe at an event showcasing the power of community, friendship, enthusiasm and of course— magic.
Junior education major Bella Hutson said Harry Potter was her childhood.
(Photo by: Aleea Sophia)
“I loved the books and I loved the movies,” Hutson said. “It just makes me want to live in a magical world.”
Hutson said she had fun at Harry Potter Book Night and her favorite part was getting her Hogwarts letter.
About 60 fans attended the event that featured wand making, trivia, wizard duels and Hogwarts-themed snacks.
The campus bookstore was among thousands of other retailers, libraries and schools across the globe hosting the second Harry Potter Book Night party, commemorating J.K. Rowling’s classic series.
(Photo by: Aleea Sophia)
UM bookstore trade supervisor and event organizer Theresa Hannah said it all began in 2015 when Bloomsbury Children’s Book Publishing came up with the idea to introduce younger generations of readers to Harry Potter’s magical world.
Hannah attributes the global Harry Potter fan base to its universal themes like love, friendship and doing the right thing.
Hannah said instead of sitting around and waiting for the Hogwarts letter that would never come, Harry Potter fans created The Harry Potter Alliance in 2005 to promote activism in equality, literacy and human rights.
“The Harry Potter Alliance does so much good in the world,” Hannah said.
Despite the last Harry Potter book being released in 2007 and the final movie premiering in 2011, thousands of organizations have participated in Harry Potter Book Night these past two years.
“I think it’s one of those classics,” Hannah said. “It’s such a great universe.”
(Photo by: Aleea Sophia)
Hannah said she had been looking forward to the party after the success of last year’s first-time event.
Nostalgic fans who were fed Harry Potter as a literary staple growing up were also eagerly awaiting the event.
Sophomore integrated marketing and communications major Madison Stewart said Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has done an amazing job at keeping Harry Potter alive.
“I think it pertains to all ages,” said Stewart.
Even though “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” is considered a children’s book, it has garnered a fan base including a broad range of ages.
Stewart said by the time “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” was published in 2007, it appealed to an older age level.
Junior education major Karen Krikorian said that, in spite of Rowling’s characters having aged, like the books, they still remain relevant today.
“The entire story line, we thought Professor Snape was evil,” Krikorian said. “We thought he was against Harry and, bam, he is protecting him all along.”
After knowledgeable Potterheads claimed the trivia prize Thursday evening, it was time for fans to say goodbye until next year’s gathering.
“It was a fantastic night,” Hannah said. “I can’t wait for next year.”
