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Jacksonville 'Harry Potter' Fans Line Up For Midnight Book Release

Cyd Hoskinson
/
WJCT News
San Marco Books co-owner Desiree Bailey delivers a box of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" books to waiting customers on Sunday, July 31.

On Sunday morning, at precisely one minute past midnight, a new Harry Potter book was released for the first time in nearly a decade…and a small Jacksonville bookstore was ready.

San Marco Books and More conjured up a midnight launch party for fans who couldn’t wait another second to get their hands on “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” 

People were already lining up outside at around 11:30 Saturday night, nearly nine years to the day that book seven, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” first hit book shelves.

Credit Cyd Hoskinson / WJCT News
/
WJCT News
The San Marco Square lions don Gryffindor-colored scarves before the "Harry Potter" book release party.

Desiree Bailey is co-owner of the tiny San Marco Square bookstore.

“I’m very excited because I think it’s fun, and in light of everything that’s going on, it’s really nice to come together with a common good heart,” she said.

Bailey said around 100 people reserved the book online and came to the party to pick it up, many wearing costumes.

Eighteen-year old Andrew Greene got his 12-year old brother, Landon, to wear his Gryffindor hoodie for the evening, but he wouldn’t tell him why.

“I didn’t know why I was here because Drew never told me it was a surprise. I still don’t know what we’re doing. When I heard it was released, I thought it was amazing. I was so ready, I was so pumped for it,” Landon Greene said.

The eighth Harry Potter book is actually a script. Its release coincided with the debut of the play “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” at the Palace Theatre in London Saturday night.

Cyd Hoskinson began working at WJCT on Valentine’s Day 2011.