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.
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.