DIEHARD Harry Potter fans began queuing for the final instalment of the series more than five hours before midnight screenings in Albury.
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Wearing capes, waving wands and even carrying brooms, up to 500 people packed three screenings of the highly anticipated film at Regent Cinemas.
The premier of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 marked the end of an era for fans, many of whom chose to skip the earlier screening of Part 1 to ensure they were front and centre at the midnight release.
First in line was self-confessed Harry Potter tragic Natalie German, of Corryong, who arrived at 7pm.
“I’ve read all the books and seen every movie, almost to the point of it being really weird,” she said through tears of excitement.
“I come from Corryong and everyone knows me as being the Harry Potter-obsessed nerd.”
Ms German remembers reading the first book when she was seven years old.
“I think it’s an escape from reality, it’s always there for you in good times and bad, you can always turn to the book,” she said.
“Everyone’s united through these books.
“I’ve been waiting for this night for so long, it’s quite overwhelming.
“From walking into the cinema to the final credits, I’m just going to be crying with happiness and sadness.”
But even after eight movies and seven books, for some there is no letting go.
“I feel it’s not really the end. To me it’s only over when none here is loyal to him, which is a quote from the book,” Ms German said.
It was all over in 140 minutes, but no one was trying predict the end.
“I haven’t really got expectations but I’m sure it will live up to the hype,” Sarah McLaine, 19, of Albury said.
“I’m pretty sure we’re pretty much going to cry the whole time.”
From today, the movie will be shown four times a day in 2D and five times a day in 3D.
A Regent Cinemas spokesman Matthew Cumming is already tipping the film may smash box office records.