All hail Harry

Last week I was writing in eager anticipation of the launch of the much-anticipated seventh chapter in the grand Harry Potter saga — Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. By now I have long since closed the amazing novel (and sadly ended over a decade’s long passion with Hogwarts) and have re-read and re-watched old books and movies. A part of me can’t believe it’s really over and yet at the same time another part of me respects the ending and the final conclusion to Harry’s suffering. In a fictional way, I wish him well and say goodbye (keeping my fingers crossed that maybe one day we will meet again!). In the end, I look back and I realize that I’m just happy to been along for this amazing ride.

And as the roller coaster finally came to its final loop, Powerbooks helped celebrate the release of this amazing novel in a style befitting the books’ magic and grandeur. Last Friday night, before the book’s release on Saturday morning at 7:01 a.m. sharp, Powerbooks invited members of the media and friends to a Harry Potter press pre-launch party at Powerbooks Live in Greenbelt. We were all invited to wear our best Harry Potter robes and take part in an evening of fun, games, and magic (literally!).

I really enjoyed the party. Naturally I had my own wizard robes (yes, I am a full-fledged geek) but it was nice that Powerbooks provided robes for those who hadn’t brought their own. Guests were then ushered into the Powerbooks Hogwarts Great Hall decorated to resemble the famous Great Hall in Hogwarts. There were tables set for each House — Griffyndor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff (we were seated in Ravenclaw) and guests were treated to a delicious dinner before the activities began.

After dinner, there was a mini TriWizard competition for all the Houses competing in three different contests. Needless to say, the competitive side of me came out immediately as I told fellow Ravenclaws that we had to win. And as the competition came to a close involving tasks like Blindly Arrange the Books, Harry Potter Trivia, and Find the Snitch, we emerged the victors and I even managed to walk off with a prized boxed set of books one through six (which will proudly be displayed on my bookshelf).

Another treat that evening was an amazing performance by Filipino street magician Eric Mana. He dazzled the audience with different tricks including mind-reading and prestidigitation. It was an unbelievable performance and fit perfectly with the evening’s magical theme. Indeed, the night ending with everyone anticipating the book’s release even more — myself included.

Then the next day, bright and early, hundreds and hundreds of people stood outside Powerbooks in line for their copy of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. Nino came with me to the branch in Alabang and stood in line while we waited, like many others, for the doors to finally open and let us in. At promptly 7:01 a.m. they did and we all finally got our copies. I began reading while standing in line to pay and I didn’t stop.

It was a fun and exciting day for everyone. Powerbooks provided a grand celebration for all Potter fans young and old alike. The Hogwarts Great Hall remained at Powerbooks Live in Greenbelt and everyone was able to enjoy an afternoon of free food, drinks and other treats at the Afternoon Launch Party. Those who came in their best Harry Potter costumes won treats and special prizes.

Powerbooks even had a Kiddie Quidditch Game and a Hunt for the Missing Horcruxes game to help Harry in his quest to destroy these objects and ultimately defeat He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Children and adults were also entertained by amazing tricks and feats performed by the Diagon Alley Street Magicians. Additionally, everyone could view the entries in the Muggle Magic Digital Contests where fans unleashed their imagination and artistry by producing Harry Potter artworks with the use of digital technology. The winners of the Digital Art Challenge and the Digital Video Challenge were announced the same day. And as if that wasn’t enough, guests could take a break from all the fun activities with sweet treats and goodies from the Hogsmeade Food Alley. Finally, capping the fun-filled exciting afternoon was the final round of the Triwizard Tournament, where the champion took home cash prizes and a box set of Harry Potter books one through six.

It was a big, fun and magical celebration for Potter fans and followers of all ages! And even more than that, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows is an intense electrifying read which will have everyone on the edge of their seats! Nino and I had to buy two copies because neither one of us wanted to want for the other to finish! I will not include any spoilers here but, as with all the other books, I highly recommend The Deathly Hallows. And I’m glad to have been part of the satisfying and thrilling prelude Powerbooks provided to the spellbinding end of Harry Potter’s story!

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Powerbooks Specialty Store is a complete one-stop bookstore with branches at Greenbelt 4, Megamall, Alabang Town Center, Gloritetta 3, Shangri-La, Robinson’s Place Ermita, Mall of Asia, Festival Supermall, and TriNoma and for updates of their next set of fun activities check out their website at www.powerbooks.com.ph.