This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Community Corner

AMC Awash With 'Pure-Bloods' For Harry Potter Finale

2,800 seats over 18 screens sold out for premiere

The ultimate installment of the highest grossing film franchise in history, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, premiered Friday at midnight.

Avid Potter fans, or "Pure-bloods" showed their support in mass, selling out all 18 screens of the AMC theater at Potomac Mills Mall in Woodbridge, 24-hours before the premiere, and forcing the theater to add four 3:15 a.m. show times, to accommodate die-hard Harry Potter fans. To prime fans for the franchise finale, AMC held a sold out Harry Potter marathon, which began on Monday, replaying all seven movies: two per night-leading up to the premiere of the eighth film.

"The muggles are picking up the slack," said Jen Jones, who owns her own business and took off time from work all week in order to view the marathon. "I told them [my staff], 'there will be a night when you want to go do something.' For example, one of my staff took off time to go to President Obama's inauguration, so I called that favor back in."

Find out what's happening in Woodbridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Although Jones owns the collection of Harry Potter DVD's, she felt it imperative to view them all on the big screen one last time, to watch the characters grow up together, to relive the last 14 years since the first book was released, and to say a proper goodbye to Hogwarts. Jones, a self-described "Dumbledork," arrived at the theater by 4:30 p.m. each day for the 6 p.m. marathon showing, and on the final day, she carried with her a replica of Hermione's wand, which she used to participate in the Facebook event that more than 3 million people worldwide had agreed to attend.

"It's based on the Marauder's Map," said Jones. "When you find the Marauder's Map you're supposed to say, 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good,' and it appears, then when you're done you say, 'Mischief managed,' and it disappears. So, on Facebook it said to raise your wand and say 'mischief managed' when the credits start to roll."

Find out what's happening in Woodbridgewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Samantha Spagnola, who was recently married and is new to the Woodbridge area, sacrificed time with her half-blood husband in order to attend the Harry Potter marathon alone, but remained occupied before and in-between films, by reading and knitting. Originally, Spagnola had purchased a single ticket to the premiere showing of the final film, but when the marathon was announced, she exchanged her ticket. Like all "Pure-bloods," Spagnola has read the books and seen the movies multiple times, but leading up to the final film, she carried out what she described as "the great re-read."

"I started in January and gave myself a month for each book," said Spagnola. "It's my go-to when I'm having a bad day. I like to re-read Harry Potter, or watch one of the movies. I hear about people reading them to their kids, and I think that would be fun to do, so you can relive it all over again."

"Pure-blood" Danny Slovich was only at to see the final film on IMAX, but he was the first person in line, and had been waiting since 11 a.m. Thursday morning.

"I'm a huge fan of the books," said Slovich. "But of the movies, I'm probably not one of those die-hard fans, but I'm enough of a fan to get here at 11 a.m. to see the last one. I have to separate them. When I read the books, it's a completely different experience than when I watch the movies."

Slovich compared the differences between the books and the movies to an iceberg. The movies, he said, are the top 10 percent of an iceberg, while the books are the 90 percent underwater which you don't see; and in order to get the full experience of the Harry Potter world, you must read the books, as well as watch the films.

While Slovich may not describe himself as a die-hard fan of the Harry Potter movies, his actions proved otherwise. In addition to being the first in line, he placed a request for time off from work three months ago in order to attend the premiere and during his wait in line, he sacrificed nourishment, waiting to purchase any food until the premiere began. For entertainment, he watched the first and second movies on his laptop.

"Honestly, I was here [early] to get a good seat," added Slovich, "but also, part of it is coming and waiting. It's the whole experience."

The thought of the Harry Potter movie franchise concluding produced bitter-sweet emotions amongst the pure-bloods. While they were all excited to see what the final installment had to offer, they knew that this may very well be the last time they find themselves among so many like-minded people, with no other cares in the world, united in spirit; and all were in agreement that the Harry Potter series was somewhat of an heirloom, worthy of being passed down from generation to generation.

"There's a sense of wonder to them [the books]," said Cynthia Gesotti. "It's what got me into reading, and it got me really excited. I wanted to read the books, it wasn't like a chore. That's the main reason why I would want to share this experience. It's almost like when you go to Disney World when your little and it's this amazing place, but when you reach your twenties it's like, 'what am I doing here.' But then when you have kids, you're seeing the wonder in their eyes. So, I hope to see something similar."

Mischief managed!

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?