KARACHI: Muggle parents were dragged out of bed by their children on Sunday morning to attend the official launch of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a two-part play by J. K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, at Liberty Books in Clifton’s Dolmen Mall.

Originally a West End play for London’s Palace Theatre which premiered this summer, the book is the eighth story of the Harry Potter series. It takes place 19 years after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows where the boy who survived (Harry Potter) defeats He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named aka Lord Voldemort in an epic battle.

The cursed child, it is said, primarily focuses on Mr Potter as an employee of the Ministry of Magic and his son, Albus Severus Potter.

The book, which was released on July 31 all over the world — the same day as Potter’s birthday, was officially released at a launch party at Dolmen Mall. Parents, their children, students, teachers and professionals started arriving at the mall at around 10am dressed as witches, wizards and their favourite character from the series.

Uraiba and her cousin Tasheel, who were dressed up as Bellatrix Lestrange, said that they were very excited to be a part of the Harry Potter world. “I have always been a fan of the series and was upset when the launch party for Deathly Hallows was cancelled at the last minute due to security issues,” said Uraiba.

Fourteen-year-old Qaima, who was wearing a Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry T-shirt, said she started reading about Harry, Ron and Hermione when she was around eight. Her sister and mother who were also there, said they had also been to the Harry Potter/Warner Bros tour in London.

With a stuffed toy owl on her arm, Ayza Shamsie,10, said she woke up at 8:30am to make it to the launch on time. “I grew up watching the movies but now I am reading the books,” she said, adding that she was holding an original wand from Mr Ollivander’s store.

Sisters Atiya and Amna, dressed as students from Slytherin and Gryffindor, said it felt great to be a part of the Potter world and fandom 10 years after the last book was released.

Slytherin Taimur Zia was walking around with an Elder Wand in his hand and said that it was amazing to be a part of the Potter mania. He added that he started reading the books when he was about 10 years old and found the series in his father’s study.

Tuba Khalid, 28, and her brother Adeel were standing in line with their brooms firmly in hand ready for a spontaneous Quidditch match. “I’m here as Prof Snap and am very excited to be here. This is the first Harry Potter launch I have ever been too,” she said. Her brother added that he had spent most of Saturday running around trying to make their Nimbus 2000s.

Raimah, 11, and her sister Samia, 14, who were dressed as Prof Snape and Bellatrix said it was great to be a part of something they had been reading since they were children.

Liberty Books manager Sameer Hussain said they had a great turnout and he was expecting the book to be sold out by the end of the day. He added that around 100 people had also pre-ordered the book. To keep the crowd entertained while many stood in line to buy copies of the book, there were two photobooths — including one with Platform 9 ¾ with costume, themed cupcake stalls and Harry Potter merchandise.

Writer Bina Shah, dressed as a Hogwarts professor, said it was cute and a literary sensation. Agha Ali Jaan and his friends, dressed as Harry Potter and Prof Snape, said they learnt about the launch a day before and had they more time, they would have come up with better costumes.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2016