Diehard fans of the popular Harry Potter series gathered at the Oxford Public Library July 15 to await the release of the sixth book at midnight.
Thirty-two wizards and witches in training arrived at 8 p.m. to begin a night filled with scavenger hunts, potion-making classes and Harry Potter trivia.
Participants were divided into four groups ? Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin ? each named after one of the houses at the fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
The magical ‘Sorting Hat? (shown above left) kicked off the evening by deciding which students would be in which houses.
Just like in the books, the four houses competed against each other in various magical activities.
Each member of the winning house received a free copy of the new book entitled ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.? A total of eight copies were given away.
Between midnight and 1 a.m., all the party-goers became among the very first to start reading the latest Potter tale.
The release party was presented by the library in partnership with Oxford Township Parks and Recreation.