Harry's Last Hurrah

It was truly a magical night at the AMC Theaters in Clifton.

Beneath a glorious full moon, hundreds of people converged on the multiplex theater for the midnight showing of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2,” the eighth and final installment of the beloved movie franchise based on the books of J.K. Rowling.

There was a smattering of younger kids at the showing, but mostly the theaters were crowded with adults, an audience that grew up along with Harry, Hermione and the rest of the Potter universe. The first book in the seven-title series on which the movies are based was published about a decade ago.

Like a lot of audience members, Gabriela Buchanan was decked out in HP attire -- in her case, a graduation robe and wand. Buchanan, a 33-year-old Pompton Lakes resident, had reserved a theater for a crew of about 60 fellow fans.

“This is my big private party. I’ve been gathering people for 7 years now and we couldn’t find an event so we decided to rent a theater,” she said.

Buchanan first got into Harry Potter when her parents bought her the first book, The Order of the Phoenix. She later got her stepdaughter interested in the series.

“It’s good wholesome fun.”