Twas the Night Before Potter ...

For only one night, out of thousands, will cashiers at your local bookstore look like this.

Only for that solitary evening will you find Dolores Umbridge holding court in the cafe. Detention, anyone?

Only then will Alastor "Mad Eye" Moody stalk the endless rows of bookshelves dispensing his sage advice: "Constant vigilance!"

On that very night, Severus Snape will lurk among books about pregnancy & childbirth (hoping, perhaps, to learn something they don't teach at a potions seminar).

When else would you see Professors Dumbledore and McGonogall dragging about, with them, the famous Sorting Hat? (Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw? Animal House?)

Or discover Hogwarts' most elegantly coiffed professor signing everything his fans shove at him, while Bellatrix Lestrange remains most unimpressed?

Or witness Harry Potter and Ron Weasley pausing for a picture at Platform 9 & 3/4? (Young Weasley, it should be noted, is a git, and his sad excuse for a magic wand should be locked away forever!)

Or find Madame Rosmerta serving butterbeers and pumpkin pasties to the many guests of The Leaky Cauldron?

As local hoodlums display their true feelings about a certain potions master.

While strange women wear buzzards on their heads.

And harlequins prance about while children are forced into slavery & to wear hideous masks!

And Harry Potter's virility is questioned!

And ... of course, only tonight, will there be yet (and even) more gratutious wearing of buzzard hats by strange women.

I hope everyone had fun ...

Ever Yours,

Gilderoy Lockhart