For the arrival of Harry Potter, fans were massed on the Champs-Elysees
A crowd of about 500 fans found themselves in front of the shops early in the evening to take first places in the queues on the sidewalk. Both banners had evacuated their customers around 23:30, the time to set up the books and especially the sets reproducing the universe Harry Potter.
The doors hidden by large black curtains were opened at midnight for fans, accompanied by the sound of a bell and a chorus count. The entrance was carried out by safety, leaving the latecomers to stagger with impatience.
The security and the police made sure to avoid possible overflows but the atmosphere remained good child and the wait took place in the joy and the good humor. Most of the readers had disguised themselves for the occasion: false scars on the front, "Gryffindor" scarves and witches' hats ... The Champs-Elysées avenue was also able to welcome actors hired by one of the banners. , recomposing the team of teachers of the saga Harry Potter. A potion bubbling in a cauldron was offered to all passersby, and teams of queues had been created, including the "Gryffindor" line.
1.8 million copies were put in place throughout France in anticipation of the 250,000 books sold this summer in its original version.
A few steps away, rue Bayard, the "Magicobus" more real than life welcomed fans of all ages. Made available free of charge by Editions Gallimard, in partnership with RTL, the bus offered a game of 7 enigmas followed by a draw whose name will be published on the site.
The average age of the fans on site yesterday ranged from 15 to 35 years old but all were of the same opinion, the end ofHarry Potter saddens them to the point that some are trying to be positive. Like Elodie, 22: "All the best things have an end ... I will not read it tonight, I'll take my time to enjoy it."
But among the fans, especially the younger ones, there are a number of skeptics even under disguise. Charline, 16, says that "The first ones were very nice but the last volumes are too dismal, too dark ..." Thesis supported by the girlfriends who are also disappointed by the films considered "too modified".
As for the thirties and fans, it is indeed the blow of depression. Myriam, 36: "It's very sad that it's over, Harry was a little part of the family."
The Rock Group Harry Potter, 15 to 22 years old: "It's the beginning of a very long mourning, we grew up with Harry, when we started to read it, we had the age of the hero, so we inevitably ended up him: when he was painful, we were painful ... It's going to be very hard without him. "
The majority of fans on site had already read the English version and for some, had even ordered the book for the next day. The site of the publisher of the saga Harry Potter in France, Gallimard (www.gallimard.fr), was inaccessible.
