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Community Corner

Photo Gallery: Harry Potter Fans Turn Out For Finale

Hundreds of Harry Potter fans flew into the Inver Grove Heights movie theater to be among the first to see the final chapter of the Harry Potter saga at a special midnight showing.

Dozens of Harry Potters and Hermione Grangers—and even a few Lord Voldemorts—stormed their way into the AMC Showplace movie theater late Thursday night for a midnight showing of the latest and last Harry Potter movie.

The midnight showing of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 was sold out early as nearly all of the theater's 16 screens showed the premiere. By 10:30 p.m., when the doors to the theaters opened, hundreds of Harry Potter fans, most of them teenagers, were thronging through the theater lobby.

Roughly half came dressed as their favorite Harry Potter characters. Students from Henry Sibley, Simley, Visitation, St. Thomas Academy, Hastings, Eagan, Minnehaha Academy and several St. Paul high schools were among the attendees.

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"We are die-hard fans," said Alexis Tri, who came dressed as Hogwarts students with several friends.

"This is our last chance," added Colleen Murphy. "It feels like our childhood."

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The theater put on a 3 a.m. screening to accommodate those who couldn't get into the sold out midnight show. The movie begins showing during regular hours today, with no less than 17 screenings scheduled for Friday.

The theater had extra staff and security to handle the crowds, but the Harry Potter fans were generally very well behaved as they waited for the shows to begin.

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