Don’t worry — this post contains no spoilers.
Last night, my friend Cailin and I found a way to successfully enjoy the fun of being with the crazy Harry Potter fans at Borders and still get copies of the book by 12:15 AM. First, we headed over to the flagship Borders a few blocks from my house to observe the madness which included a “Great Snape Debate” (will he be good or evil?) and a costume contest, which really should have been won by the so-realistic-he’s-actually-frightening Voldemort. While he was willing to pose for pictures with anyone and everyone, ask him a simple question and he stayed remarkably in character, yelling and shouting and even causing a little kid to burst into tears. However, I think because the crowd so “hated” him, someone else wound up winning the contest.
But I don’t actually know that for sure… Cailin and I left at about 11:30, just before they crowned the winner. Because you see, we were heading across town to another location that was selling the book at midnight, but not advertising it — Kroger’s grocery store. Upon arrival at Border’s at 9:30, we were informed that all of their copies were pre-sold and there would be no more for “late” comers. (Three hours early is late?!?!) At Kroger’s, where we arrived at almost exactly midnight, there was only a short line of people, all waiting to buy the same book. Unlike Jeff’s experience, no one flipped through to the end to announce spoilers as there was barely enough time before you got to the self check-out.
And so, with the madness still going on on State Street, I was home by 12:30, safely in bed reading all about how Voldemort wins and everybody else dies. I mean, uh… nevermind. I promised no spoilers.