The preparations have begun for another Harry Potter release extravaganza at the Community Bookstore. The team there is trying to top their last party two years ago. That will be a tough one to top. But it sounds like they’re taking this one to the moon. Here’s the news straight from the store’s owner, Catherine.

Greetings & Salutations, Everyone!

 

Just
so you know, the battle plans are progressing nicely.  It’s going to be
an ABSOLUTELY AMAZING party.  I, and my dimunutive (sp?) helpers,
started planning a couple of months ago, with the result that — not
what you might expect (that everything’s totally prepared way ahead of
time) — everything’s gotten exponentially more extensive and
over-the-top.

 

If you’ve been to the last
three parties, you’ll know that we’ve added something every time.  But
let me be the first to tell you, that this time we’ve gone seriously
NUTS.  The pre-party party of lining up should be utterly wonderful.
We have, not ONE, but TWO horses coming, and J.W.’s driving
to PA tomorrow to secure a motherload of sparklers and other
child-friendly pyrotechnics.  And that’s just the beginning.

 

And for AFTER midnight, well —
the store’s going to be incredible.  We’re adding a Dark Arts Center, a working Quidditch Pitch (well, our version — seriously crazy and fun — flying balls.  No really.) . . . and lots of other stuff.  But I mean lots of other stuff (battling wizards — REALLY!!!)  Well, I think it will all work.  As ever, it’s all home-made, so you’ll bear with us if some of it is a little bonkers?

 

ANYHOW
— the subtext reason for writing this is to say a couple of things:

Number One — I wanted to make sure you all know that because we have
so many reservations for the book, we’re sadly limiting attendance to
people who’re getting the book (with their attendant guests/handlers/
house elves).  It’s going to be a squeeze getting everyone in here, and
it just doesn’t seem fair for the people who are paying full whack for
the book not get first shot at enjoying it all.  I, of course, wish
everyone in the world could come, because it’s going to be the most
magical thing I can imagine . . . but there just isn’t room.  It’s
going to be a squeeze, as it is.

 

Secondly,
it’s looking like we could still use some extra help, so if anyone
wants to volunteer to be part of making all the magic, please call the
store and talk to me.  We can always use more people with performing
abilities to entertain the line, we could use a couple extra bodies to
set up inside, and there’s one or two things we could use help with,
after midnight, during the party inside (anyone want to dish up Potions
in Snape’s Dungeon?).

 

Finally, if anyone out
there knows (or are) journalists, we’d kind of love for the party to
get covered.  It should be amazing, and it seems a pity not to have it
reported.

 

Okay.  That’s it for now.  Thank you so much for your excitement and
enthusiasm.  It’s great to have such support and encouragement for the unleashing of our imaginations . . . .

 

See you then!

 

Much love,

Catherine.