The story of Harry Potter has fueled the dreams of a generation, and the local Potter faithful gathered Tuesday night for a midnight showing of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."
It is more than just a movie premiere to some, such as the Meade, Wilkins and Kemfer-Gafford families. They arrived more than three hours early, bringing a meal with them to wait for the best seats.
One family child has moved to California to work for NASA, and those in Christiansburg's Regal Cinema planned on using their three-hour time advantage to torment her as she anxiously awaited the sixth film's premiere.
They said the families had seen all five of the previous Harry Potter movies together. Now, the younger children were getting involved, finishing the sixth book just in time to see the movie.
Virginia Tech students were involved as well.
Post-doctorate student Amy Creekmore came in costume, dressed in a green witch's outfit.
Many moviegoers seized the opportunity to dress in the theme of the world of Hogwarts.
"It's a good excuse to wear capes in public," said Blacksburg High School student Jake Boyer.
Others felt a more personal connection. One Radford High School student, after seeing the movie, said he felt ashamed he had dressed as villain Draco Malfoy.
Joey White, a junior horticulture major, came with his two friends. They arrived at 10 p.m. and spent their time "people watching."
He's seen the first five movies at least five or six times, and calls the series "intriguing."
"It's fun to get away from reality," he said.
The first to get in line were Mandy Dean and Amy Akers, rising freshmen at the New River Community College. Starting at 8 p.m. they sat on the floor, doodling, drinking energy drinks, and re-reading the sixth book.
"I think they've done an excellent job with the movies," Dean said, although Akers added, "The books are way better - J.K Rowling is such an amazing author."
Christiansburg High School student Ellen Clarke felt the movie was true to the book, with one exception.
"From what I remember, it was pretty similar," Clarke said. "I don't think they left much out that was important, other than the funeral scene."
The midnight showing put "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" at the top of all midnight showings in history. It earned a total of $22.2 million, beating "The Dark Knight" by almost $4 million.