Our reader “Missee” sent us

Our reader “Missee” sent us a report from the Scholastic HP birthday party, yesterday in New York City:

There were about 100 kids running around, all in wizards’ hats and robes and HP glasses. They even were wearing his red/yellow sweater and red robes (I’m assuming it’s the Quidditch outfit). The place was decked in Harry Potter gear down to the banner outside the building — I mean, you couldn’t look left or right without running into, say, Hermione on a pack of playing cards or something. And there was a tremendous card for all the kids to sign. I couldn’t even get near it!

There was a master of ceremonies, a plump little guy who reminded me strongly of Ludo Bagman. He was wearing silver/black robes and a black hat, and at the end of the hour it lasted, they drew raffles for a free Poster book. I looked at the Poster book, too, it’s nothing really new — except a picture of Harry and Hagrid in the train station (Harry piled high with his schoolthings and Hedwig), that Quidditch picture, and one next to it of the players walking out to the game (I assume); they were passing under a biiiiig Gryffindor banner and it was more than a little spooky.

The more I see of these previews, the most encouraged I am that it’s going to be so visually rich I’ll have to see it six or seven times to get it right. But no problem there!