It's been three years, four months and 29 days since we were first properly introduced to "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the finale of the series of a boy wizard and his friends.
How many read both day and night to reach the ending? How many tuned out all media just so they could read the ending on their own terms.
Or maybe you didn't.
But either way, it may have been a while since the copy bought at the midnight book-selling party has been cracked open.
Locally, tickets for the 72 midnight showings at the Megaplex Theatres were sold out, including three for 3-D viewing, and 3 a.m. shows were added at several theaters, said Jeff Whipple, marketing manager for the theater chain.
And for those who didn't get a ticket to a midnight showing and will be seeing the film in coming days, here is a primer to help refresh your memory about the wizarding world of created by J.K. Rowling.
The second part of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" is scheduled to be released in July 2011.
And as fair warning, if you haven't been following the series (or if you're planning to watch the sixth movie soon), there are a few spoilers in here.
Key characters:
Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe): His lightning bolt-shaped scar identifies him as "The Boy Who Lived." He survived an attack by the Dark Lord Voldemort as a baby, but it left him an orphan. He grew up with his aunt, uncle and cousin before learning he is a wizard. He may be the only person who can stop Voldemort as the dark wizard has been slowly gaining strength and power.
Harry finds sanctuary and friends at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, including Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley.
Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint): Harry's red-headed friend comes from a very large family, and Harry goes to stay with them periodically during school breaks. Ron has become more confident in the past couple of installments of the series. He and Hermione Granger have feelings for each other but are awkwardly figuring out their relationship.
Hermione Granger (Emma Watson): Harry's friend and an intelligent witch from a Muggle (non-wizarding) family. She's helped the trio get out of many tight spots during their adventures. She has come to view Ron as more than just a friend.
Professor Albus Dumbledore (played by Richard Harris in the first two movies; Michael Gambon since): Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft (the school Harry and friends attend) who has been working to defeat Lord Voldemort. He is killed at the end of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," just as he and Harry were working out clues to defeat Voldemort. He is said to be the only wizard powerful enough to defeat the dark lord. He always believed Harry and left him and his friends tasks to work out as they sought to defeat Voldemort.
Order of the Phoenix: A group of wizards and witches formed to combat Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters. They include the Weasleys (Mark Williams and Julie Walters), Harry's godfather, Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), Remus Lupin, Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody (Brendan Gleeson), Nymphadora Tonks (Natalia Tena), Kingsley Shacklebolt (George Harris) and several other wizards and witches, including some of the teachers at Hogwarts.
Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes, among others): Tom Riddle is an orphaned wizard who takes to the dark arts in an attempt to become the immortally powerful. He changes his name, and his first reign of terror ends when he tries to kill Harry Potter (The spell was reversed, leaving the lightning bolt shaped scar on Harry's forehead.) Most don't use his name, but call him "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" or "You-Know-Who." He is reborn in the fourth book, and at the end of the sixth book, we learn that he has apparently torn his soul into several pieces and hidden them in various objects as part of his plan to be immortal.
Death Eaters: Voldemort's gang of wizards and witches committed to following him and practice dark magic. They include the Malfoys (Jason Isaacs, Helen McCrory and Tom Felton), Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham Carter) and Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall) aka Wormtail — named so because he can turn into a rat — among others. Each has a mark on their forearm that works to communicate among each other.
Severus Snape (Alan Rickman): The longtime potions master at Hogwarts becomes the headmaster in "Deathly Hallows." He's never liked Harry, in part due to Harry's father. But Snape did like Harry's mother, Lily. Dumbledore trusted Snape as a member of the Order of the Phoenix, but he has a Death Eater mark. It's been difficult to see where his loyalties lie.
The story:
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (2001): During their first year at Hogwarts, Harry, Hermione and Ron become friends after a they defeat a troll. They then find one of their teachers is trying to bring Voldemort back to life.
"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" (2002): The trio return for their second year at Hogwarts, but the school is almost closed because of the hidden Chamber of Secrets. The friends find the diary of Hogwarts student Tom Riddle, who later becomes Lord Voldemort, and they discover more about the past of half-giant Hagrid, who is now the school's groundskeeper, and friend to Harry.
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (2004): In his third year at school, Harry believes he is in danger when Sirius Black (Gary Oldman), an accused murderer, escapes from the wizard prison Azkaban. Harry and Hermione learn more about the dangers of time travel.
"Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" (2005): Harry gets an invite from the Weasleys to the attend the Quidditch World Cup before heading back to his fourth year of school. Once back at school, he is mysteriously chosen to compete in the Tri-Wizard Tournament, which includes competitors from other magical schools. After facing dragons, merpeople and magical mazes, Harry narrowly escapes an attack by the reborn Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
"Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" (2007):As Voldemort gains power and has allies hidden at Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic, Harry, Hermione and Ron recruit and train an army to help combat the dark lord. It's also in this fifth year that Harry experiences his first kiss, but also the death of a loved one in a battle with the Death Eaters.
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" (2009):In his sixth year, Harry receives one-on-one lessons from Professor Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) as they slowly put memories of Voldemort's past together and work to find a way to defeat Voldemort and his quest for immortality. Students and Order members also help defend Hogwarts from an attack by the Death Eaters.
e-mail: rappleye@desnews.com