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Published on July 22, 2007

Some had been waiting since late Friday night. The latest JK Rowling, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows", had readers either sad or in a state of excitement. All have been waiting for the release. The front of the Emporium department store was turned into Diagon Alley, with the Potter theme music and whistle of the Hogwarts Express.

A big-eyed owl was borrowed from an aviary for the event. There was an international mix of fans from the United Kingdom, the US, Japan, India and Germany, all decked out in cloaks and pointed hats.

Asia Books named Yenty Tengkanokkul, 29, an Indonesian working in a jewellery company in Thailand, the winner. He arrived at the store on Friday at 5pm. Sanpipat Huangsawat, 20, a Thammasat University student came second. Both were among the first to get their hands on the new Potter book. Yenty was overjoyed to get his copy but sad, too, that the saga had come to an end. Coupled with that were rumours a lot of muggles and wizards would die, but Sanpipat is shutting his ears. "There's been rumours of deaths, but I won't believe it until I read the book," he said.

Tara O'Rourke, 17, a Thai-American girl and a dead ringer for Hermione, said she had never been a big reader until her mother bought her Harry Potter. She related instantly. "I'm happy that I'll finally get to read it, but also sad; but all good things come to an end," Tara said.

Many readers in Thailand on holiday did not miss out, either.

Charlotte Sarrdo, 16, of Germany, is on holiday with her father for three days but had to get the book right away. Adult reader Scott came from Washington DC. "It's fun. It's exciting to see how popular Harry Potter is in Thailand, too," he said.

At Central World Plaza, B2S bookshop held its own launch competition. Bongkodkorn Rodanan, 43, showed up at 10pm on Friday, the first to do so.

She received a gold token worth Bt40,000. She hopes good will triumph over evil. Nanmee Publishing was the gathering point for many. They could not wait to get home to open the book and filled all seats between Siam World and Siam Paragon.

Lisnaree Vichitsorasatra,

Kornchanok Raksaseri,

Emily Norris

The Nation