I went and saw HP5 at the theater on Friday night and it was terrific. My friends and I also purposefully saw the late show so that we could walk out at 20 til midnight and "happen upon" the HP7 line at the Barnes & Noble (which is right next door to the theater).

We were all anxious to see lots of grown ups in capes and round glasses with wands but we only saw 2 teenagers who had really dressed for the occasion. I was also hoping to see a few small, adorable children in costume but we saw 0. That was disappointing. (My brother informed me the next day that the newspaper reported that all the costumed enthusists were at the local indie JosephBeth and a children's bookstore called The Blue Manatee, not the B&N. Shoulda known.)

Anyway, I was thinking during this great broom-flying-past-Parliament scene that whether one hates the HP hype or relishes it, I have to hand it to J.K.: She did it. She created a "C" Character. Harry's up there with Huck Finn and Jay Gatsby and Jo March and Scout Finch and Peter Pan and Oliver Twist—no one will ever forget his name. What an achievement. And that's something for us all to aspire to.