The boy who lived has come to die.
Tonight, ending the 10-year-old movie series, Harry Potter makes his last appearance on the big screen in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2."
Although this sad ending to a magical era has come, Potter fans are still psyched for the movie premiere, rummaging through their closets to find all their Potter attire and memorabilia. From wands to cloaks, UF students are making their Harry Potter loyalty known.
When purchasing tickets a month in advance, Judy Tran, 20, was hit with the harsh realization that even a 30-day head start only got her tickets to the 3-D showing.
"We wanted regular tickets," Tran said, "but they were already sold out, even though we thought we were way ahead of the game."
Not having an actual cloak, she plans to wear a black Snuggie backwards along with her wand from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park and a popular Deathly Hallows necklace.
Some didn't waste their time grabbing tickets to a Gainesville showing. Ashley Florestal, 19, who read the first novel in 1997, flew all the way to New York City for the red-carpet premiere. Her father surprised her with tickets to the Monday showing.
"I've been camping out since Saturday night," Florestal said Sunday. "But I've met people who have been here since Wednesday."
Waiting on the streets of New York City, she was surprised by a pizza delivery from Tom Felton. Daniel Radcliffe also surprised the crowd by showing up for an autograph signing.
"We looked eye-to-eye and it was magical," Florestal said.
Although Tran and Florestal were fortunate to grab tickets for early showings of the epic finale, others are going to have to make do with a later showing on Friday.
Members of the Inter-Residence Hall Association will have to wait until morning to witness the end of this era because of an executive retreat today. Ashley Richey and Courtney Read still plan to dress up all day to show their support. Although Read will don a Gryffindor robe, she says she is dedicated to Hufflepuff and proud of it.
Richey believes if her invitation to Hogwarts ever came, the Sorting Hat would place her in Ravenclaw. She carries a Time-Turner in her Harry Potter backpack, which she usually stores under the "Platform 9 3/4" sign in her room.
Jodine Castin is going to proudly wear her Muggle T-shirt to the movie Friday morning. Although she won't make it for the premiere, she is certain theaters will be packed.
"I feel sad, but really, all good things have to come to an end," Castin said.
