Deathly Hallows Hits the Box Office

 Muggles—or non-magic folk—of all ages filled Cinema De Lux's lobby Thursday decked out in Harry Potter flare waiting to watch the city's midnight showings of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I."

"It was really fun to dress up," said Ben Rotter, who came dressed as Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore. "And I'm really really excited to see the movie." 

The wizarding world is on the verge of war, in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I." Harry Potter leaves Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to find and destroy Horcruxes, which in turn will destroy the nefarious dark wizard Lord Voldemort.

"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," is the final novel in the seven-book series written by J.K. Rowling. It's cut into two parts for its film adaptation.

Most of the fans have been attached to the Harry Potter series throughout their life, and were excited to see the conclusion to its films.

"I've been reading it since 3rd grade," said Lizzy Goldman, now a high school senior. "I've read them thousands of times since."

"My 11th birthday was so sad because I didn't get a letter from Hogwarts," said White Plains High School senior Lexi Sabol, a fan since first grade.

Harry Potter has become an obsession to many. Theaters are packed year after year for midnight showings of the movies. Harry Potter-mania has also inspired college campuses to start their own Quidditch teams.

"Not only that, but it's inspired its own genre of music, Wizard Rock," said Rachel Weiner, who was wearing a Harry and the Potters t-shirt. "Some of it's good, some is bad, but it's all about the world of Harry Potter."  

Although the films leave out certain details that were in the books, many of the fans didn't seem to mind at all.

"The movies are really well done," said Danielle Ciampanelly, who was in 8th grade when the first book came out. "Of course they leave stuff out, but they have to. The world in the books has too much detail."

While they all enjoy the movies, some said they only get the full Harry Potter experience by picking up a paperback. The second installment of the final film will premiere July 2011.

Many are already eagerly awaiting the next magical installment of the Harry Potter series.

"I'm more excited to see the second part, some of my favorite parts happen in the second half," said Sabol. "But I've loved all the films so far. I can recite them line for line."