![Harry Potter Fans Gather for Midnight Opening at the Uptown Theatre](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_JHY_9801.jpg)
Outside The Uptown Theater in Cleveland Park around 9 PM on the night of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in 3D Photograph by Joshua Yospyn
![Harry Potter Fans Gather for Midnight Opening at the Uptown Theatre](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_JHY_9806.jpg)
Foggy Bottom resident Jeremy Fogelman was born in the same year as Harry Potter in 1980 Photograph by Joshua Yospyn
![Harry Potter Fans Gather for Midnight Opening at the Uptown Theatre](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_JHY_9812.jpg)
(From left to right) Mary Otoo, Jane Lindahl, and Araba Koomson outside the Uptown Theatre just after 9 PM Photograph by Joshua Yospyn
![Harry Potter Fans Gather for Midnight Opening at the Uptown Theatre](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_JHY_9826.jpg)
Kensington resident Lizzie Cooke enjoys a lollipop and sits with Kevin Riklin from Bethesda Photograph by Joshua Yospyn
![Harry Potter Fans Gather for Midnight Opening at the Uptown Theatre](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_JHY_9830.jpg)
Potomac resident Afriti Bankwalla (left) and Julia Smith from Chevy Chase, both 14 years old, arrived at the Uptown Theatre just before 3 PM Thursday afternoon Photograph by Joshua Yospyn
![Harry Potter Fans Gather for Midnight Opening at the Uptown Theatre](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_JHY_9832.jpg)
Emma Cameron, Tracy Koczela, and Balbine Jourdan were part of a group that was first in line for the midnight showing. They arrived at the Uptown Theater 1 PM on Wednesday afternoon, trading shifts and surviving a thunderstorm Photograph by Joshua Yospyn
![Harry Potter Fans Gather for Midnight Opening at the Uptown Theatre](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_JHY_9835.jpg)
The girls protected their seats in the Uptown Theatre balcony with a homemade poster Photograph by Joshua Yospyn
![Harry Potter Fans Gather for Midnight Opening at the Uptown Theatre](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_JHY_9838.jpg)
Fairfax resident Diego Molleda catches a nap while Christine Hurst from Arlington listens to music. The pair arrived to the Uptown around 5:30, about an hour before they started letting people into the theater Photograph by Joshua Yospyn
![Harry Potter Fans Gather for Midnight Opening at the Uptown Theatre](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_JHY_9841.jpg)
Ally Mutnick wears a hat depicting “Fluffy,” a giant three-headed dog from the Harry Potter series Photograph by Joshua Yospyn
![Harry Potter Fans Gather for Midnight Opening at the Uptown Theatre](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_JHY_9843.jpg)
Lauren Parks hides for a nap while her roommate, Andrea Lemieux, reads to kill time before the midnight showing. They’re sitting next to the Colella’s seats Photograph by Joshua Yospyn
![Harry Potter Fans Gather for Midnight Opening at the Uptown Theatre](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_JHY_9844.jpg)
Baltimore resident Robinson Gold is recovering from surgery Photograph by Joshua Yospyn
![Harry Potter Fans Gather for Midnight Opening at the Uptown Theatre](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_JHY_9849.jpg)
A stray mask Photograph by Joshua Yospyn
![Harry Potter Fans Gather for Midnight Opening at the Uptown Theatre](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_JHY_9856.jpg)
Hillary Meeker acquired her magic wand from a street vendor while waiting in line for last year’s Harry Potter premiere at the Uptown Photograph by Joshua Yospyn
![Harry Potter Fans Gather for Midnight Opening at the Uptown Theatre](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_JHY_9859.jpg)
Kensington residents Mike and Sue Colella have been to the opening of every Harry Potter movie shown at the Uptown theater, arriving today at 4 PM for the midnight showing. They made their costumes ten years ago for an Oscar Party Photograph by Joshua Yospyn
![Harry Potter Fans Gather for Midnight Opening](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_JHY_9864.jpg)
At slightly past 10 PM, Erika Tidwell from Silver Spring lounges outside on the sidewalk with friends. Photograph by Joshua Yospyn
![Harry Potter Fans Gather for Midnight Opening](https://www.washingtonian.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/standard_JHY_9870.jpg)
Zora Chalkley came all the way from Western Maryland to be with friends and catch the midnight showing. Photograph by Joshua Yospyn
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A view from the Uptown Theatre balcony. Patrons, some of whom were waiting outside since 1 PM on Wednesday, were allowed in at 6:30 PM on Thursday. Which left over five hours for people to lounge around, play cards, and protect their seats. Photograph by Joshua Yospyn