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 Since "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's
Stone" came out in 1997, with a first print run of just 500
copies, the series of seven novels has sold 450 million copies
worldwide in 79 languages and spawned a blockbuster movie
franchise.
The book appeared in the United States a year later as "Harry
Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone".
On Monday, some fans took the day off work to celebrate the
anniversary, heading to significant locations such as King's
Cross train station in London, which in the stories is one of
the gateways into the world of witches and wizards.
The real-life station features a mock-up of Platform 9-3/4, the
departure point for trains to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and
Wizardry. The mock-up is a bustling spot where tourists and fans
queue to pose for photos wearing Potter-themed scarves or
costumes.
"Harry Potter I think still means so much to so many people even
though it's 20 years now," said Clara Carson, whose job at the
nearby souvenir shop involves taking photos of the fans and
holding up the scarves to achieve a windswept effect.
"I'm a fan myself so it's really nice to come in and be with
people that are all into the same things that you're into," she
said. "Whether they're kids or my age or even adults, they're
always just so excited."
Childhood friends Charlotte Keyworth and Joanne Wylie, both 26,
had come down to London from northern and eastern England for
the occasion.
They were part of the first generation of Potter fans, having
read the first volume as young girls and then endured the
agonizing wait for each new episode as they were published over
a period of 10 years.
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"We've grown up with it, with Harry Potter," said Keyworth, who was
sporting a Hogwarts t-shirt. "We're planning on going to the studio
tour this afternoon and celebrating in our own little way," she
said, referring to the studios where the Potter movies were shot.
Wylie, who has a permanent tattoo on her forearm of the Deathly
Hallows symbol, an important element in the story, said the Potter
stories still bring her joy and comfort.
"It was always something that just sort of boosted your spirits and
made you realize you could get past the dark points," she said.
Her sentiments were widely echoed on social media, with legions of
fans posting their favorite quotes or video clips, or just thanking
Rowling for the happy memories.
"After all these years... Always!" wrote Twitter user Anu -- a
reference to a moving moment in the story when it is revealed that
Harry's nemesis Severus Snape had always loved Harry's dead mother
Lily.
Rowling, who has 10.8 million followers on Twitter, also took to the
medium to mark the anniversary.
"20 years ago today a world that I had lived in alone was suddenly
open to others. It's been wonderful. Thank you," she wrote.
(Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
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