Crowds on platform 9 3/4: Numerous disguised fans of the wizard Harry Potter symbolically celebrated the start of the new school year in London’s King’s Cross station. Robed and wands in hand, the crowd counted down the time until the start of the “Hogwarts Express” featured in the books by J.K. Rowling drives the students around Harry Potter and his friends Hermione and Ron to Hogwarts Magic School every September 1st.
According to the British news agency PA, thousands took part in the traditional “Back to Hogwarts” event. Ten-year-old Arnav Partukar from Chelmsford, who was voted the biggest Harry Potter fan in a competition, and TV presenter Sam Thompson counted down the live countdown to the virtual departure.
31-year-old Thompson is also a big Potter fan. His cats are named Albus – after Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore – and Cedric, after Harry’s classmate Cedric Diggory, who is murdered in the fourth volume on Lord Voldemort’s orders. When the platform 9 3/4 departure was posted on the real departures board, cheers erupted, PA reported.
