On Friday the 15th, Potterheads across the world thronged theatres to catch their favourite boy wizard one last time in Deathly Hallows Part 2. Metro visited two of the city’s most popular multiplexes to get a taste of Muggle magic.

Where: Fame (South City)

When: 9.45am

What we saw: The Fame audi screening Harry Potter was filled to its 213-capacity. Parents, kids, students, couples, grandparents… the South City cinema was chock-a-block with Pottermaniacs. The audience laughed collectively, cheered in collusion and let out whistles and catcalls — when a starry network of charms hit the protective charms around Hogwarts, when Neville Longbottom crawled onto a crumbling bridge and when the Ron- Hermione kiss, minutes before the interval, lingered. But the biggest cheers remained for Harry.

What we heard: Nostalgia reigned supreme. “From whatever I have seen till now, it seems like this is the best ending that a Potter fan could have hoped for,” smiled IT professional Sohini, who had bunked office for the day. Salankara and Rohini, both students of Class XII in GD Birla Centre for Education were there to catch first-day, first-show Potter action. “It was something to look forward to every year,” sighed Salankara.

Plex speak: “Every Potter show through the weekend is booked fully. Besides individual footfalls, we have sizeable bulk bookings from schools and corporate houses,” said a spokesperson.

Where: INOX (Forum)

When: 2.30pm

What we saw: The Elgin Road plex was brimming with Potter fans — children (some in school uniform), mothers, college students and young professionals.... “I haven’t read the books, but my 12-year-old daughter has ensured that I have watched every film. And I have now developed a taste for it and want to see how it ends,” smiled banking professional Adhiraj Sethia. The audience response here was far more measured than at Fame. There were titters when Professor McGonagall sent the stone knights in motion with an uncommon spell, and applause when Neville killed Naagini, Voldemort’s pet snake.

What we heard: The Potter army going gaga. “The visual effects are so fantastic.... They almost made me feel sorry when Snape died,” said Kasturi Roy Bardhan, 19.

Plex speak: “Since this is the last film in the franchise, the craze is unprecedented. The fact that it is in 3-D has heightened audience interest. Not only are we booked through the weekend, we also have a number of bulk bookings by schools next week, ” said Subhasis Ganguli, regional director (east), INOX.