Fans line up to buy latest Harry Potter book

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Harry Potter fans may be a bit groggy today. Many were up at midnight to buy a copy of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child."

It's the script, in book form, of the play that just premiered in London.

There was a midnight opening at Hooray for Books in Alexandria, Virginia. Employee Patrick Hunter says about 150 people, many dressed up as their favorite Potter character, counted down like it was New Year's Eve waiting to get the book. He says within about 20 minutes, they were sold out.

Katie Allen from Chester, Virginia waited in vain to get a copy. She hopes this is as good as the other Potter books.

Hunter says he didn't expect as big a buildup for "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" as there was for the last one, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows." The play and the book pick up the story 19 years after "The Deathly Hallows."

Author J.K. Rowling (ROHL'-ing) says she is hoping to bring "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" to Broadway and beyond.

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138-a-15-(Patrick Hunter, employee at Hooray For Books, in AP interview)-"of the store"-Patrick Hunter says about 150 people, dressed in various Harry Potter costumes, were at his store at midnight to buy "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child." (31 Jul 2016)

<<CUT *138 (07/31/16)££ 00:15 "of the store"

139-a-12-(Patrick Hunter, employee at Hooray For Books, in AP interview)-"people were excited"-Patrick Hunter says "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" didn't have the same buzz as earlier Potter books. (31 Jul 2016)

<<CUT *139 (07/31/16)££ 00:12 "people were excited"

140-a-07-(Katie Allen, Harry Potter reader, waiting to get the new book, in AP interview)-"to come out"-Katie Allen says she has high expectations for "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child." (31 Jul 2016)

<<CUT *140 (07/31/16)££ 00:07 "to come out"

141-a-11-(Katie Allen, Harry Potter reader, waiting to get the new book, in AP interview)-"all those expectations"-Katie Allen says the pressure is on J.K. Rowling with "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child." (31 Jul 2016)

<<CUT *141 (07/31/16)££ 00:11 "all those expectations"

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