'Hogwarts Express' special in store for NI Guides

As Harry Potter mania reaches fever pitch for this Saturday's launch of Book five, Northern Ireland has its own band of Hogwart hopefuls who are planning their own magical event for the books launch.

On Friday night Brownies and Guides from across the province will gather in Eason’s stores with sleeping bags in eagerness for Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix.

While the stores will not be open to the public, hundreds of Brownies and Guides will settle in with books, videos, games and crafts to await the witching hour.

The story began last year when two Guides were trapped in a lift. The manager of the store, on Bangor’s Main Street, had been impressed with the common sense and lack of panic shown by the young teenagers.

In return the girls soon told their Guider how nice the staff had been, who subsequently approached the store’s Manager with a suggestion for a very special night he was happy to get involved in.

The story spread and soon Girlguiding and Eason’s head office had teamed up with plans for an event that will be the envy of every Harry, Ron and Hermione fan up and down the country.

As a result of this spellbinding encounter, at exactly 1 minute past midnight on Saturday, with a countdown of course, the first Harry Potter books sold in Northern Ireland will go to members of the Guide Association. Around 200 girls will gather in Belfast’s Royal Avenue store with another 100 spending the evening in Bangor’s Main Street Store. Other stores around the province have also teamed up with local units.

So grab your Nimbus 2000, or hop onto the nearest Knight Bus to catch this Saturday's goings on, as well as your own copy of JK Rowling's latest mystical page turner.

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