Author, feminist and queen of the internet, JK Rowling turned 51 on 31 July. She shares her birthday with the world's favourite, bespectacled wizard, who turned 36.
While Potterheads world over celebrate the day with pomp every year, this year is special as it marks the launch of the much-awaited Harry Potter and the Cursed Child book.
The book, touted to be the eighth installment of the cult franchise, is the script of the play which premiered as a two-part play in London this week.
Fans lined up outside bookstores for hours to grab their copy of the new book, while others took to social media to whine about the lack of availability. Here's a look at some of the tweets from Potterheads around the world:
The eighth story. Nineteen years later. #HarryPotterAndTheCursedChild pic.twitter.com/kgmBJQ57D6
— Kenneth William (@kwnherrera) July 31, 2016
Thank you @walmart for doing what @amazon couldn't do #HarryPotterAndTheCursedChild pic.twitter.com/E3sjlLlxUD
— carligrigsby (@chronicroses) July 31, 2016
This is #DolmenMall karachi at 9:30 am
— عادل (@aurAdil) July 31, 2016
All gathered for Harry Potter Cursed Child launch pic.twitter.com/oIqYbLjNeZ
Grabbed the last copy of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Eslite Bookstore in Taipei and got a free owl plush with my purchase!
— P Doan (@paypaulhd) July 31, 2016
@jk_rowling at the bookstore waiting for Cursed Child pic.twitter.com/vy6uSBzz3s
— nataly (@nataalymariisol) July 31, 2016
OMFG THE BOOKSTORE CALLED AND THE CURSED CHILD IS READY FOR PICK UP!!! pic.twitter.com/eQBtyXTCiD
— Caron (@d_m_thoughts) July 31, 2016
At friend Amy's #CursedChild party before going to midnight bookstore. Snitch cake/butter beer & floating candles pic.twitter.com/c6l9dwQPK4
— Mary Franklin (@MaryPOPCon) July 31, 2016
As bookstores around the world prepared to deal with maddening crowds, Rowling celebrated her birthday with a cake in the shape of King's Cross station.
I got a cake in the shape of King's Cross at midnight 😊 pic.twitter.com/46KR0T5vN1
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) July 31, 2016
Meanwhile, wishes poured in on Twitter for Rowling, Harry and Neville Longbottom.
Happy birthday, @jk_rowling & Harry Potter! My life wouldn't be the same w/o an author & her young boy with the messy hair, glasses, &scar⚡️
— Sarah Bennett (@srbennett394) July 31, 2016
Happy birthday queen J. K. My life revolved around Harry Potter and it still does. Nothing would ever change that ❤️ https://t.co/ZlCke9xWPb
— Patty General (@patetoes) July 31, 2016
Happy Birthday @jk_rowling #HarryPotter and #NevilleLongbottom ❤️ Magical at any age....
— Susan (@ScoobyySue) July 31, 2016
Happy Birthday to our Queen @jk_rowling, and to Harry Potter. (Thank you for the 8th story!) xx. pic.twitter.com/uMGUecNviq
— Cherry Wallis (@CherryWallis) July 31, 2016
happy birthday to my boy harry potter i can't believe we've grown up together but he's 36
— maya (@DameLannister) July 31, 2016
Others joined in in the Pottermania, with Snapchat unveiling a new filter for the occasion.
THERE'S FINALLY AN HARRY POTTER SNAP FILTER YASSSS pic.twitter.com/oJEIIt7TgY
— Gloria ➰ (@PommefreshLight) July 31, 2016
The enticing journey of Potter began in the summer of 1997 when the story of a little wizard touched millions. Harry's journey along with his two best friends, Ron and Hermione, to kill the dark Lord Voldemort (Sshhh, he who-must-not-be-named) was a journey embarked by millions on this planet.
While Pottermania has peaked again with the release of the eighth book, Rowling has announced that the Cursed Child is the last we'll see of Harry and the gang.
Speaking at the Palace Theatre at the official launch of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, she said: "The Boy Who Lived goes on a very big journey during these two plays and then, yeah, I think we're done."
While this news is bound to reduce Potterheads into a puddle of incomprehensible emotion, we can all take solace in the fact that no matter where we go, "Hogwarts will always be there to welcome us home".
--Edited by Blassy Boben