The Boy Who Lived turns 36! Rowling rings in 51st birthday with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

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
All gathered for Harry Potter Cursed Child launch pic.twitter.com/oIqYbLjNeZ

— عادل (@aurAdil) July 31, 2016

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