When Renee Waclaw, store manager for the Barnes and Noble bookstore in Apple Valley, invited me to be one of the readers at her “Deathly Hallows” publication event, it came totally out of the blue. But “as a nationally renowned MN author” (her words), how could I say No? Of course, I didn’t tell her that I had never read any of the Harry Potter books nor had I seen all of the movies that the books inspired. Such honesty would not have been gentlemanly in light of her gracious offer. Nor would it make good business sense to decline the publicity.

To get in the proper spirit of the evening I needed to do two things: devise a costume and come up with a suitable passage from one of the Potter books. The latter was easy. After consulting my two adult sons, avid H. P. readers both, I decided upon the second in the series, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, because both boys felt it contained the most mystery elements of any of Rowlings’ books.  Devising up with a costume proved harder; I have few resources and no sewing skills. But as I started reading my selected text, I developed an affinity for the flamboyant and ersatz wizard, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart. With Lockhart as my purple-robed inspiration, it became suddenly easy to find the proper accoutrements for the event.  I plundered my old wardrobe for a purple shirt and gold tie; my wife came up with the idea of using my oldest son’s high school graduation gown for my robe (we keep such things), and a trip out to Northwestern Costume produced a gloriously spangled wizard’s hat.

Properly attired and suitably prepared (I finished reading the book the afternoon of the event), my wife and I drove out to Apple Valley consumed by our respective apprehensions. She would have to handle my Canon 710 Supershot which she had never operated before to produce the photos that highlight this narrative. I would have to face dozens of anxious and bored pre-teens who had been waiting hours for the chance to purchase the last in the Potter series. Was I up to the task of holding their attention for even a half hour? Other questions plagued me too: How well had my author colleagues performed? Was I the only author who had accepted Ms. Waclaw’s invitation? Was I suitably dressed or too outlandishly attired for such an occasion?

I was scheduled to read at nine p.m. At five minutes before the hour, Ms. Waclaw informed me that they were running late and I needed to wait at least half an hour before my reading would begin. My wife scoured the book store for the copies of my books that had been promised as part of the inducement to perform.  I sulked meanwhile in the corner of the coffee shop nursing my decaffeinated latte. Forty-five minutes later Ms. Waclaw’s assistant beckoned, and, after a quick wiring for sound, I sat down in an easy chair before approximately three dozen children, teenagers, and supportive adults.

After a brief introduction where I provided a some information about myself and the reasons behind my choice for the evening, I started reading from chapter 12 where Harry and Ron drink a magic potion that disquises them as Eric Malfoy’s henchmen to enable them to learn more about who has been attacking students in the hallways of Hogwarts castle and the identity of the Slytherin heir. Those of you who have read the book or seen the movie know that detective work often can have unexpected outcomes and consequences, results put to telling and hilarious effect by Rowling in this passage.

Once I got over my apprehension and slowed the pace of my reading, the children in the audience seemed to get into it. The applause I received at the end along with the repeated expressions of gratitude from the store manager made the occasion a satisfying one for me. Perhaps it was the conviction with which I read the text or the fact that I was the only reader who appeared in costume or that my contribution finally had ended, but the proceedings proved enjoyable for everyone who attended. I think J.K. Rowling would have been pleased.