HARRY Potter fans have been left bitterly disappointed after an annual tradition did not take place – despite being warned of its cancellation a month in advance.
Fans flocked to King’s Cross Station in London yesterday for the “Back to Hogwarts” event, where the famous Hogwarts Express train appears on its departure boards.
In the novels by J.K. Rowling, the train to the wizarding school departs from the fictional Platform 9 ¾ on 1 September at 11am every year.
In the real world, it has become a tradition for station staff to display it as a real service on the boards, complete with a loudspeaker announcement, with huge crowds gathering to watch the moment every year.
However, this year, the tradition was called off a month in advance with a statement on Wizarding World, the official Harry Potter fan site.
Despite this fact, footage shared to social media shows crowds gathered underneath the boards and on concourses above, with their phones out and ready to capture the moment.
They can be heard shouting a countdown to the moment.
Reaching zero at 11:00, a cheer goes up, swiftly followed by confused laughter as the boards remain unchanged.
Within seconds, loud booing echoes around the station as they express their disappointment.
Fans were warned as much as a month in advance, with another statement following last week.
It read: “Come 1st September, fans are strongly discouraged from attending Kings Cross Station this year, as there will be no event, departure board or countdown held at the station.
“Instead, we’ve recruited our resident Hufflepuff (and recently appointed King of the Jungle) Sam Thompson to be with you all in spirit once again in a specially recorded online programme made in celebration of Back to Hogwarts.
“Head to the official Harry Potter YouTube channel to watch along with us at 11am to see him in action.”
The clip was shared to social media yesterday with the caption: “Harry Potter fans were left disappointed after the annual tradition of the Kings Cross Hogwarts announcement didn’t happen today.”
It has since received over 2,900 likes and more than 160 comments from Brits sharing their thoughts on the situation.
One wrote: “Harry Potter and the grown adult who should have read another book by now.”
Another agreed: “Harry, the last movie was released in 2011, get a fricking life for goodness sakes.”
A third said: “Maybe if J.K. Rowling hadn’t ruined her legacy by being a vocal bigot.”
Another speculated: “They’re really trying to cancel J.K. Rowling.”
A fifth quipped: “Bunch of sad acts.”
Another commented: “It’s a letdown when a cherished tradition is missed, but the fact is people did receive a week’s notice beforehand.”
