The Society of the Middle Temple is one of those large sprawling places that under even normal circumstances would be believable as a Hogwartsian landscape. The internal ceilings are vaulted, the stained glass incredibly intricate, the walls paneled with rich wood and everything else distinguished and proper.

It (the Knight Bus) circled around the square a few times to the loud and dramatic swells of the Prisoner of Azkaban soundtrack. Dan, Emma and Rupert waved from the back-end pole, and finally de-bused to greet the press.

I was not stationed with the general press, but did manage to pull David Heyman aside for a short word about Michael Goldenberg and his upcoming adaptation of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. (Transcript tomorrow.) I also heard (but am not sure if I caught it on tape) Alfonso Cuaron telling reporters that he advised Mike Newell that the best thing he can do on a Potter filim is to be sure to pace himself.

The main room had been transformed into a Great Hall on one end, chocolate ran in torrents at the most frequented spot of the night, what I liked to call the Fondue Fountain. Dishes of marshmallows and strawberries disappeared at lightning speed as attendees grouped around, spearing and dipping them into the seemingly endless stream of confection.

Happy plump witches and wizards handed out bags full of ice mice, fizzy lollies, jelly snakes and skeletons, marshmallow shrunken heads, and chocolate coins.

Jamie Waylett (Vincent Crabbe) snuck up behind me while I stared at it and asked what my biggest fear was; though I hadn't a clue, I did half-expect it to come bursting out of the door and lunge at me.

Party crew gave out cozy Gryffindor scarves and blinking neon wands.

Off in a shadowy corner a fortune teller turned Tarot cards for attendees' amusements. Computers also featured the Prisoner of Azkaban game, where it seems you can play as any of the trio and Hermione has oddly blonde hair.

He told Matthew Lewis that the shape of his "M"s means he should continue to be an actor (only he used lines and squiggles and some sort of upward-slanting proof to come to this conclusion) and that he'd be awaiting his Oscar win. Chris Rankin has cusp Ravenclaw-Gryffindor handwriting. After a tussle between Gryffindor and Ravenclaw, he declared me a clever eagle (much to my delight, because Matthew Lewis had declared in his new Oscar-winning confidence that my handwriting said I was, for sure, a Slytherin. I was very happy to give him the eagle-eye).