He’s back.

And Naperville was there to welcome him.

zaidi than a thousand mashabiki of the world’s inayopendelewa wizard gathered at Naperville’s AMC Showplace Theatre for the midnight premiere of “link” It is the first installment of a two-part film, based on the final book in the J.K. Rowling series.

Many in attendance had pre-purchased their tickets weeks zamani and started arriving at the south Naperville cinema as early as 6 p.m. Thursday. An saa before the scheduled release, mashabiki were seated in eight of the 16 theaters, and additional showings were scheduled for 3:15 a.m. Friday.

While striped scarves and scars were commonplace, many fans, like Krista Kellner, arrived in full costume.

“At the last midnight premiere, I was just a generic Harry Potter wizard,” alisema Kellner, 19. “But this time, it’s an ode to Dobby,” she said, dressed as the house elf. “I wanted to come as Dobby because he is a lesser- known character, but plays a really big role.”

Kellner was joined kwa her brother Tim, 21, and fellow Wheaton College students Cheyenne Denson, 18, and Bre McClurkin, 19. The group alisema they have read all the Harry Potter books, and attending the midnight release was a must-do.

“We bought our tickets in October,” alisema Denson. “We were really looking mbele to it.”

Laura Rudolph, 17, along with a group of Marafiki from Naperville Central High School, arrived at 9:30 p.m. for their journey back to Hogwarts. The girls opted for comfort over costumes, wearing pajamas to the late show.

“It’s just so much fun, you’re the first ones to see this movie, and wewe get to stay up late,” alisema Rudolph. “We will just have to survive on three hours of sleep.”

But not everyone in attendance was a die-hard fan.

Christin Tang, 16, admitted to joining her classmates for the release, even though she is not as Potter-crazed as they are.

“I am not really into Harry Potter, but I wanted to go with my friends,” alisema Tang. “But rumor has it the sinema are pretty good,” she laughed.

On the other hand, Plainfield North student Kelly Atkinson did her Harry Potter homework in the weeks leading up to the midnight release.

“I reread all the books, except the sixth one, because I couldn’t find it,” alisema Atkinson, 17. “I am looking mbele to seeing the movie.”

Theater-goers passed the time kwa playing cards and board games and rehashing moments from their inayopendelewa Potter vitabu and movies. Neuqua Valley High School student Ally Grevenites alisema the atmosphere at a Potter release is fun and friendly.

“I think the midnight onyesha is fun because everyone joins together,” alisema the 15-year-old. “Harry Potter is one thing everyone here has in common, and it makes wewe comfortable with all these people.”

Although the movie poster reads “It all ends here” — that’s not the case. mashabiki of the wizard series will have to wait for the final installment, link” set to be released in July.