The Irish "cub reporter" who got to go to the weekend's massive Harry Potter party in Edinburgh described the event as "just fantastic" and "overwhelming".
Catherine Quinn (13), from Warrenpoint, Co Down, won a competition in The Irish Times. Her prize - to be one of 70 young reporters from Britain and Ireland to be in Edinburgh for publication of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince at midnight on Friday.
As well as meeting millionaire author JK Rowling and getting a signed copy of the book, Catherine experienced Edinburgh's magical re-creation of the world of Harry Potter, in Edinburgh Castle.
"We went up to the castle at about 10pm in horse-drawn carriages, and the streets were absolutely packed. People were cheering and taking pictures, and we were just sitting soaking it all up," she said. At the castle entrance there was a red carpet and "paparazzi and television crews".
"People were cheering, and a lady from a television crew interviewed me, which was kind of cool."
There were fireworks and, as Catherine walked through the castle gates, she was greeted "by a lady dressed as a green goblin".
"They had everything, all characters from the books - ladies dressed as gnomes, a mechanical fire-breathing horse, grey ladies like ghosts, fire jugglers as well."
The cub reporters were brought into the grand hall just before midnight, to await Rowling, who was to read the first chapter of the book at a minute past midnight.
"When she came out, everyone was clapping and screaming. She sat in a big leather armchair at the front. She was very good, very snappy."
Rowling had her picture taken with each of the "reporters". "Everyone was so excited. It was just fantastic. Everyone was making just so much noise . . . It is all kind of strange - all of it just over a book," she said.
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