It's also been a heartfelt journey for those who brought life to Rowling’s heroes.

“Emotional overall but I'm really excited about the next chapter of my life starting," said Emma Watson, who portrays Hermione. "But then obviously I feel really sad and kind of nostalgic about all this coming to an end and it's been such a huge part of my life.”

She’s not alone. As these characters matured, an entire generation of young people all over the world grew up with them.

Fans crowd into a Washington, DC movie theater to watch 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2,' the final film featuring the beloved boy wizard.

At a Washington, D.C., premiere, hundreds of anxious fans lined up to watch the young wizard's final chapter. They were introspective about the Harry Potter experience.

"It's really weird because it is like the end of my childhood," said one teenager in line.

"There was this whole other world, this amazing world," said a another. "I think that was what intrigued me the most, that there was something beautiful to be visualized and I think that kind of enraptured me and caught my heart."

Parents were also wistful.

"It's very bittersweet because, our kids, this is their childhood," said one father. "They all grew up with this story and to know that's it's coming to an end..."

The final Harry Potter film offers grand special effects and an emotion-packed narrative.