Harry Potter fans in Slidell were the victims of a hoax Tuesday morning as they lined up clutching Harry Potter books hoping for a glimpse of Harry’s creator, J.K. Rowling, at the Book Sack store on Bayou Lane.

A line of several hundred children, teens and parents snaked down Bayou Lane ending in the shopping center behind the bookstore. They had all heard the news that Rowling would be signing books at the small bookstore starting at 9:30 a.m.

Alas, it was not to be. By 10:15 a.m. Book Sack owner Betty Kittner came out of the store to inform the crowd that Rowling would not be making an appearance and that the whole thing was a hoax. Some of the fans reluctantly left, but the majority stayed in line, hoping against hope that there would be some real magic and the author would show up.

A group of Harry Potter fans show off books, they hoped would be signed by author J.K. Rowling at the Book Sack store in Slidell. From left are Bonnie Levin, Fermonda Zanudio, Julia Lavigne, Rebekkah Scroggs, Katie Kay, Casey Kelly, Doug Aldridge, Hannah Ford, and Shawn Kelly. (Staff Photo by Erik Sanzenbach)

“We stayed because we believe in magic,” said Casy Kelly, 18, who with a group of his friends started camping out in front of the store at 3 a.m. The group, all Slidell teens heading off to college in a few weeks, had Potter books waiting to be signed. They even had a cardboard cutout of Harry Potter in the middle of their group.

Judd Kittner, co-owner of the Book Sack, was pretty sure the whole thing was a hoax, but like the fans outside, he was wishing for a little magic.

The whole thing started several weeks ago, according to Judd. A customer, who was a writer, told Judd she knew Rowling and would try to get a book signing for the store. The Kittners were skeptical and didn’t give it another thought.

Then on July 22 Betty got a call from a man named Kent, who told her Rowling was coming to her store for a book signing.

“My mind just went blank,” Betty said. “I forgot to ask him for any information.”

After the man hung up, Betty hit *69 to call Kent back. The person who answered was not the same person and never heard of anyone named Kent.

Two days later, “Kent” called the B. Dalton Booksellers store at Northshore Mall. Assistant manager Gretchen Wulf answered, and Kent told her Rowlings was coming in for a book signing.

“I knew it was a hoax from the very beginning,” Wulf said. Kent gave her his phone number, but when she called back, the person who answered didn’t know Kent.

Both Wulf and the Kittners were given the same instructions from Kent. Rowlings required red fruit punch during the book signing.

Kent told them that Rowling did not want toddlers around and would not allow anyone to touch her.

“That sent up a red flag for me,” Wulf said.

Kent told the Kittners that Rowling also wanted a “tall, dark handsome man” to be standing next to her while she was signing books.

“That was the big reason I questioned the whole thing,” Judd said.

However, while Betty was talking to Kent, several of her customers overheard the conversation, went out and told friends, and by Friday, every Potter fan in the area was primed to meet Rowlings.

“It grew through word of mouth,” Judd said.

Wulf was selling Potter books to customers who wanted them signed by Rowlings, and she kept telling them all week that the whole thing was a hoax.

Tuesday morning, several people in line said they had heard Rowlings was in New Orleans for a seminar. That was not confirmed on her Web site.

Wulf said she knows for a fact Rowlings is still in Scotland. B. Dalton Booksellers is a national chain, and if the author were in the country, Wulf would have heard from the company’s headquarters.

Still, that did not stop the faithful from standing outside the Book Sack in the summer heat and under a threat of a thunderstorm.

It was a party-like atmosphere. Even after Betty Kittner’s announcement, people kept their places in line. The power of magic is strong in Slidell.

Most people didn’t seem to mind that Rowlings would not be there. For some, like Amanda Hienerichs, who had the honor of being the first in line, it had been a lot of fun. She was doing it for her children, avid Potter fans. Hienrichs had been standing in line since 5:30 a.m.

“I’ll feel like a fool if she doesn’t show up,” Hienrichs said. “But it has still been a lot of fun.”

Around 10 a.m. the crowd started yelling “J.K.! J.K.!” while holding their Harry Potter books in the air. Every time a car turned onto Bayou Lane from West Hall Avenue, people would stop and stare at the vehicle, hoping Rowling would step out.

“I hope she shows up,” said Toni Loescher, 16. “I have my doubts, but all you can do is hope.”

James Comeaux, who was there for his daughter, had brought a crossword puzzle to pass the time. He smiled when he heard Rowling would not be there.

“Hey, it’s been fun. It’s been an event,” Comeaux said.