Harry Potter Theme Makes For a Magical Prom Night in Port Jeff

Every year for the past 54 years, parents and community members promise to band together to make prom night so magnificent that teens want to go nowhere else, keeping them safe and sound inside the for a night they will never forget. And every year, t.

This year was no different as the community transformed the school into a truly magical place for the kids.

“For this year’s senior prom, Port Jefferson High School was transformed into Harry Potter’s Hogwarts Castle,” said committee member Theresa Tsunis. “The seniors were announced and welcomed onto the red carpet to enter the school of magic and wizardry by Professor Dumbledore, Lord Voldemort and Professor Minerva McGonagall each portrayed by senior parents.”

J. K. Rowling’s famous characters came to life for the Port Jefferson seniors, many of whom no doubt grew up loving the fairy tale of magic and mystery following the incredible adventures of Harry, Ron and Hermione.

While the end result was pure magic, the tumultuous weather in the days leading up to the prom were – to say the least – a little tense.

“Everyone was a little nervous thinking that the transformation would not be completed in time for the public viewing due to the thunderstorm that moved through our area on Sunday,” Tsunis said. “It was a real nail biter but it got done just in the nick of time.”

She said that she heard that everyone loved the conversion of the high school into sets from the Harry Potter novels and films. Tsunis descibed the scene:

The great hall was transformed into the "Yule Ball" complete with ice sculptors, icicles and a giant Christmas Tree. Gryffindor Common Room, the Quidditch locker room, the Potions Room and Umbridge's office from Hogwarts were set up around the perimeter of the gym where seniors could sit between dancing.

The hallways were transformed on one side so that you walked through the Forbidden Forest on the way to the boys room which was Hagrid’s Hut and on the other side through Diagon Alley on the way to the girls room which was Gringotts Bank. In the hallway was the candy store from Harry Potter called Honeydukes where the seniors were able filled their bags with such delights as chocolate frogs, jumping snakes and Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans.

“If you were a real fan, then you truly appreciated the spectacular attention to detail,” Tsunis said.

The lighting set the mood, the goody bags and journals were a big hit and the rain only added to the authenticity of the sets.

“No outside catered prom could come anywhere close to giving our kids the memories we gave our children on Monday night,” prom committee member Tracy Stapleton reported in an email after the prom. “The obvious love we have for our children along with the tireless work and dedication that is needed to put on not just this prom, but each prom every year, leaves no mystery as to why our children love their prom, their school and Port Jefferson village itself.”

Click through our photos above to see images from the 2012 Port Jefferson High School prom. Did you take photos at the prom this year? Add them to the gallery.

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