The Harry Potter stars walked the red carpet at Trafalgar Square, marking the first time ever a film premiere has been held at the historical spot, before heading over to Leicester Square to catch the movie. Stars like Tom Felton, James and Oliver Phelps, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter, plus the woman behind it all — J.K. Rowling — mingled with the ecstatic fans while signing autographs and posing for pictures.

The veteran British thespians as well as the 20-something stars reminisced about their years on the enchanted set of Harry Potter while chatting excitedly about the epic grand finale.

In a poignant moment, producers David Heyman and David Barron, director David Yates, J.K. Rowling, and the three main stars — Daniel, Rupert and Emma — took the stage to thank the fans for their decade of loyalty. When David Yates said the Harry Potter journey was coming to an end, Radcliffe politely disagreed by saying, “Each and every person not only in this square but also watching around the world who will see this film and who have followed these films over the last 10 years will carry this story with them through the rest of their lives and it will affect what they do.”

Emma Watson thanked her co-stars through her tears calling Daniel a “perfect Harry” and praising J.K. Rowling for being a great role model. Rupert called it an “emotional week” and said he wasn’t very good at goodbyes. But he did manage to say the last 10 years have been the “best part of my life” and thanked Rowling for “what you’ve done for ginger people. I cannot put that into words.”

Rowling brought cheers when she took the mic and said, “Maybe I’ll just write another one,” but the author admitted she was joking. She went on to thank what she called her “Big 7,” Dan, Rupert, Emma, Matt, Evanna, Bonnie and Tom. And lastly, summing up the entire experience as only the author who dreamt up the world of Hogwarts could, Rowling said, “Whether you come back by page or by the big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.”

For the more fashion minded, Emma Watson and J.K. Rowling both donned Oscar de la Renta gowns, while Bonnie Wright showed off a Miu Miu dress and Evanna Lynch went for a fun, flirty mini-dress.

Be sure to have some tissues on hand as you check out the video and photos below!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 premiere:

Daniel Radcliffe:

Emma Watson:

Rupert Grint:

Tom Felton:

Bonnie Wright:

Evanna Lynch:

After making a big announcement earlier this morning about Pottermore, more details and photos (see below) about the mysterious new website are beginning to emerge. When Pottermore officially launches in October, only the first book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, will be available for the new interactive experience. The second, Chamber of Secrets, will go online in the early part of 2012 with the rest to gradually follow.

What can Harry Potter fans expect? The first book will have 44 interactive moments such as a trip to Gringotts Bank where wizards can pick up a few galleons to spend in Diagon Alley while adding items to a magical trunk for Hogwarts. Then you can explore the Hogwarts Express on your way to the wizarding school where you’ll take a spin under the sorting hat to find out your house — Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw.

During the press conference, Rowling said, “If you’re sorted into Gryffindor you just follow Harry, but if you’re in Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or Slytherin, you’ll go to your own common room. You’ll meet your own prefect, who will tell you about famous people who are in your house, and what the true nature of your house is, because in the main narrative you only ever see the other houses through the eyes of the three heroes — Harry, Ron and Hermione. So I suppose what I’m basically saying is it’s not a terrible thing to be in Slytherin.”

What’s even more exciting for Harry Potter’s biggest fans? Starting July 31, the beta phase of Pottermore will be open to a million fans who find the magical quill during an online scavenger hunt. Those lucky Potter fans will shape the final site by offering their feedback and input along the way before all can access Pottermore in October.

Stay tuned for more updates on J.K. Rowling’s latest venture, Pottermore, and don’t miss the photos below unveiled at the press conference!

The party started at exactly 9:23 a.m. when Wizarding World first opened its doors last year on June 18, 2010. Lucky fans gathered around the streets of Hogsmeade as the Hogwarts Express conductor led a countdown to the magical moment complete with streamers and confetti.

And what would a Harry Potter party be without some enchanted treats? Harry Potter fans toasted each other with free butterbeer while feasting on cauldron cakes and chocolate frogs!

Along with the bash, Wizarding World of Harry Potter just kicked off a contest where the winner will get a free trip to the park. Through July 15, U.S. fans can win a VIP trip to the Universal Orlando Resort by sharing their story on the official Facebook page at Facebook.com/UniversalOrlandoResort. Fans who have been to the park can write about their fave Wizarding World memories while those who haven’t been can dish about why they want to go.

Universal Orlando’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter has much to celebrate including its recent Webby Awards where Wizarding World picked up two prizes including the People’s Voice Award for “best tourism website.” Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe (who happens to be featured on SheKnows’ Man Candy Mondays) attended the awards ceremony last week where he took the stage as a presenter. Check out the video below!

Also last week, a new report detailed Wizarding World’s phenomenal rise with attendance at Universal growing by over 30 percent in the past year, with almost 6 million people checking out the new attraction.

“We’re so excited to celebrate this milestone with our guests,” said Bill Davis, president of Universal Orlando Resort. “It’s been an incredible year for us and our guests, and we look forward to creating more exciting memories with them in the years to come.”

Don’t miss more pics and the video from Wizarding World’s big celebration!

Wizarding World’s one-year anniversary party:

Daniel Radcliffe at the Webby Awards:

The latest Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 poster features a trio of villains, including Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy. You-Know-Who takes center stage and maybe all those years of battling Harry Potter have taken a toll since he looks a bit beaten down and tired. The Harry Potter baddies also seem like they’re covered with grit from the destructive Battle of Hogwarts while Voldemort’s hands and arms are bloodied and bruised.

No surprise that Bellatrix wears her usual defiant and crazed expression while Lucius looks worn and haggard and his wife, Narcissa, lurks in the background. Check out the full-size poster after the jump! And stay tuned for more Harry Potter magic as the final flick, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, approaches in less than a month!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 villain poster:

Entertainment Weekly debuted the latest Deathly Hallows Part 2 poster (right) featuring the main trio of Harry, Ron and Hermione, looking worse for the wear. Harry Potter stands front and center, wand at the ready, while Ron and Hermione appear on either side of him, ready to protect him as always. Our heroes look beaten and battle-weary with the spires of what remains of Hogwarts rising up behind them, while the Weasley family and other students and teachers look on warily.

Check out a bigger version and more posters on the next page!

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 posters:

No official word on why the duo was there, but observers saw the pair filming near Hogsmeade village and many are speculating that they were helping to tape a special in honor of the upcoming one year anniversary. Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened last June.

Not only did James (blue shirt) and Oliver Phelps load up at Zonko’s, they also posed in front of the Hogwarts Express and took time to chat with excited fans.

Stay tuned for further details and check out more pics after the jump!

James and Oliver Phelps greet fans:

The twins pose by the Hogwarts Express:

Oliver and James Phelps fill up at Zonko’s:

All of the main characters are featured — Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley, Bellatrix Lestrange, Voldemort, Snape, Draco Malfoy — but a few unexpected and beloved surprises have been added to the magical mix. A fierce Professor McGonagall takes charge, wand at the ready, while leading an army of statues. And the Weasley twins, Fred and George, are shown mid-battle, with bits of fire raining down around them, while Neville Longbottom gets his own action shot with the Sword of Gryffindor.

The biggest surprise of all? Griphook the goblin stars in his very own poster while holding Gryffindor’s Sword in Gringotts. Check out the posters on the next page!

Harry Potter:

Hermione Granger:

Ron Weasley:

Neville Longbottom:

Weasley twins:

Professor McGonagall:

Professor Snape:

Draco Malfoy:

Bellatrix Lestrange:

Griphook:

Voldemort:

Twenty-one-year-old Emma Watson has been hard at work on the Pittsburgh set of The Perks of Being a Wallflower and recently took a break to attend the MTV Movie Awards in LA. She told MTV that she was “having the time of my life” while tackling her latest role and that she was “very, very excited” about the upcoming movie.

“It’s so funny because I never thought I’d make another sort of high school-esque movie,” Emma Watson confessed to MTV. “And here I am in this coming-of-age, American teen [movie], but it’s very witty, and it’s very funny and it’s very moving.”

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is expected in theaters in 2012 and also stars Nina Dobrev, Mae Whitman, Paul Rudd and Kate Walsh. See Logan Lerman’s Twitpics below, as well as a video of Emma chatting to MTV about her newest project.

Emma Watson:

Nina Dobrev:

Mae Whitman:

Logan Lerman:

Wallflower cast:

Emma Watson chats to MTV:

In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, Helena Bonham Carter, who just turned 45 on May 26, gets the duel of a lifetime as she battles Julie Walters’ Mrs. Weasley. The Oscar-nominated actress recently chatted about that big moment as well as how she shuns “normal” roles in favor of more eccentric characters.

“I love dressing up and playing weird women. It would be boring for me to try and look as beautiful as possible on screen. Tim Burton absolutely understands that and leaves me to choose which characters I want to play in his films,” Helena Bonham Carter said.

“In my view women like that are ill, and for some reason I’m attracted to that. It makes me wonder what made them turn evil. As an actress it’s my job to be understanding towards women like that and to not be judgmental. Something about this madness attracts me.”

And talking about her upcoming fight scene to Empire Magazine, Helena Bonham Carter said that her wand duel proved to be hazardous to her health! “You should warm up before wand-fighting; that’s what Julie Walters and I discovered when we were dueling each other. We were crippled after that scene. Dueling going backwards on a table is tricky without falling off. Which, of course, I did! I did say, ‘Can someone stand there and keep an eye out?’ But there were people standing all around and not one of them warned me.”

Ouch! Hope that the actress has recovered in time for the debut of Deathly Hallows Part 2 on July 15. Plus, Bonham Carter has just signed on for a new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations along with Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire director Mike Newell.

Bellatrix Lestrange’s Twitter caption:

“It’s Harry Potter. He’s all bright, and shiny, and new again, just in time for the Dark Lord.” – Bellatrix

In these newest Harry Potter posters, both characters are surrounded by the blazing embers that we’ve seen in all the posters so far, which must surely symbolize the destruction of our beloved Hogwarts. Behind Draco, the great magical school lies in remnants, with crumbling walls and broken columns littering the ground. Check out the full-sized pics on the next page and stay tuned for more posters!

Draco Malfoy’s Twitter caption: “Don’t you understand? I have to do this.” – Draco

Snape’s caption: “Has it ever crossed your brilliant mind that I don’t want to do this anymore?” – Snape