Harry Potter fans mark two decades of magic

26 June 1997.

Exactly twenty years ago today the first Harry Potter book was released upon the world. Since then it's been a non-stop magical rollercoaster of friendship, tears, deaths (nooooooooo) and adventure. Although we can't quite believe it's been that long, we also can't really remember a world where Harry Potter didn't exist. To mark the occasion fans in their thousands have taken to Twitter to thank JK Rowling for bringing the boy wizard to life.

Today is a very special day – we're celebrating 20 years of #HarryPotter! Yep, we’re totally Sirius… pic.twitter.com/hPzm4JfaGG

— UQ News (@UQ_News) June 26, 2017

Its 20 years since Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone came out! I want to thank @jk_rowling I couldn't imagine a world without HP ⚡️

— Amy Williams (@amyw_137) June 25, 2017

Already 20 years that #JKRowling enchants us with #HarryPotter Thanks!! pic.twitter.com/jRGT3mMx72

— Marie Gourvellec (@MayGourvellec) June 25, 2017

Can't believe it's been 20 years since the 1st Harry Potter book was released. So grateful I had them in my childhood. #HarryPotter20 ???

— JOSHUA CRISP (@IAmJoshua_) June 25, 2017

Happy 20 years of Harry Potter, Thankyou for everything, you are my hero @jk_rowling pic.twitter.com/a5PLmK7z5c

— Lumos Blade (@lumosblade) June 25, 2017

26.06.1997 - Until the very end ⚡

~ • #HarryPotter20 • ~ Happy 20th book birthday to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone ? ? ❤ ? ? ? pic.twitter.com/ojMgWooCKv — A Window to the Past (@ParadiseLost94) June 25, 2017

So Harry Potter's been around for 20 years. Feeling old yet? #HarryPotter20 pic.twitter.com/t9ySd9VoyC

— A. G. Macdonald (@AG_Macdonald) June 25, 2017

To mark the magical occasion Facebook has introduced a feature allowing you to cast interactive spells with status updates.

Using any of the terms Harry Potter, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff or Slytherin in a status update will display an animation of a wand casting a spell.

So we'll be under our invisibility cloaks on Facebook for the day.