MORGANTOWN — Professor Trelawney had her work cut out for her.
As Hogwarts’ professor of Divination, and a seer of some repute, she’s at home in the world of witches and wizards.
But a tea party full of ornery muggles is another story altogether.
That was the scene at The Tea Shoppe at Seneca Center on Thursday and Friday as the shop sold out two sittings of the Harry Potter Yule Tea Party.
Owner Lisa Biafore — playing the role of Professor Minerva McGonagall — explained that the shop is always holding special events like these, inspired by the Yule Ball in the popular Harry Potter books and films.
“Well, they have a Yule Ball, so that’s why,” she said before coming clean. “Really, it’s just an excuse to have a tea party.”
The grown up tea party featured butterbeer, golden snitches and Mrs. Weasley’s Pumpkin Pasties, among other treats.
“I was surprised because this is an older generation. We do princess teas all the time for the little kids but that generation doesn’t really know this as much,” Biafore said. “It’s just a fun thing to do.”
While Professor Trelawney warmed up her crystal ball, the revelers settled in for some Harry Potter trivia. Things got loud. Muggles are notoriously argumentative about such things.
“I’m definitely a longtime Harry Potter — the movies, the books — but, in general, we love The Tea Shoppe,” Kimberly Meyer said. “This just happened to be perfect. Harry Potter is a great series to watch around this time. It’s so festive. We’re excited to be here and we love tea.”
Kodye Pellish, resplendent as Luna Lovegood, popped on the Sorting Hat.
Of course it picked Ravenclaw.
“I like the movies, but I never really got into the books,” Pellish said. “I don’t have that kind of time.”
