Harry Potter UK Edition (1)

….

[June 30th, 2010]

….

"Ugh, I am tired of these long flights." Gwendolyn groaned as she collapsed face-first onto the plush hotel bed, her exhaustion evident.

Regal, standing by the window, glanced at the illuminated cityscape outside. "Well, at least the view here is nice." He muttered, as if the sight alone could soothe her frustration.

Gwendolyn turned her head slightly. "Right. I forgot - creative people are built differently when it comes to sitting in one place for hours. I bet you would have worked on some script if they were to allow it."

Regal smirked. "Now, now. I know when to take a break. Especially since this is our first trip together."

"Yeah… if only it wasn't for business."

"…Welp, can't forget why we are here."

A brief silence settled between them.

They had arrived in London, UK, their trip revolving around the official launch of the UK edition of [Harry Potter].

Regal still found it surreal that five months had already passed since its initial release. The book's success was undeniable, but was it truly on par with what he had known in his previous world?

The numbers were larger.

That much was certain.

As far as he remembered, in his previous life [Harry Potter] hadn't seen massive sales until its third volume.

Yet, in this world, his book was already a notable hit.

The difference, he suspected, lay in his decision to launch it directly in the U.S. from the start.

In his past life, the U.S. had been the largest book market, and by targeting it first, he had likely accelerated the process.

Whatever the reason, he had already bypassed that slow, uncertain climb.

Still, the real turning point was yet to come.

Once the [Harry Potter] series had gained momentum, it had transformed into a cultural phenomenon, eventually crossing 120 million copies sold - and it was by far the youngest on the list, with at least a twenty-year gap between it and the others.

Even here, only six books had ever reached that milestone.

Of course, the films had played a massive role in catapulting the series to legendary status.

And that… was something he had plans for.

The real question was, could he achieve the same level of success in this world?

Only time would tell.

Regardless, the groundwork was already being laid.

Over the past few months, the book had been translated into multiple languages, and tomorrow would mark its simultaneous release across several countries.

Unlike a single-day event, this launch was spread out over multiple days, covering different regions.

Regal would likely need to travel for promotion, starting with the UK, the most high-profile and culturally significant release.

It made sense.

[Harry Potter] was deeply rooted in British culture, and UK publishers had practically bombarded both him and Everleaf Press within the first week of its U.S. debut, eager to claim it for their home market.

Some had even expressed envy that a story like this had come from a foreign author rather than one of their own.

But Regal pushed those thoughts aside.

Yes, this was a business trip.

But he had made sure to set aside an entire week in London, and he fully intended to enjoy some well-earned free time.

….

It was rare for Gwendolyn to complain about too much work, which made her sudden groan all the more unusual.

"Aha… Just thinking about all this work makes me feel drained…" She muttered, rubbing her temples dramatically.

She wasn't thrilled about being called in right after Regal's movie release. She had tried to push it back, but her efforts had been in vain.

In fact, they had been delaying this task for so long that it had become, frankly, disgusting.

Still standing where she was, Gwendolyn suddenly stretched her arms toward Regal like a child waiting to be picked up.

"Come on… Regal." She drawled, her voice laced with exaggerated weariness. "Share some of your energy with your lady here…"

Gwendolyn made no effort to move closer, simply holding out her arms expectantly, waiting to be indulged.

Regal scoffed but took a step toward her anyway.

"So, you want me to recharge you?" He mused, stopping just within arm's reach.

"Yes." She nodded, maintaining her dramatic stance, her hands still stretched toward him. "Preferably with minimal effort on my part."

Regal gave her a dry look. "You realize you sound like a cat demanding attention, right?"

Gwendolyn pouted at the delay. "Is that so…? Then be a good human and fulfill your duties."

He sighed but played along, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around her. She let out a satisfied hum, melting against him like a lazy feline finally receiving the affection she sought.

"There. Happy now?" He asked, resting his chin lightly atop her head.

"Mm-hmm." Gwendolyn murmured against his chest. "I could stay like this all day."

Regal chuckled. "Yeah, that's not happening. You still have work to do, remember?"

She groaned in protest but didn't let go. "Just five more minutes… maybe ten… or thirty…"

Regal shook his head, but he made no move to pull away either.

"You are not exactly making this easy for me." He muttered, though his arms remained steady around her.

…..

After that, Gwendolyn finally released her hold, albeit reluctantly. She stretched her arms above her head and sighed before plopping down onto the bed.

"Alright, alright, let's go over tomorrow's schedule." She muttered, scrolling through her phone.

Regal sat down on the edge of the bed. "Give me the short version."

"Launch event at noon, media prep at ten. Photo op, interviews, signing session, officially two hours, realistically four. There is a publisher's dinner afterward, but attendance is optional."

Regal sighed. "Optional, huh? That usually means 'highly recommended.'"

Gwendolyn smirked. "Well, you are right."

A brief silence followed before Gwendolyn chimed in. "Pre-orders look good, by the way. Sales projections are solid."

"Better than expected?"

"Yup. UK press is hyping it as a 'homecoming.'"

Regal nodded. "That will work in our favor."

"Mm-hmm. Now, bedtime." She yawned. "If I collapse tomorrow, I am blaming you."

"Duly noted."

She tossed a pillow at him.

….

The next morning, the city was overcast, a typical London sky greeting them as they prepared for the event.

The ride to the venue was smooth - Waterstones Piccadilly, Europe's largest bookstore. Located in a grand Edwardian building, it was the perfect venue for the UK release.

As expected, there was already a small crowd gathered outside the bookstore, mostly eager fans and media personnel.

Inside, the event space was set up efficiently.

A backdrop with the book's cover art stood behind the table where he would sign, flanked by stacks of freshly printed copies.

Journalists and photographers were stationed nearby, ready to document the proceedings.

Regal went through the motions, posing for a few pictures, answering the greetings, and then taking his seat for the signing.

The turnout exceeded expectations. Fans of all ages came through, few were even clutching well-worn copies from the U.S. release, eager to get them signed. Others were first-time readers, drawn in by the growing buzz.

As he signed book after book, he caught snippets of excited conversations, some about the story, others speculating on a potential sequel.

By the time the event wrapped up, his hand was sore, but he couldn't deny the satisfaction of seeing so many people genuinely invested in his work.

….

The next day was for interviews.

First stop - the BBC Broadcasting House in central London.

The historic building had been home to some of the most influential voices in British media.

Regal recorded a segment for BBC Radio, discussing the book's themes and its unexpected international success.

From there, they rushed to The Guardian's offices in King's Cross for a sit-down interview. The journalist, an older man with a skeptical air, probed deeper into his creative choices.

Interviewer: "Mr. Regal, before we dive into the questions, I would love to hear about your experience launching your book here and how the reception has been so far."

Regal leaned back slightly, a small smile forming. "Honestly? It's been incredible. Five days in, and I am still taking in just how enthusiastic the readers are. Seeing their excitement firsthand has been a rewarding experience."

A brief pause, then a slight shift in his expression. "I have also taken the opportunity to explore the country a bit, with my girlfriend, no less. So I am glad the UK ended up being my first international stop."

The interviewer nodded approvingly. "That's great to hear! Now, I have to say, I absolutely loved Hogwarts and the magical world you have created. But why the UK? Why set your story here?"

Regal's expression turned thoughtful. "Part of it was a challenge to myself, to see if I could authentically capture a culture I didn't grow up in. It pushed me as a writer, made me do my homework, and really immersed myself in the details. Judging by the warm reception so far, I would like to think I did a decent job."

The interviewer let out a short chuckle, shaking his head. "Ah, I have to correct you there, Mr. Regal, you did more than a decent job."

Regal only nodded, glancing toward the recording device on the table as the interview carried on.

There were still more questions to answer, more conversations to have, but so far, this trip was shaping up to be exactly what he had hoped for.

.

….

[To be continued…]

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