With behind-the-scenes images dropping and assurances from JKR that the play was on fleek and ready to Accio your butt back into the life of Harry Potter, they were very much succeeding in holding our attention. Then a heartfelt video message was shared by the production on June 6th, a day ahead of the soft opening of a preview performance of Part 1. The clip was thirty seconds long, voiced by JKR, and touched on a single, unifying concept - Keep Calm and Keep The Secrets.

"You've been amazing for years at keeping Harry Potter secrets, so you didn't spoil the books for readers who came after you. So, I'm asking you one more time to KEEP THE SECRETS and let audiences enjoy Cursed Child with the surprises that we've built into the story. Thank you."

The first reactions from the fans ranged from excited and elated... to almost aggressively supportive.

Don't ever discount a Potterhead's fervent, undying fidelity to their Queen, even against their fellows. Although some were feeling a bit cynical, accusing the production of trying to control the narrative online because they didn't want potentially negative reviews to affect ticket sales for the two-night event. So, JKR logged back on to calm the storm.

Other fans were frustrated with the prompting from production to stay mum, because it meant that they wouldn't be able to hear anything about the plot. They flooded Twitter with rationale like, "We live in the states" and "I can't afford to see the play". JKR replied to this directly, reminding us about the script book.

"You'll be able to buy the published play from 31st July, so the story of #CursedChild will be available to everyone #KeepTheSecrets."

But she wasn't getting it. For the first time in history, new Harry Potter material was being released to a privileged few. And in secret, no less. Of course, it made sense why they'd want to keep a lid on things, but those feelings from the ever-loyal fanbase weren't really being acknowledged.

Like, we just had to get over it...

because a book was coming...

in two months...

And for that lucky audience of 1,500 who were able to witness the first preview of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD at London's Palace Theatre, the pleas to Keep the Secrets were about to be reinforced in a unique way. Upon leaving the theater, attendees would be handed a special button that reminded them to not spoil the play, as if they were receiving their own fake Galleon from Dumbledore's Army.

The organizers were working hard to successfully minimize the release of plot spoilers, news, or pertinent info about the play. This went double for the press, who were under a review embargo until the official opening night. And if that somehow didn't get the message across, ticket-holders were told to arrive an hour early for a bag check.

"Dangerous items, professional photography, video or audio recording equipment will not be allowed into the building. This is a condition of entry. If you leave the theater at any point you will be checked again prior to re-admittance."

They went a step further by warning that anyone caught filming the performance would have their equipment confiscated and the unauthorized files deleted. It didn't say how the files would be deleted either. Magic, perhaps? JKR surely had an Obliviate charm up her sleeve to stop leakers from spilling the beans before they re-entered the Muggle world.

I told you to Keep The Secrets!!

Personally, I didn't want to read even a hint of a spoiler. Not out of devotion to Jo, but because it had been so many years since I cracked the cover of a new Harry Potter book. I already had my copy pre-ordered, and there were rumors abounding that Barnes and Noble would be hosting Midnight Release parties across the country, just like back in the day. There were surprises coming and I didn't want to be spoiled. I wanted everyone to Keep The Secrets!

Nevertheless, I understood why some fans needed to hear everything they could. The appeal was international, with millions of fans desperate to learn what would happen next in the lives of their beloved characters. They waited expectantly for that lone, disobedient reaction tweet of Part 1 to roll out.

There was more than one tweet. There were many. And Merlin's unkempt beard... were they positive!