Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm Chapter 573 - 571: Harry Potter Box Office

Ten o'clock in the evening.

Los Angeles Hilton Hotel, Room 1411.

Yang Mi and Emma shared this room.

Knock, knock, knock...

Emma, mid-shower, called out from the bathroom, "Mimi, soone's at the door—can you check?"

"I heard, I'm going now," Yang Mi replied, heading over.

Then ca Emma's voice again: "Wait! Don't just open it—look through the peephole first!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know!"

Yang Mi grumbled to herself as she turned off the "hygiene ball." Why does she treat like a kid—or worse, like a doting old mother?

Satisfied with Yang Mi's answer, Emma continued her bath. But a mont later, she sensed sothing off.

Silence.

"Mimi? Mimi?" she called again.

No response.

A chill prickled her skin. Beads of sweat mixed with bathwater trickled down her temple as her mind flashed with horror movie clichés.

Clutching a towel around herself, she left the water running and tiptoed to the door.

It was ajar.

She pressed an ear to the gap.

Still nothing.

This ti, she didn't dare call out again—regretting even the first two tis.

Emma slowly pushed the bathroom door open to peek outside.

Suddenly, a pair of strong arms reached out and swept her up.

"Ahhh!"

Yang Mi's helpless giggling echoed from the hallway.

"Martin! Are you insane?!"

Once Emma saw who had grabbed her, the panic on her face dissolved into astonishnt—and delight.

"It's ," Martin grinned. "I ca to see you."

Then he kissed her.

Yang Mi flushed instantly.

She could already guess what might co next.

Earlier, on the red carpet of the Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban premiere, Martin was speaking with reporters.

"Before filming began," he said, "Director Columbus asked each of the young actors to write an essay about their characters—and about themselves. Honestly, these kids are incredibly brave."

"I read those essays," one reporter added. "They really poured their hearts into them. Very articulate."

Martin nodded. "There were monts I considered publishing excerpts—especially their reflections on certain issues. But in the end, I didn't. Those writings were created for the sake of the film, and they deserve to remain private. Promoting a movie shouldn't co at the expense of their trust."

He went on, "While the cast was here in L.A. for the premiere, I asked them a simple question: What does being thirteen an to you? How does it feel compared to being eleven or twelve?"

Martin smiled, his voice taking on a warm, nostalgic tone.

"Thirteen is a ti of huge transition. You want to change your look, change how you express yourself, even how you argue. You see that evolution in the film too. In Prisoner of Azkaban, every one of them is a protagonist—regardless of how much screen ti they get."

As he spoke, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint—known collectively as the film's "iron triangle"—arrived on the red carpet and approached the interview zone.

Martin waved them over with a grin. "Alright, the real stars are here. Aim your caras and questions at them."

With a playful wink to the trio, he turned and walked off with effortless charm.

Emma watched Martin go, her eyes lingering a mont longer than necessary, before she turned back to join her castmates in facing the dia.

They were pros now—young, but dia-savvy.

Emma recounted a particular scene from the film where she and Ron Weasley hold hands. She scrunched her face in mock embarrassnt, the kind only a thirteen-year-old could pull off.

"There was supposed to be this awkward hug between us," she said, nodding at Rupert. "But I suggested we just hold hands instead. At that point, our characters were caught in this love-hate thing. A hug felt too much. Thankfully, the director agreed. I was so relieved—he's a kind man."

Daniel Radcliffe, now fourteen, chid in about the evolution of Harry Potter's character.

"It's amazing. In this film, Harry really changes—he becos more assertive, more impulsive. Like any real thirteen-year-old."

When asked about his height, he scratched his head with a sheepish smile.

"Yeah... Rupert's taller than now. But I'm not worried—I'm only fourteen. There's still ti!"

Rupert laughed as he discussed the film's dramatic shift in tone.

"Director Columbus handled the first two films—they were lighter, more playful. This one, though, was held by Alfonso Cuarón. He brought a darker, more mature edge."

He leaned toward the cara, pointing dramatically.

"From here on, Harry Potter gets darker and darker. You ready to be scared?"

He held the pose, smirk and all.

He'd practiced it for days in front of a mirror—determined to nail it.

Childish, Emma thought privately. Martin is so much cooler...

Reporters chuckled at Rupert's theatrics, amused by the obvious effort behind his "cool guy" act.

As for the movie itself?

Let the box office speak.

One week after release, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban grossed $98.69 million—just shy of the $100 million mark, but still an impressive opening.

It was well on its way to surpassing $250 million in North Arica.

Perhaps it was the darker tone, or perhaps it was just a maturing story—but the critical response was also notably stronger than the previous two films.

"A refreshing blend of novelty and shadow. This installnt doesn't just satisfy the fans—it broadens the audience."— Dallas Morning News

"Compared to the earlier films, Harry Potter 3 delves deeper into the eerie and suspenseful. As Harry navigates his third year at Hogwarts, the trauma of his parents' deaths and the appearance of Sirius Black add weight and tension to his school life. His bonds with Ron and Hermione also evolve with maturity. The plot thickens, twists multiply, and the visual storytelling gains a magical edge."— Wall Street Journal

"The Prisoner of Azkaban is the finest of the series so far. It restores the depth and mystery of the original books with cinematic elegance."— Los Angeles Weekly