It ended up raining buckets at last night’s premiere of Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince in London, but fans didn’t seem to mind. Fans in costume and with faces painted to support the Gryffindor quidditch team weren’t about to let the sudden downpour keep them from seeing the stars of the wildly popular series.

I love everyone’s outfits - Emma Watson’s wrap dress is so elegant while Daniel Radcliffe went whimsical and bold in a bright pink shirt and old-fashioned suit. Rupert Grint is hopefully over his swine flu because he got all wet in his cute suit with a cool skinny tie. The three lead stars of the Harry Potter series are everything that young celebrities should be - friendly to fans, gracious to the press, smart, and forthcoming. They’ve also avoided scandal and we haven’t heard that much gossip about their personal lives:

Emma Watson’s wardrobe malfunction’s may have been the star of the London premiere of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” but there was plenty to see besides Hermione Granger’s eminently sensible nude-colored knickers. Whoops!

Daniel Radcliffe, wearing a slightly odd suit (a frog closure? Really?) and bold salmon-colored shirt, and Rupert Grint, who’s apparently on the mend from swine flu, got soaked during the downpour in Leicester Square.

Helena Bonham Carter walked the red carpet in character as Bellatrix LeStrange, if LeStrange had decided to do her major-event shopping at Joyce Leslie. Back in 1986. J.K. Rowling looked smashing in a low-cut electric blue gown.

Some of the actors wore white ribbons around the wrists in memory of actor Rob Knox, who played Ravenclaw student Marcus Belby, and who was stabbed to death outside a bar last year.

[From The NJ Star Ledger]

I think the wardrobe malfunction they’re referring to is that Watson had to re-tie her wrap dress, but it didn’t look like more than just a minor embarrassment to her.

The Half Blood Prince is more adult than we’re used to and as a movie geared for teens it has some romantic moments as well as some funny bits. It’s also darker and scarier than the previous Harry Potter films, according to interviews stars Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe gave to CNN’s Myleene Klass.

It looks as incredible as the last Harry Potter films. I’m a real fan of the series and love the way that the movie bring the books to life and transport you to another world. You’re really taken to a place with it’s own set of magical rules and characters, and the best part is that you don’t have to check your brain at the door. Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince opens in the US and many countries next Wednesday, 7/15. It will be released around the world by July 24.

Also shown at yesterday’s premiere are Harry Potter author JK Rowling, Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange), and Michael Gambon (Professor Dumbledore). Credit: WENN.com