The Harry Potter stars made a dramatic entrance on a giant, purple bus for the launch of the Prisoner of Azkaban DVD.

In the freezing rain, Dan, Rupert and Emma arrived for the magical bash in London on the Knight Bus, which has a key role in the third Potter movie.

James and Oliver Phelps, who play the Weasley twins said: “The DVD is brilliant, especially the 360 degrees tour of Honeydukes sweet shop.

“The DVDs just get better. The deleted scenes are pretty funny too.”

Other stars at the event included Matthew Lewis, who plays Neville Longbottom, Devon Murray, who plays Seamus Finnegan and Draco Malfoy actor, Tom Felton.

They were joined by the likes of David Thewlis, who plays Professor Lupin, Warwick Davis, who plays Professor Flitwick, and the rest of the Weasley clan.

The organisers of the event put on a great show for the world’s media.

The set piece was performed outside, starting with smoke rising from the pavements to the sound of the Potter soundtrack. Then the Knight Bus hurtled around in front of the London venue, with Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson waving frantically from the platform as cameras snapped away.

Some of the stars then chatted to Newsround about what they were up to and what it’s like filming the FOURTH Potter film, the Goblet of Fire.

Rupert told us: “We’re about halfway through filming now, it’s going really well. In this one you’ve got the Yule Ball, where we all have to find partners so that will be quite interesting.…

Potter star Emma Watson has flicked the switch on the 2004 Oxford Street Christmas lights.

The 14-year-old actress who plays Hermione Granger turned on the lights at around 6pm on Monday.

This year the famous London lights have a Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban theme to link in with the DVD release on 19 November.

Potter fans will also be able to watch a special Harry Potter light show every night from now until Christmas.

The display will be set to the soundtrack of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, with the finale describing Harry casting a Patronus charm.

Emma said she was thrilled to have taken part in switching on of the lights.

“I have wanted to do it ever since I was very young and I saw the Spice Girls do it.

“I love Oxford Street. I have come here most Christmases because I love the lights and all the beautiful displays in all the shops, ” Emma added.

Emma also told the crowd that she really wanted a candyfloss maker for Christmas.

The star added that she loved the new Harry Potter DVD and the best bits were when the actors were interviewed by TV presenter Johnny Vaughan, as it was such great fun.

Emma was joined on the stage by five Olympic gold medallists including Sir Steve Redgrave and the 4 x 100m relay squad.

Source: CBBC Newsround…

Emma Watson has big plans for her time off from filming Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. While filming for Prisoner of Azkaban is complete, she is currently working on Goblet of Fire, which will be released in 2005.

“I’m going skiing and I haven’t gone skiing so I’m really looking forward to that, and I’m hoping that goes well!”

Marie Morreale, our Entertainment Editor, was able to talk to Emma about that and many other things. Check out the interview to find out what she had to say.

What is your favorite part of the new movie?
This is actually my favorite book. There’s a great scene where I punch Malfoy, which is really good fun. It’s good.

How does Malfoy react?
How does he react? He runs away! Woo hoo! Girl power!

This summer there’s going to be some really great movies coming out. Do you have any film that you most want to see this summer?
I absolutely love Shrek. I don’t know what it is; he makes me laugh so much. I’m really looking forward to Shrek 2, and obviously Troy with Brad Pitt, in a skirt.

One of our magazines in London is asking about your GCSE’s. Are you studying for them yet?
Um, sort of. This is my foundation year and then next year I start my coursework.

So what do you do when you start your coursework? Are there specific classes for their exams?
Yes.…

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, the three leads at the heart of the Harry Potter series, return in the third instalment, The Prisoner Of Azkaban.

What was it like seeing your faces on the big screen?

Rupert: Yeah, it’s really weird seeing yourself on the big screen – it’s quite scary – but I’ve sort of got used to it now, it’s quite cool.

Daniel: I’ve never really liked watching myself that much. I saw the film with some of my friends and I was sitting in the front row of the cinema, and the last frame of the film is one of my face, and it looked like I was about to eat the front row of the audience. It’s kind of scary and a bit surreal, but I think we’ve all gotten used to it now.

How different was it working with Alfonso Cuarón compared to Chris Columbus?

Daniel: Everything we learned with Chris over two years – which was a lot – we now get a chance to put it into practice with another director. That was a challenge in itself, because we had to get used to someone else’s style, but it has helped us a lot to evolve or develop just making the transition.

Rupert: Yeah, it was a bit weird when we found out there was going to be a new director – we’d gotten really close to Chris, I was really used to him. But Alfonso was wicked, we had a really good time.…

We talk to Harry and Hermione about The Prisoner of Azkaban.

Recently in New York, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, two-thirds of the Harry Potter trio, met with a group of print and Internet journalists for a – how should I describe it? – a mini press conference.

We considered ourselves lucky with regard to the timing and scheduling of the interview, given the limited time these two had and, during this time of incredible Azkaban interest, the number of people who wanted to talk to them. Radcliffe had just completed an interview with E! Entertainment Television, and at the time of this interview both were scheduled to be at MTV studios in Times Square in 45 minutes. So, we had our half-hour window.

Radcliffe was dressed down for the occasion in jeans and t-shirt, and Watson was looking very, well… Sgt. Pepper. And they proved convincingly that they’re both incredibly articulate and thoughtful young stars.

And now, Radcliffe and Watson discuss maturing as actors and teenagers, their future goals, their fellow cast members and the making of Azkaban…

Could you two start off by commenting on how much you think you’ve changed through the course of these three movies?

Emma: We’ve just been getting older, maturing.

Daniel: I think we probably have changed as actors as well, but I’m not conscious of myself changing. I mean, I can’t pick-up on it. I never watched the first film again since, like, for about three years now. So I can’t really compare it to the third because it’s not very fresh in my mind.…

We went to New York for the premiere of the new “Harry Potter” film and sat down for a chat with Harry and Hermione (Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson)! We learned all kinds of cool info like, did you know that Sirius Black plays the bass! Emma looked extra hot with more blonde streaks in her curled, light brown hair and was wearing a very cute red military jacket with gold braid with her jeans. Dan’s hair was all tousled cute and he was in white tee, jeans and tennies. Big change after the fancy clothes the two donned for the Premiere the day before.

These two have a mutual admiration society going. Either that or something flirty is starting to happen between them. Ever the English gent, Dan pulls out Emma’s chair for her and they share lots of smiles as they talk. The two 14-year-olds were seen dancing together at the party after the Premiere and can’t say enough nice things about each other.. hummm. Ron and Hermione may be getting closer in the films but in real life could it be Harry and Hermione? Well, for now, we’ll just settle for a friendly chat about Dan’s rock band aspirations and Emma’s love of her girl-power, kick butt role in “Azkaban”. Tune in….

Can you talk about how much you think you’ve changed over the course of the three “Harry” films?

Emma: We’ve just been getting older.

Daniel: I think that we probably have changed as actors as well, but I’m not conscious of myself changing.…

Hermione and Ron move to the fore in the third ‘Harry Potter’ film, ready to make magic.

Leavesden Studios, England — It’s been almost three years since J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” characters moved beyond the literary phenomenon and became part of a hugely successful movie franchise. In that time, the primary image associated with the films has been Daniel Radcliffe, playing the wholesome teen wizard Harry, with his trademark round glasses and his perpetual expression of faint surprise.

Well, things are about to change. Now it’s time for Harry’s sidekicks to grab a piece of the action. The third film in the series, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (it opens June 4), spreads the story much more evenly among Harry and his Hogwarts school pals Hermione Granger, played by Emma Watson, and Ron Weasley, portrayed by Rupert Grint.

Alfonso Cuaron, the Mexican director of “Prisoner of Azkaban” (he succeeded Chris Columbus, who directed the first two), notes: “Ron and Hermione are companions in adventure in this film, and they effectively drive the third act. It’s pretty amazing to see.”

There’s no question Watson is pleased with her contribution to “Prison of Azkaban,” even before she has seen it. She strolls into a room near the production offices, sits upright on a sofa with three embroidered cushions with a likeness of Harry Potter and an owl, and starts chatting.

“The third book is definitely my favorite, and it’s a good script for Hermione,” she says. “She has some great scenes.” There’s a split second in the trailer for the new film when Watson as Hermione apparently punches someone, then says: “That felt good!” And did it?…

Apart from being the most famous schoolgirl on the planet, life is pretty normal for Emma Watson, who plays Hermione. Homework, boys, oh, and starring in a major blockbuster! Life is good for Emma. Lizo finds out what famous teenagers get up too.

What do you think of the film?
There has always been so much pressure from the start, I just hope that the third film has done justice to the book, and I have done justice to Hermione, because it’s my favourite book.

What’s it like being the most famous schoolgirl on the planet?
I don’t really feel like that. It feels like I am famous for about two days and then it goes back to being me again.

Do you get to have a normal childhood, do all that teenage stuff?
Yes, I do definitely. When I’m not filming I go back to school, I see my friends. I get to do normal teenage stuff again.

What is a typical normal weekend?
Well, when I’m not filming, sometimes I have some homework to do, I see my friends.

In this movie, apart from the glorious moment you get to punch Malfoy, what is the favourite bits for you?
Apart from that. I was privileged that I got to work with people like David Thwelis, Gary Oldman, Timothy Spall, Emma Thompson, all these fantastic actors and actresses. And I had a great time doing that. Also, the last scene in the Shrieking Shack really challenged me. So I had a good time doing that.…

Things have changed for now 14-year olds Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson. Greeting the press the day after the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban in New York, there remains a quietly eloquent maturity in these two British teenagers whose lives have changed since the first Harry Potter film burst in the public consciousness four years ago. Radcliffe is sporting a white t-shirt and jeans, while a glowing Watson wears a sparkling red outfit out of Sgt. Pepper. Full of smiles, the pair agree they have developed over the three films, but don’t know exactly how. “We have just been getting older and maturing”, a reticent Watson begins, now waiting for her male counterpart to finish her thought. Adds Radcliffe on cue. “I think we probably HAVE changed as actors but I’m not conscious of myself changing. I haven’t watched the first film for about three years now, so I can’t really compare it to the third because it’s not very fresh in my mind, “he says. But both admit their confidence has increased throughout the three films, Radcliffe says. “Just because we’re really more experienced with different directors.”

The different director Radcliffe refers too is Mexico’s Alfonso Cuaron, who replaced America’s Chris Columbus for the much darker Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Comparing the two, says Radcliffe, stems from what the pair learnt initially with Columbus. “Basically I think, everything we learned with Chris, we were now able to put into practice with Alfonso”, says Radcliffe.…

Sequels have a way of changing actors. For one thing, depending on the time frame, their appearance is different. Another thing is maturity. For Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson, playing Harry Potter and Hermione Granger, they certainly have faced and experienced many things in the years that have followed the first Harry Potter film. Back again for the third time in “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”, Daniel and Emma spoke about the changes they have faced.

How have you changed since the last Harry Potter film?
We’ve just been getting older and maturing.

Adolescence is hard enough, but you have to do it in the public eye?
There was a rather awkward hug with myself and Ron (Rupert Grint). On the exterior Hermoine and Ron spend the whole film just arguing because Ron is convinced that Hermoine’s cat has eaten his pet rat. But I think it’s a cover up really they have a bit of a soft spot for each other and it’s a classic love hate relationship to tease the ones you like.

How are you dealing with teenage angst?
Daniel and I both have very supportive families. I’m trying to do exactly what I do before I even started the film. Between films I always go back to school, I see all my friends, I play sport and I go to normal teenage parties. All of my money is locked away in a bank until I’m twenty-five and I’m never going to see it until then!…