It won’t be the Knight Bus, but students planning to see a midnight showing of the newest Harry Potter movie can ride a university shuttle to and from a local theater.

The Department of Transportation Services will be extending service on the University Town Center Shuttle-UM bus, which runs to Prince George’s Plaza, until 4 a.m. Friday for fans who pre-ordered tickets to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.

The bus will depart from Stamp Student Union at 11:15 p.m. and arrive at the Regal Hyattsville Royale 14 theater about 11:25, just in time for the midnight showing. Students will be picked up at PG Plaza at about 2:45 a.m.

The shuttle will make one stop at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center for students who live on North Campus and then return to the student union to pick up all other students.

DOTS is teaming up with the Residence Hall Association — which first suggested the idea to DOTS Director David Allen — to bring Harry Potter enthusiasts the shuttles.

“DOTS and David Allen have always enjoyed providing access to students,” DOTS Assistant Director Beverly Malone said. “Our relationship with the RHA has proved mutually beneficial.”

While officials said the decision to extend service for the much-anticipated premiere has been well received, some students said news of the extra service came far too late. Allen is on vacation until late next week, and Monday, Malone didn’t even know about his plans to extend the shuttle service.

Freshman accounting major Sara Bleistein said she’s excited for the premiere and even had a movie marathon last week in preparation. Because the information was released the week of the movie — after many students pre-ordered tickets — Bleistein didn’t factor the transportation perk into her plans.

She is having a car dropped off at the university and will be driving to Arlington, Va., for the premiere.

Freshman electrical engineering major Micaela Larson hasn’t read the books and doesn’t consider herself a Hogwarts expert, but she is still attending the premiere for the social experience.

“I think it’ll be fun,” she said.

Larson also said it was unfortunate she just found out about the extended shuttle service — she’ll be traveling to see the movie at an IMAX theater in Virginia.

As of last night, the theater at PG Plaza still had tickets available for a 12:02 a.m. showing.

mccarty at umdbk dot com