From the witching hour on Saturday June 21, fans of the boy wizard will be able to get their hands on the long-awaited fifth book in the Harry Potter series. Eager young muggles are expected to flock to bookshops across the county to get their hands on JK Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix which goes on sale from midnight on Friday.  | | The book is expected to break publishing records |
Hundreds of advance orders have already been placed at Gloucestershire stores - and staff are pulling out the stops to make sure the launch of what is expected to be the fastest-selling book in history is a truly magical occasion. At 700 pages and 38 chapters the book is more than a third longer than author J K Rowling's previous book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which broke all previous bookselling records on the first weekend of its publication in July 2000. And among all the excitement there is bound to be some sadness, as JK Rowling revealed this week she has killed off one of Harry's chums in the new book. In an interview with BBC Newsnight's Jeremy Paxman she said she was so upset after killing a "significant" character - whose identity she refuses to reveal - that she burst into tears, but believes that children's authors have to be "ruthless killers". Here are some of the activities planned at county stores to celebrate the launch of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Ottakar's in Regent Arcade, Cheltenham has joined forces with Cheltenham Children's Library to stage a Hogwart's Midnight Feast at the library in Chester Walk from 11pm on Friday to 1am on Saturday. Young Potter fans are invited to bring a sleeping bag, torch, pyjamas and a parent and enjoy a spooky hours read and feast - places are limited so call 01242 571779 to book your free golden invitation ticket. Wizard's breakfast If you miss out on that don't worry, there will be a free wizard's breakfast from 7.30am on Saturday outside the Regent Arcade store on Saturday morning - the area will be transformed into Hogwart's Reading Room with the aid of props from the Everyman Theatre. The morning's entertainment will include the chance to meet live owls - courtesy of the Gloucester-based Barn Owl Centre - plus games, quizzes, a DVD screening of Harry Potter films and a competition to guess the number of Bertie Botts beans in the jar.  | | County bookshops will be beseiged by young witches and wizards |
The afternoon sees a fancy dress competition with prizes for the best Hogwart's characters and a charity auction of Harry Potter memorabilia in aid of Book Aid International, which helps to supply educational materials to the developing world. Barbara Pendrigh, head of the children's department at the store, said: "It is a big occasion for us and we will be looking forward to seeing lots of Harry Potter fans." Waterstone's in the Promenade, Cheltenham, has already taken more than 1,000 advance orders and will be open at midnight and from 7am on Saturday, with staff in Hogwarts fancy dress, a wizard to entertain youngsters, and Potter-themed quizzes and competitions. WH Smith in High Street, Cheltenham, will be open from 10.30pm with a video, quizzes and games to pass the time until midnight when the book goes on sale - admission is by invitation which can be picked up in the store. On Saturday store staff will be dressing up as wizards to take part in a Harry Potter Readathon. Ottakar's in Gloucester will be open from 7.30am on Saturday with entertainment including a gnome-tossing arena, a chance to design a phoenix-feather collage, and a treasure hunt for golden snitches (used in the Hogwart's game of quidditch) hidden throughout the store. The Cirencester branch will be open at 6am with lots of wizard-related activitites WH Smith stores in Tewkesbury, Stroud, Gloucester and Cirencester will be open from 7.30am to cope with the expected rush of customers. >>Find out more about Gloucestershire's Harry Potter connections and how a county schoolgirl won a magical trip to Hogwarts. | 
