The latest outbreak of 'Pottermania' erupted today with the launch of JK Rowling's sixth instalment in the Harry Potter series.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince went sale across the globe at 12.01am (BST) this morning.
Fans young and old poured into book stores, many dressed as witches, wizards, and other favourite Potter characters, and millions of copies were delivered to Internet buyers.
The carefully orchestrated launch was accompanied by equally elaborate measures to stop details of the boy wizard's latest escapades leaking out early.
When a handful of copies were sold before the deadline in Canada, purchasers were ordered not to disclose its contents, and, according to media reports, even to read it.
Children descended on the Scottish city of Edinburgh, where Ms Rowling read from the latest book.
