'Harry Potter' Fever Hits Britain

LONDON, July 19, 2007 — -- "Harry Potter" mania has descended on Britain as crowds of costumed fans lined up outside London's biggest bookstore more than two days before the latest installment of the phenomenally popular book series goes on sale at midnight Friday.

"It's so much more fun than just getting the book," said Carina Lewis, a 16-year-old British high school student, of her plan to wait outside Waterstone's bookstore in London's Piccadilly Circus for two days and two nights until "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" comes out. "We're celebrating."

Yoni Hannis, 16, a student from Belgium, agreed.

"It's London and this is where Harry Potter was born," she told ABC News of her decision to await the book's release in the British capital. "It's the biggest party in Europe."

Hannis and two friends each paid more than $200 to travel by train to London from their homes in Belgium and the Netherlands.

They arrived at Waterstone's Thursday afternoon, joining about 40 other fans sprawled out on the sidewalk with their travel bags, blankets, umbrellas and "Potter" gear.

Wearing a simple maroon-and-gold scarf, the signature colors of Gryffindor, Harry's house at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Hannis seemed underdressed for the occasion, compared with her cohorts.

Carina Lewis, by contrast, sat on the sidewalk donning thick black lipstick, white makeup and a black lace top. A bird's nest of black hair rested on top of her head.

"I'm Bellatrix Lestrange," Lewis said, referring to a character in the "Potter" series known as a death-eater, a supporter of the evil Lord Voldemort. The character is played by actress Helena Bonham Carter in the latest "Harry Potter" film.

"She's the only female character I can pull off," said Lewis, whose six girlfriends were dressed as a range of other "Potter" familiars, including one of the Malfoys, the rich death-eater family, and Crookshanks, Hermione's pet cat.

"I back-combed my hair into oblivion," Lewis told ABC News of her hairdo. "It'll take me a week to get rid of it. I might just keep it."

The upcoming release of the newest "Potter" book, which many fans hope will feature a last battle between Harry and his arch nemesis, Lord Voldemort, has unleashed a worldwide "Potter" fever. More than 12 million copies of the book have been printed so far, and book retailers expect to sell more than 7 million in the first 24 hours, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times.

Waterstone's branch at Piccadilly Circus alone is expecting between 800 and 2,000 people to attend the special opening at 12:01 a.m Saturday. Besides the book itself, the party will feature magicians, prizes for the best-dressed fans, and a countdown to the doors' opening.

"It's going to be massive," said Jason Redgrove, 36, an events manager at Waterstone's.

But not everyone is planning to attend the party.

Irene Hilbers, a 21-year-old Dutch woman wearing a black velvet cape and a mask of black eye makeup, shook her head when asked if she planned to stay much past midnight. Instead, she said, she'll be going straight home.

"I'm going to be reading, reading, reading, with maybe a little sleeping in between," Hilbers told ABC News.

She said she expects to finish the 608-page tome in "one, maybe two days."

Expectations for the ending of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," which author J.K. Rowling has said will be the last of the "Harry Potter" series, are high.

A quick survey of the line outside Waterstone's revealed that many die-hard fans are not optimistic about Harry's fate.

"I expect Harry to die," Carina Lewis said. "It's going to be really sad and I'm going to cry."

Hilbers agreed.

"I think Harry and Voldemort are going to be killed," she said gravely. "It will end a chapter for Harry but open a new chapter for the other characters."

People waiting outside the store, many of whom had met each other through "Harry Potter" fan sites like www.wizardzone.nl or www.dreuzels.nl -- referring to the Dutch word for Muggles, or nonwizards -- said they were angry at reports that parts of the book were recently leaked online.

"It ruins it for the rest of us," said Stephanie van Gempel, 16, who worked as a cashier in a Dutch hardware store over Christmas break to save money for the train trip to London. She told ABC News she would avoid the Internet until she had the book in her hand Saturday.

"We won't let it spoil the fun," she said.

For those not willing to brave the crowds Saturday, there are other options. A record 2 million people worldwide have preordered the book with Internet retailer Amazon.com, according to British newspaper the Sun.

The British mail service plans to use 180 extra trucks and an extra train to deliver 600,000 preordered copies to British homes Saturday. That's one book for every 43 British households.

"It's probably the single thickest mailing" the Royal Mail has ever had, spokesman James Taylor told ABC News. "We've planned it with military precision."

Asda Superstores have taken the unusual step of calling in extra staff to guard the books until tonight's launch. Clair Hufton, Asda spokesman, told ABC News, "We have ghoulish guards at our store warehouses insuring the books are safe until midnight."