Ready for another round of Quiddich? If you are a fan of the Harry Potter series get ready to rush to your local bookstore or library for the sixth Harry Potter book: “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood-Prince” by J.K Rowling. The book is scheduled for release on Saturday, July 16.

To jump start the excitement for the newest book, Wind and Tide Bookstore on Pioneer Way in Oak Harbor will be open at midnight on Friday, July 15, to accommodate customers who have pre-ordered the new book. The special late opening for the book’ release will include a party for all Harry Potter fans.

“We are anticipating a good time, as we had last year. People get pretty excited, dressing up in Harry Potter costumes and making Harry Potter-like food. I can hardly wait to read the new book myself,” said Diane Sullivan, owner of Wind and Tide Books.

Sullivan also said that last year they sold out of the new Harry Potter Book half-way through the day it came out. This year, extra copies were ordered.

The list for books continues to grow according to Wind and Tide employees. Adults and children from all over Whidbey Island have placed orders to ensure obtaining a copy.

In addition to the bookstore, Sno-Isle Library is participating in promoting the new book. Though they won’t be open late, library staff will be hand-delivering boxes of the new book to Sno-Isle library branches in readiness for checkout on Saturday, July 16.

But patrons won’t be able to take Harry home unless they planned ahead. There’s a total of 1,200 people on wait lists at branches of the regional library system.

The Harry Potter craze started in 1998 with the release of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Success of the first book led to five more novels. Now anticipation for the newest addition the series is hardly contained.

According to a Harry Potter Web site, bookstore giant Barnes and Noble released a statement saying that as of Monday, July 11th, pre-order sales for the new book have topped $1 million, making it the best-selling pre-order book in history.

The Harry Potter series has become a world-wide addiction, attracting both children and adults with its wizardly intrigue.

Wind and Tide Bookstore and the library are not the only places that you can pick up a copy of “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” Other retailers, including Wal-Mart, K-Mart and the Navy Exchange will also stock the book.