London, June 21: With a jangle of cash registers and a woosh of witches` capes, bookstores across Britain rang up the first official sales of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" at the stroke of midnight, bringing the boy wizard`s fifth magical adventure to a legion of adoring fans. "I love it so much I get goosebumps," said 12-year-old Lisa Brummett, from Mesa, Arizona, after hours of waiting at the WH Smith bookstore at King`s Cross rail station to buy the thick new book, J.K. Rowling`s first in three years.
"Its kind of nice to escape to a place a bit more magical," said her sister Stephanie, 16, looking forward to the hefty 768 -page British edition, the longest yet in the tales of Harry and his pals at Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry.
The family, with mother Sandie, father Delbert and brother Mark, 18, had rescheduled their two-week tour of Europe to be in London for the launch.
"I`m going to read this all the way to Amsterdam. I won`t be sleeping at all," added Lisa, hopping with excitement.
Danielle Downey, 14, was undaunted by the length of the book.
"You look forward to reading it for so long, it is good that it`s this big," said the grinning red-haired teenager, adding that her favorite character was Hermione.
The line of 100 or so eager fans trailed from the store into the station`s cavernous arrival hall and contained an equal smattering of children, parents and Potter-mad adults.
Bureau Report