Top British retailers are waging a last-minute price war over the seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series, set for release on Saturday.

They were just learning to instant-message their friends when Harry Potter got his first owl from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As they were using their new licenses to drive to school, Harry was meeting his estranged godfather Sirius Black.

The witching hour is almost here. Thousands of would-be warlocks, sorcerers and ordinary, non-magical Muggles lined up outside bookstores from Sydney to Seattle on Friday, eager to get their hands on "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the seventh and final volume in the boy wizard's saga.

Despite pleas for silence from author J.K. Rowling and some leading Potter fan sites, publishing's secret of all secrets - whether the wizard lives or dies - is in danger of becoming plain gossip as publication approaches for "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."

One of the most hyped books in history goes on sale this week with the release of the seventh and final instalment of the Harry Potter series. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows hits shelves on Saturday July 21, and anticipation over how the last chapter will end may ensure it becomes the fastest selling novel of all time.

A campaign launched on Monday to extend the Harry Potter series has received a boost after author J.K. Rowling declared "never say never" about writing another book on the boy wizard.

J.K. Rowling says she wept as she wrote Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final book in the hugely successful Harry Potter series.

Best-selling author JK Rowling says she broke down in tears during the completion of her final book in the Harry Potter series.

Three weeks before the release in Britain of the very last Harry Potter book, a publisher in France has released a special English-to-French dictionary .

As the premiere of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," was performed in Tokyo, a red carpet was rolled out for the most popular wizard of the World.

The World premiere of the fifth film about Harry Potter will take place in Tokyo on June 28, Warner Bros. Entertainment's Japan unit said Tuesday, the latest in a growing string of Hollywood product to debut in this country.

This postage might not get letters delivered faster, but Britain's Royal Mail predicts fans will find its series of Harry Potter stamps magical.