At Friday's party at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in the South Side to welcome the new Harry Potter book, Kimberly Lesk joined in the fun by having her face painted and crafting "magic" wands and animal-shaped balloons.

When a large balloon dropped at midnight, signaling the wait was over for the release of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," Lesk took author J.K. Rowling's sixth installment home to South Park and began reading.

By Saturday afternoon she had read all 652 pages.

"The book is so great," she said, without giving away any secrets that would taint the reading experience for other fans.

But as enjoyable as Friday's pre-sale celebration was, it was only a warm-up for what will follow this month.

On July 29-31, Lesk, 26, will journey to the United Kingdom to attend Accio UK 2005, a conference on the Harry Potter books in the fictional schoolboy wizard's homeland.

Accompanying her will be high school friend and Potter fan Cindy Nolle, of South Park.

Besides attending events such as a mock trial for Potter character Severus Snape, during which fans will argue whether he is villain or hero, Lesk will present the paper, "Getting Stoned at Hogwarts: The Medusa Myth in 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.' "

The work, which she wrote for her mythology class at Rutgers University, traces the Medusa myth through the major characters, particularly, the three women.

In May, Lesk was awarded a master's degree in English literature from Rutgers, with concentrations in Victorian and children's literature.

The university is financing her attendance at the conference through a travel grant.

Lesk's fascination with the Potter books began during Christmas, 1998, when she was confined to bed after ankle surgery.

Her mother, Eileen Lesk, bought her a copy of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

Lesk read the 309-page book in one day. "This was just a perfectly crafted story," she said.

After finishing the book, she sent her mother out into the snow to a store to buy the second book in the series.

She read that book in a day before sending her mother for the third installment.

"They're so rich and complex. They really appeal to adults," she said, adding their academic appeal to her lies in that they involve ancient myths and folklore.

In the fall, she begins teaching college writing and research at Carlow University, and then plans to apply to graduate school for a doctorate in children's literature.

But the upcoming trip to the U.K., starting with a visit to Ireland to visit family, is uppermost in her mind.

"I am just so excited to be a part of this Harry Potter conference and to meet people who share my same interest," she said.

"I love Harry Potter so much."