"So today is tomorrow?" asked a small boy dressed in black robes as the clock struck midnight Friday.

	John Heller, Post-Gazette
	Casey Hartnet, Munhall, center, bought a copy of the last installment of the Harry Potter series at the Barnes and Noble in the Waterfront in Homestead after midnight yesterday. Click photo for larger image. More on the story Bob Hoover: Last word on Harry: He's good A photojournal: Final Harry Potter book released to fans

His friend didn't answer -- he was too busy bouncing in his chair, chanting, "We're going to get the book!"

The book, of course, was "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," and the two boys, up well past their bedtimes, were waiting in line at Borders in East Liberty.

At this point, Pottermania needs little explanation. Since the first Harry Potter book was released in 1997, J.K. Rowling's Dickensian cast of characters has experienced good and evil, fear and hatred, love and loyalty. The seventh and last installment of the Harry Potter series wraps up Ms. Rowling's story about an orphaned wizard boy who grows up in troubled times.

"Deathly Hallows," officially released at 12:01 a.m. yesterday, had a record-breaking print run of 12 million copies in the U.S. alone. Readers from Shanghai to Pittsburgh had been counting down to its release for months, even years.

In East Liberty on Friday, hundreds of people gathered in Borders. Though they ranged from grandparents to babies sleeping in their mothers' arms, they were predominantly pre-teens. Many were dressed in elaborate costumes; one simply wore a "I love Harry Potter" T-shirt.

The anticipation was palpable.

It began at 9 a.m. Friday. People were lined up on the street before the store opened, waiting to be issued a colored wristband that would hold their places in line that night.

At 2 p.m., Michael Rizor, 19, was the only Potter fan wandering the store. He wore a wizard costume he had cobbled together himself, complete with a wand and lightning tattoo meant to resemble a scar on Harry Potter's forehead.

"It's hard to find an adult-sized costume," he said.

Mr. Rizor had been counting the days. He planned to stay up for 48 hours to finish the book, as he had done for the rest of the series. He had sent angry e-mails to people who posted spoilers on the Web.

As much as he loves Harry, though, he said he hoped that Ms. Rowling would "kill him off."

"It's the last book. I will feel sad, but somebody has to die," he said. "Even though it is the last book, it's going to live on."

About 9 p.m., the book seekers began showing up. Delaney DelVecchio, 12, came dressed as Hedwig, Harry's pet owl.

Her parents, Brian and Tracy, also are fans of the series, but the family planned to buy just one copy to share. Reading, for them, is a group activity; they won't devour the book in one sitting.

"We're actually stuck because there's a fourth in the group, and we can't start until she's back in a week," said Mr. DelVecchio, referring to another daughter, off at camp.

Other adults also were wandering the store, some nonchalantly pretending that they hadn't been caught up in the mania.

Melody Platz, 32, was unashamed in her adoration of the series. She began reading "accidentally," she said, after she bought her sister the books for Christmas years ago.

"After 10 pages, I was hooked," she said. "I've been reading ever since."

At 9:30 p.m., the activities were well under way. A balloon-twister downstairs was making everything from wands to hats; a store employee dressed as Dobby the house elf called out clues for Harry Potter bingo. Upstairs, a crowd played games from the Potter Bee (can you spell 'boggart'?) to the Snape Debate (Snape: good or evil?).

At 10 p.m., the Swartz family arrived. They were there to recruit someone to stand in line for them.

"Midnight is their bedtime," said Rick Swartz, as his children, Reuben, 5, and Riza, 8, shook their heads petulantly.

At 11 p.m., the costume contest began. Harrys and Ginny Weasleys and Hermiones paraded in front of the crowd, along with a very convincing Professor Trelawney and a greasy-haired Snape.

Among those watching the contest were Susan Hughes and Megan Gallagher, Carnegie librarians who came to support the boost that Harry Potter has given to reading.

"This is the biggest thing that has ever happened in children's literature, and we need to be a part of it," said Ms. Hughes, who wore her daughter's graduation gown as a wizard's robe.

Displays around the Borders store suggested similar series, such as Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials'' and Christopher Paolini's "Eragon,'' to help people cope with Life After Harry Potter.

Eliza Thomas, 8, "Never met a book she didn't like," said her mother, Elizabeth Thomas.

"I really like poem books a lot, like Shel Silverstein, and I love magic books," said Eliza, who planned on staying up to read after she got her copy of "Deathly Hallows.''

Other children, however, planned to rely on audio books or older family members to read to them.

Lily Adams, 8, has only made it through the fifth chapter of the first book, "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone," with the help of her 12-year-old sister, Maddy.

Adrian L'Sullivan, 8, has listened to all the previous Harry Potter books on tape, though he said he would read the actual book this time.

At 11:07 p.m., six boys in black robes ran down the escalators, dueling with plastic wands. A tired mother holding a cafe drink followed behind, shushing them.

At 11:30 p.m., lines formed behind the registers, snaking through the entire store.

At 11:59 p.m., the countdown began.

At midnight, people cheered wildly; a few screamed as Borders employees brought out boxes of books.

At 12:02 a.m., the first people left the store triumphantly, many having bought more than one copy.

A grown man kissed his book in joy.