do you believe in magic?

Joy & rapture! I've just purchased my copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blod Prince! I'll admit that I haven't exactly been on the edge of my seat since I finished book five. It was just far too dark and depressing for my personal tastes. However, as the release date for book six grew closer and the hype surrounding it grew larger, I got more and more excited. After a restless night and a hurried brunch, I headed to my local Borders. When I arrived at around 1:30 pm, it was nothing short of pure bedlam. Children running through the store clutching their books, speculating over who the half-blood prince is, book store employees attempting (in vain) to corral those who have not yet purchased their books to the front of the store so that they could recieve a ticket. Those, like myself who had not pre-ordered were given a plain ticket, which doubled as a bookmark, while those who had purchased their copies in advance were handed a ticket emblazoned in gold lettering with the word "PREORDER." After making my way to the front of the store and waiting in line for a few minutes, I finally recieved my prize: the long awaited Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Along with the book and the ticket, I was given a coupon for 30% off any Borders or Waldenbooks purchase, and a small card listing Harry Potter related literature. While a little hectic, the experience of buying a Harry Potter book on the release date definitley adds to the magic. Now on to the part I've really been waiting for: finding out who the half-blood prince is!