Tight security protects Harry Potter's mystery

Miller Distributors took delivery of Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, the seventh and final Harry Potter novel, at its warehouse in Luqa yesterday.

With its ending wrapped in secrecy and high security surrounding its distribution, the book goes on sale one minute past 1 a.m. on Saturday.

Hundreds of boxes destined for retail stores were emblazoned in red with the book's title and strict instructions "Embargoed stock: Not for sale before July 21, 2007".

Along with other countries in the same time zone, Agenda Bookshop at the Valletta Waterfront will be launching the book with a party bash starting on Friday at 9 p.m.

Everyone, young and old, is invited to the free party which will include, among others, Agenda Bookshop Kids Club's mascot Mikiel, Harry Potter, Dumbledore and other characters for a night of magical acts, story-telling, games, face-painting and stilt walkers, all against the wonderful backdrop of the Grand Harbour.

Fans are desperate to know whether the teenage wizard Potter lives or dies after author J.K. Rowling revealed in June last year she would kill off at least two characters in book seven, and that a third got a reprieve.

"Harry Potter books have been a consistently unbeatable crowd-puller introducing their all-age-bracket readers not only to a fantastic world of wonder and magic but also to a passion for a good read," Rachelle Tabone, marketing manager for Agenda Bookshop, said. "The Harry Potter saga and its characters are extremely addictive. Very few people on reading the first book did not eagerly await the release of each consecutive sequel."