Mitchell Davis sits in an easy chair at the Butler Public Library, dressed in a T-shirt that reads "Harry Pawter and the Goblet of Fur."

Although the shirt is a canine takeoff on "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," the fourth Potter novel, Mitchell says the books are anything but dogs.

He and other fans are awaiting Saturday's release of "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," sixth in the seven-part series by J.K. Rowling.

But the release will entail more than placing books on shelves. Harry Potter enthusiasts will show up to numerous Friday night bookstore parties, where planned activities are as veiled in mystery as the latest plot.

Fans of all ages will be wearing costumes. In some locations, owls resembling those in the books will be on loan from the National Aviary.

The Friday night parties will end with the books being sold at 12:01, when the release day officially begins.

Eamon McNamee, a manager at Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Cranberry Township, said the store has held parties for the last three releases. "They've been very, very successful," McNamee said, estimating more than 1,000 people will attend.

"Every book outsells the last one," he said.

The Borders Express, formerly Walden Books, in the Clearview Mall, will hold its first party Friday, but store manager Sue Collar said many shoppers showed up at midnight in previous years to buy the latest releases.

"The last time we had people lined up from the front of the store through the mall out past the handicapped parking," she said.

The books, which recount young Harry's adventures against evil while attendingHogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, appeal to various ages, holding consumers through multiple reads."I read the second one yesterday for about the fifth time," said Kyle Gallagher, a student at Haine Middle School in Cranberry Township. "They just hook me... and I just can't stop reading them.""I'm a huge Harry Potter fan, I've read them (about) five times each" echoed 14-year-old Jodi McFeaters of Barkeyville, a regular at the Grove City Library."I have no idea (why they are popular). … I guess because it's different - because there really aren't any other books like this."For Davis, who is going into seventh grade at St. Luke Christian School, the Potter passion is shared with his brother, Braden, 14, and their mother, Debbie."We're just fanatics," Mitchell said, explaining how he and Braden sometimes argue over use of the books.While sharing the books is sometimes a challenge, the brothers say they do share the opinion that narrative and detail make Rowling's books special."Maybe description," Braden said when asked to sum up the books' appeal. "It's a wonderful storyline. It's incredible how much she puts into it.""Every detail of the owlery and sweet shop - piece by piece," Mitchell interjected, agreeing with his brother. "It's like you can actually taste it. It's like you're actually there.""I think it's incredible that an author can span that big of an age range," commented Debbie Davis on the books' appeal to multiple generations."I have parents who read them. They can't wait for them to come out, too," agreed Jeanne Sarnese, director of the Prospect Community Library.John Kristufek of Grove City, whose children are in their 30s, volunteered to portray Professor Albus Dumbledore at last year's Grove City Library party after becoming a fan of the series himself."I do not read very many books, but I have read all of these. I have seen the movies. I do have the DVDs," he said."It was so enjoyable to see a story that, to me, the violence wasn't the big thing," he added, pointing to escapism as one of the series' attributes.

Although the first three books have already been made into movies, many readers - children included - still prefer the books."I own all the books. I've read them all more than once," said Andy DiStasi, 11, of Grove City."I liked the movies, but the one thing that keeps on bugging me is they always leave out Peeves … he's kind of funny," DiStasi said of a poltergeist that likes to get students in trouble."They skip a lot of stuff in the movies," agreed Mitchell Davis. "They never put Peeves in," he also said."I like the books because they actually put all the parts in them. They don't leave out my favorite parts. They give the main picture, but (movies) leave out some of the coolest details," agreed Allie Coulter, 9, of Butler."I like the books better than the movies. The books are so much more detailed," added Jodi McFeaters.Whether it be in books or on film, Potter fans are anxious to experience the next leg of the story.As of the last episode, Harry was off the Quiddich team - and some readers want to know whether the star player will be reinstated.Others wonder who might die, since prophesies in an earlier text suggest a character will be lost. Other readers question the identity of the half-blood prince in the new book's title."We're getting all our housework and all our chores done now. We'll probably sit beneath a tree in the yard," Debbie Davis said about the family's plans for reading the latest installment.The Davises say they prefer to read the book quickly so the suspense isn't spoiled by other readers farther along in the text.As much as they look forward to "Half-Blood Prince, the Davises say they are dreading the novel since it will bring the end of the series that much closer."I'm going to be really sad after they're all done," Mitchell said.