A MAGICAL NIGHT FOR MUGGLES.

Byline: Jim Feehan The Register-Guard

For Harry Potter fans, today is like a birthday, the Super Bowl and Oscar night rolled into one.

At the stroke of midnight, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," the fifth book in author J.K. Rowling's best-selling children's series, hit stores. The series follows the exploits of Harry Potter, a young English orphan and schoolboy wizard with bright green eyes, unruly black hair and an odd mark on his forehead shaped like a lightning bolt.

Fans have been waiting for three years for this moment, and the anticipation was palpable, said Harry fan Michelle White of Eugene. White was among those in line Friday night to buy her copy at Barnes & Noble, one of at least two local stores that held special release parties to launch sales of the book as soon as they were allowed.

"I like the stories, the storyline is good, and most importantly, it's neat that kids are excited about the book," White said. "It's cool for kids to read now."

White has read all four books to her 7-year-old son, Anthony, who was staying up past his bedtime to pick up the book.

"I like the magic because I want it to do my homework for me," he said.

The Whites planned to read a few chapters into the wee hours and then wake up today to continue where they left off, Michelle said.

Even with computers and video games competing for their time, children as young as 6 are excited about the series, said Steve Jones of Eugene, who was picking up a copy for himself at Borders.

"It's a very detailed fairy tale involving the concept of good and evil and the challenges Harry faces growing up and finding his own place in the world," said the 34-year-old Jones.

Bewitched by Potter, fans anxiously awaited the fifth book by lining up early at Barnes & Noble and Borders bookstores.

Noah Crabtree, 14, of Eugene, didn't take any chances that he would miss out on the midnight release. He showed up at 10:30 a.m. Friday to be the first in line to receive his copy. Crabtree brought along a copy of the first Harry Potter book to brush up on the adventures and kill time.

"The books are well written, well entwined with a really interesting storyline," said Crabtree, who has read the first four installments of Harry Potter several times.

Area booksellers are hoping Harry Potter is a sales wizard. One of the biggest sellers of all time, both Barnes & Noble and Borders are selling the novel for 40 percent off its $29.99 list price.

The promotional hoopla is more spirited than any Quidditch match the teen-age wizard has ever faced in his tumultuous young life. On Friday night, children draped in robes, wearing plastic-horned ribbed glasses and waving glitter-coated wands roamed about Barnes & Noble anxiously awaiting the midnight release.

At local stores, staff dressed as Hogwarts students while shoppers ate Potter-themed food, applauded magicians and regaled in Hogwarts trivia. Among those waiting in line, adults equalled the number of kids.

"Harry Potter is an alluring mix of magic, intrigue and escapism that appeals to children and parents in equal measure," said Erin Hammett of Eugene.

Hammett's 11 year-old daughter Aimee said the book's characters drives her interest in Harry Potter.

"You can escape into the fantasy and you start to feel like you know the characters," she said.

Borders, like many other book retailers, has taken hundreds of pre-orders for the new J.K. Rowling fantasy.

Local booksellers predict the midnight release of the long-awaited title will work nothing short of magic on the book-loving masses.

Borders manager Katie Reed said the bookseller ordered 1,000 copies of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."

"It's a wonderful book that is well-written," Reed said. "The appeal to all age groups - that's the cool part about about this book."

Rowling's most recent book, "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," also had booksellers staying open past midnight for its release in the summer of 2000.

Jay Adams, manager at Barnes & Noble, declined to say how many books the store ordered but did say it was 30 percent more than was ordered for fourth installment's release three years ago.

Despite its nearly 900 pages and darker tone than earlier installments, children will still be enthralled by Harry Potter, Adams said.

"They can't get enough of Harry," he said.

Nancy Smith, owner of Smith Family Bookstore in Eugene, said she ordered 100 copies. Three years ago, the store ordered 30 copies of the fourth installment. "We just had so many people ask us if we were going to carry it; so we ordered 100," Smith said.

CAPTION(S):

Noah Crabtree, 14, showed up at Borders at 10:30 a.m. Friday so he could be the first to buy the new Harry Potter book at midnight. However, it was too early to form a line: No one else had shown up yet. He didn't mind though. "I'd rather be doing this than chores at home."