Harry Potter fans can finally find out their hero's fate, as the seventh and final book in the series goes on sale.
The first copies were snapped up just after midnight, as author JK Rowling read excerpts to 500 devotees at the Natural History Museum in London.
On Friday, she described a "heady mixture of excitement, nerves and relief" as the launch approached.
"All the secrets I have been carrying around for so long will be yours, too," she wrote to fans on her website.
"Within hours you will know what happens to Harry, Ron, Hermione and the rest in their final adventure.
"Those who guessed correctly will be vindicated, and those who guessed wrongly will not, I hope, be too disappointed!"
Reading from the first chapter, entitled The Dark Lord Descending, Rowling's voice echoed around the Natural History Museum.
"The two men appeared out of nowhere, a few yards apart in the narrow moonlit lane," she began.
Upsetting
Appearing on BBC One's Blue Peter on Friday, the author warned that the book could be upsetting for some readers.
"Will I cry?" asked Natasha, a young fan in the audience for the show.
"Have you ever cried before at a sad book?" asked Rowling.
"Well, I cried when Dumbledore died," she replied.
"I think you'll probably cry at this book, too," the author said.
325 million sold
A decade after the first instalment, Harry Potter has become a global phenomenon with 325 million books already sold.
That number will grow as millions of copies of the new novel are snapped up over the weekend.
It is being released simultaneously in 93 countries, with a print run of 12 million in the US alone and more than 2.2 million ordered in advance from internet retailer Amazon.
Loyal fans will finally reach the climax of the story after 10 years of twists and turns in the life of the young wizard.
A final confrontation between Harry and his evil nemesis, Lord Voldemort, has been building throughout the series - and Rowling has revealed some characters do not survive.
Fans around the world queued in their thousands outside bookshops waiting for the late-night launch.
At Waterstone's in central London, an estimated 5,000 people turned up to enjoy the atmosphere. Many came dressed in character - as wizards, teachers, death eaters, giants and even owls.
Cahina Lewis, who joined the queue in a witch's costume, said: "For the last nine or 10 years it's been such a big part of my life.
"I've been talking to my friends about Harry Potter theories for so long, and I'm not going to be able to do that anymore. What will I do with my life?"
Stefanie Van Gompel, 16, from Eindhoven in the Netherlands, arrived in London on Wednesday morning to queue for her copy of the book.
"The Dutch version isn't released until December so it's not such a big deal over there," she explained.
Chellie Carr, 17, from Okemos, Michigan, said she pestered her mother to bring her to London.
"For all the other books she said: 'No. It's just a book.' But for this one, she said yes," she said.
Global celebrations
All-night parties and Hogwarts Express-style train trips have been planned elsewhere around the world to celebrate the release.
Staff at stores in Hong Kong will tour the city dressed as wizards, while in Bangladesh, customs offices are continuing to work on a Friday - a holiday in the country - to ensure the novel is delivered on time.
Stores in Taiwan and India are laying on "magic breakfasts" for early customers and a Sydney shop is taking fans aged from two to 84 on a train ride to a secret location to get the book.
In New York, a street party will include face-painting, wand-making, fire-eaters and magicians, while in Bangkok, an outdoor movie screen will show all the Potter films throughout the night.
So, has anyone else bought the new book? I personally pre-ordered mine about 2 months ago on Amazon, and it was dispatched on the 15th, and is due to be delivered this morning
In hindsight, it was a bad decision, as I have paid £11.74 (delivered) yet my local Asda is selling the book for £5.
Still, I am still happy to be getting it
My friend bought it on Saturday when we were driving back from our holiday in Cornwall. She paid £9.99 for it in a Co-op or somewhere...I think she was more concerned about grabbing it as quick as possible than she was about the price coz she thought everywhere would get sold out.
I'm not going to buy it or read it, I haven't read the others so...
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Cool
kids have waited years and years. And that is what JK comes up with...THATS c***. Worse than "and the whole thing was a dream"