NATCHEZ &045; Think Harry Potter is just for children?

Think again.

While the first two Bookland patrons who snapped up copies of the latest boy-wizard adventures Saturday were high schoolers, most of the rest of the early-morning crowd were adults. And they made no secret of the fact they were eager to start reading themselves.

&uot;We’re two of the biggest Harry Potter freaks you’ll meet,&uot; said Robert Squires, who arrived in uniform with his Metro Ambulance Services partner Aaron Tiffee.

Both said they have read the books in their downtime.

&uot;Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,&uot; J.K. Rowling’s sixth book in her wildly popular series, was released at the stroke of midnight Saturday &045; and no earlier. Bookland manager Renee Henderson had hoped to open the store at that hour, but settled for 6:30 a.m. She had customers waiting a half-hour early, though, and opened the gate just after 6.

Elizabeth Floyd, a Natchez High student, and Thomas Rodgers, who attends Cathedral, were the first two to pick up copies.

Rodgers had already found out the book’s biggest secret &045; which main character dies.

&uot;Somebody had told me last night,&uot; he said, noting that the book came out at midnight in England, long before American stores were able to begin selling it.

&uot;This is definitely the earliest I’ve gotten it,&uot; Rodgers said of his latest Harry Potter tome.

But Rodgers and Floyd shared one bit of disappointment &045; the book isn’t quite as long as its two predecessors, although at 672 pages, it’s nothing to sneeze at.

Floyd is headed on a family trip and will take &uot;Half-Blood Prince&uot; along for the ride.

&uot;It’s just interesting,&uot; she said of the book series. &uot;It takes you away.&uot;

The books, which follow Harry Potter’s years at his boarding school for wizards, have become progressively darker as Harry has aged. But, while technically children’s books, they have always appealed to adult readers as well.

Jo Ann Bumgarner introduced her two oldest grandchildren to the series. She said she will read the latest first to make sure it is appropriate for them to read.

&uot;As we read, we talk about it,&uot; she said.

Bumgarner was taking her book on a trip to Baton Rouge Saturday. When the last Potter book was released, she and her husband, who are both truck drivers, were on a trip together.

&uot;He kept asking if I was ready to drive, and I’d say, ‘No,’&uot; she said, recalling that her nose was still in her book.

For Henderson, who was wearing a T-shirt with the words &uot;Muggle staff&uot; &045; Muggle being the wizard word for a non-magic person &045; she hoped the day would be magic for sales.

Though she won’t specify how many, Henderson said she has ordered enough copies to be satisfied the store won’t run out.

&uot;It’s done more than any book,&uot; she said of the Potter series’ effect on bookstore sales. &uot;It’s awesome.&uot;

Bookland presold 113 books, taking orders as early as last November.

Booksellers were under strict orders from the publishers not to sell copies before it was time &045; or even to peek into the boxes.

&uot;We’ve had the books here for a while,&uot; Henderson said. &uot;We just had to keep an eye on everything.&uot;

Bookland had a table front and center loaded with copies of the latest book as well as other Potter paraphernalia &045; from a sorting hat puppet to replicas of Harry’s red and gold scarf.

&uot;People who don’t get into this think it’s just nuts,&uot; Henderson said.

Don’t tell that to Ali Smith. The Vidalia Junior High student arrived shortly after 7 a.m., somewhat breathless as she finally had a copy of the book in her hands.

She’s been counting down the days and checking Potter Web sites for the latest news as she awaited &uot;Half-Blood Prince.&uot;

&uot;I know someone’s dying, but I don’t want to know who,&uot; she said.

Smith said the appeal of the books is simple: &uot;It’s like fun and entertaining for kids,&uot; she said.

Judging by the crowd at Bookland Saturday, for adults, too.