Harry Potter fans may have to wait until Monday to read the final instalment of the runaway literary hit.

That's two precious reading days after readers elsewhere in the world, and on the Island, get their hands on the seventh book, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'.

People who pre-ordered US copies of the book at Bermuda bookstores will have to wait until Monday morning for their copies while those that ordered a UK copy of the book may get their hands on it as soon as 8.01 p.m. on Friday.

The problem is that the US companies selling the books to Bermuda have opted to wait until the official day the books go on sale — July 21 — to ship them to Bermuda, while the UK companies have agreed to ship them prior to that date as long as none are sold before 12.01 a.m. British Summer Time — which is actually 8.01 p.m. on Friday evening.

To capitalise on the 8 p.m. sale time, The Bermuda Book Store will hold a Hogwarts School Fair on Queen Street and sell the UK edition.

Store manager Hannah Willmott said: "Everyone is invited for a magical street party for the most famous boy wizard's last adventure!!

"Come dressed for the occasion and enjoy the festivities, including costume prizes, hourly door prizes, a Potions Tent, Sorting Hat, Fortune Telling, Bouncy Castle, Food and Games. We will even have a Slytherin' Snake!"

Meanwhile UK editions of the book will go on sale on Saturday at 8.30 a.m. at The Bookmart. Both companies will have the US editions by Monday.

Already 12 million books have been printed around the world of the final instalment in hopes that many readers will get a copy as soon as possible. Worldwide over 350 million Harry Potter books have been sold since the first book,

The books have been written by J.K. Rowling, the first billionaire author.