Waterstones in Milton Keynes is celebrating the release of the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child script book with a party and midnight launch this evening.

The eighth story in the series by JK Rowling is based 19 years after the end of the Deathly Hallows and focuses on Harry’s life at the Ministry and his son Albus Severus coming to terms with his famous name.

The play has been running preview shows at the Palace Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in London for the past month, but officially begins today.

Its script book goes on sale nationwide at midnight, and if you have pre-ordered from either of the Milton Keynes Waterstones stores you can join their party this evening.

The 31st July is, of course, Harry Potter’s birthday so the event will have a birthday cake, a chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’ and some dancing to Very Wyrd Sisters.

Prizes will also be given out to the best dressed attendees so dust off those robes, whip out your wands and perfect your patronus to give yourself the best chance.

You will then be able to collect the long awaited book on the stroke of midnight and return to the wizarding world for the first time in five years (unless you’ve seen the play!)

Waterstones also reminded: “If you have not already prepaid for your book, you can do so on any day beforehand or will need to do so on arrival on the night because payment cannot be taken after midnight – not even Dementors can break Sunday Trading laws!”