Predictably busy scenes and a quietly patient queue snaking around the corner at Notting Hill. In pole position outside was Kenneth Pena, 9, who confided - between anxiously excited glances at the door - that he'd originated the line some two hours beforehand. Standing all that time? Wasn't he tired? "Some sitting," he conceded.

The only unrest came when a group of post-pub students pushed through, jeering "Down with Potter!". But called upon to defend the anti-JK brigade, they just looked mildly embarrassed and sloped off. So much for culture war.

More typical of the crowd was Oliver Reyhert, 10, who was quietly kitted out in Potter t-shirt, glasses and biro scar. Turns out we're not the only ones trying to read it faster than anyone else: Oliver's pals have grouped themselves strategically across London in order to get better access to bookshops and speedier reading times. Considered offering him some of my Pro-Plus, but wouldn't want to skew the result. Or poison children.

Anyway, HP6 safely secured, hit-me-now-strength coffee percolating and reading well underway. More soon.