"One day, 12 hours, six minutes ..." \nIn the same way that Indiana anticipates the NCAA men's basketball tournament, the nation anticipates the release of the next installment of Harry Potter, due out Saturday -- "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince." \nWith Bloomington proving to be no exception, residents and visiting students alike are gearing up for the highly anticipated novel. Many questions hang in the air unanswered: What does J.K. Rowling have in store for her readers? Who is the half-blood prince? Who will die? But most importantly, why does everyone care so much?\nWith endless Web sites, message boards, and discussion groups devoted to the subject of Harry Potter, speculation about the upcoming book is endless. In addition to featuring a live clock counting down until the book's release, www.mugglenet.com (one of the most popular sites frequented by die-hard fans) confirms and denies certain rumors surrounding the series. \n"I'm really excited to see what J.K. Rowling comes with next," said Potter fan sophomore Stormie Foust. "I sort of expect big things to happen because the first four were more children's books, but now it's really starting to become more adult."\nThe sixth book in particular interests most readers because they have gotten hooked on the series as a whole. Why people like the series, however, is a different matter altogether. Whether it be for the storyline, characters, or any other reason, the addiction to Harry Potter spans every age, gender and ethnic demographic imaginable.\nJesse Goodman, professor of education, has taken on a textual analysis of the popular series.\n"Perhaps outside of parents, popular culture is the most influential realm," Goodman said. "Because (Harry Potter) is so popular, we did a textual analysis. (The text can teach) how the proactive don't always follow the rules, and the way rituals are used to help build leadership."\nWww.Mugglenet.com and a few other Harry Potter centered organizations have joined together to create the largest release party in the country, known as "Spellbound." For this book, Spellbound is being held in Chicago, allowing many IU students to attend.\n"I'm really excited," said sophomore Tiffany Dilts. "This is the second release I've attended. I can't wait." \nDilts said she plans to dress up like Hermione and go to Spellbound in Chicago.\nAs well as presenting likable characters, the books attract readers who enjoy the fantasy genre. Not everyone who is looking forward to the book tracks its every move, but the whole spectrum of fans wants to find out what will happen next.\n"I just want to see what happens next because you have all these people trying to figure out who is going to die and all these theories going around, plus I am kind of sick of reading the others," said sophomore Shannon Valentine. "I have been counting down the days since we learned that it was coming, since it was 150 days."\nTime is not an issue for Valentine, and neither is money.\n"I'm horribly broke but I'm spending my money on a book," she said.\nSuch high demand for the book has caused large chains such as Borders and Barnes & Noble to once again schedule midnight releases. The midnight release provides more than just the opportunity for the most avid readers to get their hands on the book at the earliest possible moment.\n"I'll probably be waiting for the book around 8 p.m. and then go from Barnes & Noble to Borders and back and forth," Valentine said.\nPotter has been in the news all week, especially with reports earlier in the week that a store in Canada had accidentally leaked some 15 copies of the novel. As rumors continue to soar at the rate of a fast-paced Quidditch match, the public focuses more and more of its attention on Saturday. The literary series has spawned a successful film series as well, with the next movie ("Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire") due out in November. Without readers consciously realizing it, Harry and his clan have become a full-fledged cultural phenomenon. \n"There are parts of these books that relate to you," said Dilts. "You get to go to another place, and it's fun and exciting, and you have adventures that you don't generally get to see.