Users will go through a quick registration process and then choose their own “magical username”.

They will then be given a personal home page called “the gateway” that will represent their own journey through each of the seven Harry Potterbooks.

Users move through the story chapter by chapter and are presented with “Moments” which are scenes of significance from each chapter.

In the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, there are 44 Moments, for readers to experience.

Tarek Nseir, chief executive of the digital agency TH_NK, which helped design the site, said: “We have tried to set the scene but allow your imagination to do the rest.”

As fans move through the site they can scroll over different aspects of each scene such as a Privet Drive sign or a cupboard under the stairs.

They can then click on items such as Harry’s sock and uncover new writing from Rowling and additional information about the characters.

Readers will be given a key to access Gringotts Wizarding Bank where a virtual currency will be available to enable them to choose items from a shopping list needed to complete their journey.

They will be issued with one of 33,000 wands and can collect items such as chocolate frog cards and spout flavoured beans to put in their trunk.

Users will answer a series of questions selected at random from a vast pool and will be sorted into one of Hogwarts four houses based on their answers.

The chosen house will be the centre of their experience but Rowling insisted that those not placed in Gryffindor, Harry’s house, should not be disappointed as they will be offered an extra quarter of a chapter to meet prefects and learn about the “true nature” of their own house.

Rowling disclosed that she always considered Gryffindor and Slytherin to be the two closest houses and said that Harry himself could have gone into either. She said she had tested the pool of questions on her own family and each of them was sorted into the house she had predicted.

The author said that each users profile would grow as they progress through the books and add their own comments, drawings and pictures as they go. They will mix potions, challenge other users to duels and interact with various characters along the way.

Mr Nseir said: “The future will be decided by you the reader. It’s the same story but with one new addition, you.”