NEW YORK (AP) -- We now have a title for Book VII: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."
Rowling's U.S. publisher, Scholastic Inc., released a brief statement Thursday announcing the name of the world's most anticipated children's book, the finale to her phenomenally popular fantasy series.
No publication date or other details were offered. Rowling is still working on the book, she explained on her Web site in an entry posted early Thursday.
"I'm now writing scenes that have been planned, in some cases, for a dozen years or even more," she wrote. "I don't think anyone who has not been in a similar situation can possibly know how this feels: I am alternately elated and overwrought. I both want, and don't want, to finish this book (don't worry, I will.)"
Rowling said she has been asked for years if she ever dreams she is in the boy wizard's world.
"The answer was 'no' until a few nights ago, when I had an epic dream in which I was, simultaneously, Harry and the narrator," she wrote.
"Perhaps I should cut back on the caffeine?" she joked.
Rowling also said she saw a 20-minute preview of the fifth Harry Potter film, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," which she said "looks fantastic." The latest movie in the blockbuster series will be released in July.
Meanwhile, she set up a test for her Potter fans if they want to find the title for themselves.
If you go to her home page, click on the eraser and you will be taken to a room -- you'll see a window, a door and a mirror.
In the mirror, you'll see a hallway. Click on the farthest doorknob and look for the Christmas tree. They click on the center of the door next to the mirror and a wreath appears. Then click on the top of the mirror and you'll see a garland.
Look for a cobweb next to the door. Click on it, and it will disappear. Now, look at the chimes in the window. Click on the second chime to the right, and hold it down. The chime will turn into the key, which opens the door. Click on the wrapped gift behind the door, then click on it again and figure out the title yourself by playing a game of hangman.
Or you can just take Scholastic's word for it.
The Harry Potter books have sold more than 300 million copies and have been translated into 63 languages.
for some odd reason, while the word "Ganya" was still just a thought-dropping in my head, I thought it'd only be four letters. But apparently it's five. yep.
Well I think that a death will happen in the Hallows. Does anyone else conjure up images of Ichabod Crane riding out at night with the trees around him when they heard the title? Yeah I'm strange, I know it.
Yeah Dekka... sure. Keep smoking the weeds from the fields, and believing in such things.
Sherry, we already know that you're strange. But, that you can now see it, and admit to it, I think that we can get you some help. No, that's not at all what I was picturing. For some reason the first thought in my mind was that the battle might be multiple encounters. But, the FINAL battle, between Harry and Voldemort, will take place where Harry was living, with his parents, when they were killed by Voldemort.
:::>^..^<::: ~*~The Journey is more important than the end or the start~*~ :::>^..^<:::
HECK! Don't you dare wish poor orphan, visually impared, has geeky ghost girls trying to see him nekkid, Harry dead! You will be titled "HECK! " by me from now on if you do, and if you think I am kidding, just ask Peregr!n aka PIP!
"Man is a marvelous curiosity ... he thinks he is the Creator's pet ... he even believes the Creator loves him; has a passion for him; sits up nights to admire him; yes and watch over him and keep him out of trouble. He prays to him and thinks He listens. Isn't it a quaint idea." Mark Twain
Bets are being taken on whether boy wizard Harry Potter will die in the final instalment of the series - with his arch-enemy the predicted killer.
JK Rowling, the multi-millionaire creator of the story, has hinted that tragedy awaits in the final novel.
Lord Voldemort is the 4-5 favourite to kill off the popular character in the seventh book in the series, entitled Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Bookmakers William Hill said punters think the young wizard will die.
William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams said: "JK mentioned that Harry might be killed off and the general consensus seems to be that Harry is the final Horcrux and to ensure that Voldemort dies he will need to be sacrificed."
In the Potter books, a Horcrux can hold a person's soul ensuring that they are immortal but Harry has to destroy them all to vanquish his enemy Voldemort.
Mr Adams added: "Most of the early money has been for Harry, who has been cut from 10/1 to 6/1."
All bets will be void and stake money will be returned if Harry confounds pundits and survives.
Other contenders to kill Harry include Professor Snape at 5-2, Draco Malfroy at 6-1, Ron Weasley at 6-1 and Hermione Granger at 6-1.
Mr Adams added that the bookies have also accepted punts on Ron and Hermione to marry, with Harry as best man, and on Harry to catch the snitch in a Quidditch world cup.
Rowling, 41, is still writing the final book of the series which has sold 52 million copies worldwide.
"there's only one way to win a war: shout, shout, and shout again!" - The Duke of Wellington ((Blackadder - Stephen Fry))
12-21-2006 05:37 PM
Don't you dare wish poor orphan, visually impared, has geeky ghost girls trying to see him nekkid, Harry dead! You will be titled "HECK! 
Well, you said it, not me.
