Two to die in next HARRY POTTER book

By: Karl Schneider
Date: Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Source: Associated Press

"Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling said two characters will die in the seventh and last book in the popular franchise during a live interview on Channel 4's Richard & Judy in the UK.

"The final chapter is hidden away, although it's now changed very slightly. One character got a reprieve. But I have to say two die that I didn't intend to die," she said. "A price has to be paid. We are dealing with pure evil here. They don't target extras do they? They go for the main characters. Well, I do."

While she wouldn't reveal if one of the two characters is Harry himself, Rowling added that she has never been tempted to kill him off before the final book because she had always planned seven.

"I can completely understand, however, the mentality of an author who thinks, 'Well, I'm gonna kill them off because that means there can be no non-author written sequels. So it will end with me, and after I'm dead and gone they won't be able to bring back the character'."

Giving an update on the book's status, Rowling said, "The last book is not finished. But I'm well into it now. I wrote the final chapter in something like 1990, so I've known exactly how the series is going to end."