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LOS ANGELES - J.K. Rowling has given "Harry Potter" fans an early Christmas present: the title to her seventh and final book in the series.
The title "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" was revealed on the author's Web site jkrowling.com recently. Dedicated fans have to maneuver through the site to have the name appear. True fans will figure it out for themselves, but others can take the cheats offered at the end of this story.
On Thursday, the author had written in her online diary about her progress.
"I'm now writing scenes that have been planned in some cases, for a dozen years or even more," she reports. "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)."
She also mentions that although she hadn't before, she now has dreamed of being in the fantasy world she created.
"A few nights ago ... I had an epic dream in which I was, simultaneously, Harry and the narrator," the posting reads. "I was searching for a Horcrux in a gigantic, crowded hall, which bore no resemblance to the Great Hall as I imagine it. As the narrator I knew perfectly well that the Horcrux was jammed in a hidden nook in the fireplace, while as Harry I was searching for it in all kinds of other places, while trying to make the people around me say lines I had pre-arranged for them."
Just a reminder, a Horcrux is a receptacle in which a Dark wizard has hidden a fragment of his soul for the purposes of attaining immortality. Apparently the evil Lord Voldemort created seven fragments, only a few for which the Horcruxes have been identified. To make things more interesting, a Horcrux need not be inanimate. Thus, there may be someone walking around with a bit of Voldemort in him/her.
"Deathly Hollows" is the highly anticipated conclusion to the best-selling fantasy series revolving around the titular boy wizard and his battles with the not entirely dead Lord Voldemort and his dark minions. Although there's been no hint about the plot, Rowling did reveal that two characters are slated to die.
The fifth installment, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," is making its way to the big screen in July. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reprising their roles as Harry and his pals.
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR REVEALING SEVENTH BOOK TITLE: Go to jkrowling.com and click on the pink eraser (which is a portkey) on the home page. In the reflection of the mirror, click on the image of the far door to reveal a Christmas tree. Continue to click on items in the following order: 1) Center of main door, reveals wreath; 2) top of mirror, reveals garland; 3) cobweb, which disappears; 4) second chime to the right in the windchimes, which turns into a key that you can drag to the main door's lock. When the door opens, open the gift you find there and play hangman until the title is revealed.
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(c) 2006, Zap2it.com. Distributed by Mclatchy-Tribune News Service.
