Harry Potter may soon meet his doom - but at least he'll have company. Scholastic Books, Inc, publisher of the enormously popular series, says the seventh and final entry, Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, will enjoy a record-breaking run of 12 million copies when it appears July 21.
Worldwide Internet fan sites are buzzing with speculation that author J.K. Rowling kills off the teenaged wizard, although she remains tight-lipped about his fate.
The previous book, Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince, sold 6.9 million copies in its first 24 hours of release. The entire series has sold more than 325 million copies worldwide.
Forbes Magazine estimates J.K. Rowling's fortune at just over $1 billion, making her the second-wealthiest female entertainer in the world, behind U.S. talk show host Oprah Winfrey.