Life, death and a world of magic

IN THE NEWS: Harry Potter

Harry James Potter became famous at the age of 11, when he discovered his magical powers and was offered a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

He is one of the best-known and most highly regarded members of the wizarding and magical community, which has an active presence worldwide that is kept carefully hidden from the world of ordinary human beings, or "Muggles".

It was only with the publication of J K Rowling's series of Harry Potter books, starting with Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone in July 1997, that the Muggle world heard of Potter, Hogwarts and the wizarding world.

Since then, the Muggle appetite for news of Harry has grown considerably "" Ms Rowling received an unprecedented advance of $105,000 for the American rights to the first Harry Potter book, highly unusual for a children's book.

The last book in the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, will be published this Saturday, and is likely to be celebrated across the world with the release of a new Harry Potter film, assorted Harry Potter merchandise, Muggle-and-Wizard parties and a host of other events.

Harry Potter is often called "the Chosen One" and the "Boy Who Lived", in reference to the tragic incident that left him an orphan at the age of six months. The wizarding world lives in fear of Lord Voldemort, the Dark Lord, once a powerful wizard who has now gone over to the dark side, and whose reign of terror was brought to an end on 31 October, 1981. On this day, Lord Voldemort discovered the secret hiding place of Harry's parents, Lily and James Potter, tracked them down at Godric's Hollow and killed them.

The baby Harry was supposed to die in Voldemort's attack, but instead, the young wizard made the dreaded Avada Kedavra killing curse rebound on the Dark Lord, leaving him neither dead nor alive, trapped in the spirit world. As a legacy of the encounter with Voldemort, Harry bears a scar in the shape of a lightning bolt on his forehead, which is perhaps the most distinctive feature of this green-eyed, dark-haired wizard.

Brought up by the unkind Dursleys in Little Whingeing, Surrey, it is only at Hogwarts that Harry comes into his own, becoming Seeker for Gryffindor House and a star Quidditch player, making friends with Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, and falling in love with Cho Chang in between dangerous and often viciously fought encounters with the Dark Lord.

In his six years at Hogwarts, he has also lost several friends and colleagues to Voldemort "" his godfather Sirius Black appears to have died, the popular Cedric Diggory, a schoolmate, was killed by Voldemort at the end of the Triwizard Tournament, and the legendary head of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore, was killed by Severus Snape during the Battle of Hogwarts.

As he enters his seventh and final year at Hogwarts, Harry will face several challenges. Will his wand "" "holly and phoenix feathers, eleven inches, nice and supple" and brother to Voldemort's own wand "" be enough of a defense against the Dark Lord? In her capacity as chronicler of Harry Potter's life, J K Rowling has confirmed that there will be two more deaths in this last book, and Potter fans fear greatly for his safety and the safety of Hermione and Ron Weasley.

Will Dumbledore or Sirius Black return from the dead? Will Harry find true love? Will the wizarding world be safe against Voldemort, the Death-Eaters and the other creatures who side with the forces of darkness? And will there ever be another phenomenon like Harry Potter?

Until Saturday, we can only answer that last question: no. Harry James Potter, star Quidditch player, immune to the charms of Veelas and to the Imperius Curse, headed for a brilliant career as an Auror, fond and caring owner of Hedwig the Owl and Buckbeak the Hippogriff, is unique in the annals of wizarding, and of literature.