Harry Potter fans, peering into a future with no more Potter books to look forward to, have organized a petition to the woman herself, asking her to reconsider. Reuters reports that the petition is a last-ditch attempt to convince author J.K. Rowling to continue the best-selling series, regardless of the ultimate fate of the title character.  And there's a tiny pinprick of hope that the effort is not in vain.

Rowling told the BBC, "I think that Harry's story comes to quite a clear end in book seven.  But I have always said that I wouldn't say never.  I can't say I will never write another book about that world, just because I think: 'What do I know, in 10 years' time I might want to return to it'. But I think it is unlikely."

On the much-discussed deaths of characters in the book, she said, "It's not a bloodbath, but it's more than two."

The final book in the series will be released at midnight next Friday.  By Saturday morning, those who care will know.