COMPETITION: Predict how the Harry Potter series will end and win a £20 book token

Ever since the title of the final book was announced in February, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows has been at the top of Amazon's best-seller list.

Set to break all previous publishing records, the plot and ending of the series has been subject to feverish debate on the internet.

Now the Herald is asking readers to join the debate and predict the plot and ending to the final Harry Potter book with the person writing the closest answer winning a 20 book token.

Entries can be submitted by commenting below, emailing [email protected] with the subject line Harry Potter, or post to Harry Potter Competition, Littlehampton Gazette, Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA, before noon on Friday, July 20.

The editor's decision is final.

What do Gazette staff think?

Lauren Bravo '“ One thing is certain '“ JK Rowling likes to toy with our emotions.

With a world of Potter fans waiting with bated breath for Harry's happy ending, I suspect she'll be sure to give us anything but.

Good vs Evil is far too easy, Rowling likes to blur the black and white, the lines between baddies and goodies.

I'm not in the 'Dumbledore's actually alive' camp, I do think there is more to Snape's evil turn than meets the eye.

Of the abundant possible outcomes, I think the most likely will be a tragic fate for the bespectacled hero that results in a bittersweet triumph for the rest of the wizarding world... tissues at the ready, folks.

Katherine McGlinchey '“ IN a television interview last week JK Rowling revealed the latest and final Harry Potter book is a "blood bath", adding fuel to rumours at least two main characters will be killed off.

One of the favourites to meet an untimely end is Harry, and knowing JK's penchant for not pandering to the happy ending formula I'm inclined to agree.

I would be devastated if this were the case, but I can't help thinking he will die in one last grandiose battle with Voldemort.

Later in the interview, she said she would not rule out writing more books about Hogwarts and the wizarding world, but seemed careful not to specifically mention Harry.

Whether this was an indication of his fate or merely a clever diversion, I don't know. But I'm eagerly awaiting July 21 to find out.

Chris Taylor '“ Having seen JK Rowling's interview with Jonathan Ross on Friday night, two points stood out.

One, she described the book as "a bloodbath", although she tried to backtrack, but admitted more than two people die.

Second, she said the conclusion pretty much sealed Harry's future, and meant the question of future books would be unnecessary.

But she did suggest the world in which he lives could be revisited for stories.

This could mean he dies or that the story leaps forward in time to his old age, after which point it might be pointless to write more, maybe because he's in a home for old wizards.

I think Harry will be covered in glory, dead or alive, having killed Voldemort and saved the world, with Hermione installed as either head of Hogwarts or the new Wizard Prime Minister.

She will also marry Ron.

Neville Longbottom will become a gallant hero and, my most confident prediction of all, will avenge his parents and kill Bellatrix Lestrange.

He too may perish, though.

I think the Wizard world will explode into muggle consciousness, with a mighty battle being fought across the two.

Sarah Booker '“ AS the Harry Potter series comes to an end, I'm pretty sure our hero's going to die.

His life is linked with 'you know who', and if one goes the other has to die.

The key part of Deathly Hallows is how we're going to get to this end.

I've been pondering Snape's return to the Deatheaters after the murder of Dumbledore at the end of Half Blood Prince.

Part of me thinks this was an Obi-Wan style death, use the force Harry, and Snape was working with Dumbledore, and has absorbed part of his knowledge to fight the Deatheaters from within.

Good will win, evil will lose and Draco Malfoy will get what's coming to him, and it isn't a chocolate frog.

Joanna Parish '“ I predict that the last book will end with Harry Potter realising that the only way he can kill Voldermort is by killing himself as well.

He will realise that the connection that they share means that if one dies the other one also dies.

Snape will help Harry do this because he is not really evil, but killed Dumbledore in order to find out about Voldermort's plans and in the hope of saving Harry Potter's life.

However, the book will end with Harry Potter's funeral where the whole of the magical world will come and pay their respects.

Jon Buss '“ Voldemort did it.

Now you know what we think, leave your ideas below.