Rowling reveals Potter ending to husband

By Mike Collett-White

LONDON (Reuters) - J.K. Rowling has leaked the ending of the eagerly awaited last book of her Harry Potter series -- to her husband.

Speculation has been rife about who dies in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" since Rowling announced last year that at least two characters would be killed off.

She has given no clue as to who they were, and even Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who plays boy wizard Harry in the Hollywood adaptations of the books, has been kept in the dark ahead of the publication of the seventh instalment on July 21.

"None of us get a preview," Radcliffe told a news conference on Friday to promote "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", the fifth in the film franchise.

"I think only J.K. Rowling's husband has recently found out what happens. I don't think anybody else knows."

The 17-year-old has previously said he hoped Potter would die at the end of the final book, but he was more cautious this time around.

"A couple of years ago I said I would like Harry to die because I think that is a conclusive ending. But I'm going to steer away from that now because the next day the headlines were 'Radcliffe Wants Harry Dead'," he said.

"I do think it would be fitting in a way, because when you consider the prophecy that was made about him and Voldemort, one of them has to go. I think he might, but that's based on absolutely nothing."