Two Characters to die in Harry Potter 7

At least two characters will die in the final instalment of her bestselling Harry Potter series, author J.K. Rowling has revealed.

Author J.K. Rowling has revealed two characters will die in the last installment of her Harry Potter series. (Canadian Press)

"The final chapter is hidden away, although it's now changed very slightly," she said in an interview broadcast on Monday on Britain's Channel 4. "One character got a reprieve, but I have to say two die that I didn't intend to die."

The British author says she doesn't want to disclose which characters will die in the novel because she doesn't want the hate mail.

Fans of the wizard-in-training books are eagerly anticipating the seventh book, which will see the main character finish his magic education and likely engage in a final faceoff with his nemesis: Lord Voldemort.

Rowling also said the final chapter of the last book was written a while ago.

In the interview, she spoke to fears among fans she would kill off Harry.

"I've never been tempted to kill him [Harry] off before the end of book seven, because I always planned seven books and that's where I want to go."

Nasty outcome implied by Rowling

But then, the author goes on to hint at a possible outcome for the young hero of her novels.

"I can completely understand, however, the mentality of an author who thinks, 'Well, I'm gonna kill them off because that means there can be no non-author written sequels' as they call them.'

"So it will end with me and after [I'm] dead and gone they won't be able to bring back the character."

'A price has to be paid, we are dealing with pure evil here.'-J.K. Rowling

One of the hosts pressed on to ask whether any of the main characters would die and Rowling had this ominous response.

"A price has to be paid, we are dealing with pure evil here. They don't target extras do they? They go for the main characters ... well, I do. This is a world where some pretty nasty things can happen."

Worldwide sales of the last book, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, surpassed 10 million copies on the first day it was made available last July.

The 40-year-old writer is now considered one of the wealthiest people in the world. She wrote her first Potter adventure when she was an unemployed single mother. Her personal fortune is estimated to be more than $1 billion.

The series has sold more than 300 million copies worldwide.