It's the question that haunting everyone. Who is the half blood prince in the sixth book of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince?
While Rowling will maddeningly not reveal the answer, she will tantalizingly tell you it is definitely not Potter. Not is it the Dark Lord, Voldemort.
For Rowling is the master of mystery. And suspense. And surprises. And secrets.
Even in a rare appearance at the Edinburgh Book festival on August 15, Rowling -- who read from Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix before answering questions from the 500-strong audience -- didn't let a single cat escape from her bag.
She did let slip, however, that while her favourite Potter book was probably Harry Potter And The Prisoner of Azkaban (she also enjoyed the movie version immensely) her loyalties at present were with Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince. "I am the only one who's read it and I think it is rather good I really like how the sixth book is going," said the 39-year-old author who is expecting her third child.
For those Potter fans who are on tenterhooks about the young wizard's future, his creator did have a word or relief. "I don't think it is giving away too much to say he will survive to Book Seven, mainly because I do not want to be strangled by you lot."
But she did add a dark word of warning when she said she would not want to be Harry even for a day. "I know what's coming for him so there is no way I would want to want to be him."
She also hinted there was more to Harry's Aunt Petunia than meets the eye.
Which random hints have only served to pique her readers' curiosity. In order to ease their wait, Rowling did offer a clue about the direction Harry's future would take. She suggested the following questions just might lead to the answer.
"The first question I have never been asked is why didn't Voldemort die? The killing curse rebounded so he should have died. Why didn't he?
"The other question I am surprised no one has asked me is why Dumbledore did not kill or try to kill Voldemort in the scene in the ministry?"
And that was all she would say about that.
When asked about her favourite characters in the series, this is what Britain's richest living author had to say, "I really like Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hadgrid and Dumbledore."
But the person she loves writing about the most is the dreaded Potions master, Severus Snape. "Even though he is not always the nicest person, he is really fun to write. I love writing Dudley."
And the one character she'd love to meet? Remus Lupin, the professor of the jinxed Dark Arts class and the man who saved Harry's life by teaching him how to conjure a Patronus.
There is one character she has met, though. Gilderoy Lockhart, she explained, is the only character in the Potter series who is deliberately based on a real person. "I have to say the living model was worse," she told her audience who lapped every word. "He was a shocking man!"
When it came to Book Seven, Rowling's lips were tightly sealed. "I'm not going to tell you, I'm sorry. You have no idea of the trouble I would be in if I did. My agent would have me hunted down and killed."
And if you want to know if Ron and Hermione ever get together, you're just going to have to wait. "I can't say, can I?" she asked mischievously. "You'll have to read between the lines on that one."
Now that the Potter series are winding to an end -- Rowling had made it clear from the very beginning that there would only be seven Potter books -- the author, who can single-handedly take the credit for introducing millions of children to the habit of reading, says, "A lot happens in the sixth book and a lot of questions are answered. I really have a sense that we are nearly there and it's time for answers, not more questions and clues."
