DAY 1

So here I am. Sitting with sweaty fingers poised just above the keyboard, a mug of steaming coffee to the right and a tantalisingly empty screen in front of me. I, Joanne Rowling, am just about to conclude the final book, number 7, Harry Potter and the Fulfilment of the Prophecy, The End. What would the press give to know that! Without pause I dive into the world I spent so long creating, filled with almost indecent excitement at the thought of its demise.

Harry's eyes met Hermione's. How much more of this could they take? Would they have to take?

Quite a lot more, actually!

He watched her, trembling, rise to her feet. Where did she find the strength?

"Do you remember that day I slapped Malfoy?"

"Of course, we'd never seen you do anything so vicious."

"Well right now I'm ready to do something far worse to him." And Hermione held out her hand to pull Harry to his feet.

I pause and take a sip of my coffee, quickly re-reading. I feel suddenly angry with myself. That's no way to begin the end! I delete the page, take another fortifying gulp, and start again:

"Harry"

No.

Hermione

No. This is Harry's story.

The umbrella bird

Now, Jo, this is no time to be silly. I look apprehensively at the once-again blank screen. Now it looks daunting rather than welcoming. Like a cold and empty snowfield, mines and booby traps hidden beneath the silken surface, if I'm going to be poetic about it. Mines. Minesweeper – just for a few minutes.

Hmm, 130seconds today. Appalling, compared to my best.

I sit there for another 20 minutes before I give up. After all, tomorrow is another day!