JK Rowling is dreading writing the last 'Harry Potter' book because she can't imagine life without the boy wizard.

The writer, who is starting work on the seventh and final 'Harry Potter' novel in the New Year, said in her Christmas message on her website: "I can't quite imagine life without Harry."

She also admitted: "I contemplate the task with mingled feelings of excitement and dread, because I can't wait to get started."

"I have been fine-tuning the fine-tuned plan for book seven during the past few weeks so I can really set to work in January."

JK, who has already written the final chapter of the book which she keeps locked up in a safe, has long hinted Harry will die in the last book.

She confessed: "He will survive to book seven, mainly because I don't want to be strangled. But I don't want to say whether he grows any older than that."

Actor Jim Dale, who narrates the Potter novels for US audio books, also predicted that Harry will be killed off.