At midnight on Friday the final episode of JK Rowling's Harry Potter series of novels will be published. Having already sold 325 million copies worldwide, the final instalment is eagerly awatied. Cif writers look at the Harry Potter phenomenon, and readers are invited to share their views on Harry's fate.

"Harry?"

Hermione peered out of the doorway to number 61 Privet Crescent and saw the familiar face of Harry Potter - but now middle-aged and somehow different. He was tanned and dressed in a fashionable blue suit with a striped tie. His trademark glasses had been replaced by contact lenses, and cosmetic surgery seemed to have erased his famous scar.

"Hello Hermione, I didn't know you lived around here," Harry replied, brightly. Studying the sheet of names in front of him, he looked puzzled.

"It says here that Ms Hermione Bernstein..." Harry murmured. "Oh, that must be you." "After I separated from Ron I married a nice Jewish boy, just like my parents always wanted," Hermione replied firmly, pursing her lips.

"Small world, isn't it?" Harry mused smoothly. "Can I come in?"

"Sure," said Hermione evenly. She led him through to the neat but comfortably furnished living room.

"Gosh, how long has it been?" wondered Harry aloud, sitting down on an Ikea Hagrid chair. "I haven't seen you since..." he hesitated haltingly.

"Since you divorced Ginny?" said Hermione, raising her eyebrows upwardly.

"You know what it's like, er, childhood sweethearts and all that," Harry said with an airy shrug. "After all we went through at Hogwarts..." his voice trailed away. "Especially in the last book ... er, I mean year."

"Yes, it was terrible," said Hermione. "Who would have guessed that Professor Snape was the good guy all along?"

"Yes," said Harry. "Or that weedy Neville Longbottom actually turned out to be 'the One' who saved us after a heroic struggle in which several well-known characters died, as you will recall from the previous chapters. What happened to Neville?"

"He's the headmaster of Hogwarts now. But the place hasn't been the same since they adopted the national curriculum," replied Hermoine sharply. "That reminds me, why didn't you send your kids there?"

"Ginny got custody of Gandalf, Merlin and Severus, but I wanted them to go to Eton - for the life opportunities, you know..." Harry responded blankly. "And anyway, after we renounced the use of magic to settle in the Muggle world there didn't seem much point."

An uncomfortable silence settled over the room, as adverbs hung heavily in the still air.

"So, you'll know why I'm here!" Harry suddenly exclaimed, grinning broadly and deftly handing her a brightly-coloured leaflet.

"Oh yes," said said Hermione, examining the bold blue letters proclaiming loudly: "Harold Potter - fighting for Little Whinging's hard-working families. Vote Potter, vote Conservative." There was a large colour photograph of Harry shaking hands with David Cameron, and another of Harry with his arm around a pretty young blonde woman, who was holding a baby.

"Oh, that's Paris," said Harry breezily. "And that's our little darling girl Apricot. She's adorable." Hermione's eyes narrowed, narrowly.

Trying to change the subject, Harry burbled: "Er, how's Ron. Is he still...?" and made a drinking motion by tilting his hand to his lips several times and winking rogueishly.

"Mmm," sighed Hermione. "He never got over being the loyal number two character, or having to give up his magic powers. But he's going to AA now and we're still friends, and he sees the kids. Do you stay in touch with anyone from Hogwarts?"

"Oh yes," said Harry quickly. "Draco and I play golf. He works for a hedge fund, says that Muggles have magic all of their own for making money from nothing." Hermione grimaced. Harry remembered that she had never forgiven Draco Malfoy for various plot details.

"Well..." said Harry, shifting uneasily. "I need to get going. Lots of other houses to canvass. Can I, er, count on your support? David Cameron's terribly good. He's really into the environment and, er... so on."

"Sorry Harry - or Harold is it now?" Hermione said archly. "You've turned into a Tory creep, just like your real dad."

"My real dad?" Harry shot back, his face turning red and standing up. "You mean Lord Voldemort. He's in the House of Lords now, you know - he's very influential on government policy."

"Don't give me all that 'quiddith on the village green while old maids ride broomsticks to holy communion' stuff. Anyway, I'm voting for the Liberal Democrats," snorted Hermione curtly, walking Harry back to the front door.

"Huh," thought Harry as the door closed behind him, "I always knew she was a humourless do-gooder." Looking around, he slyly pulled out a tiny travelling wand and quickly cast a muttered spell. A large "Vote Potter" sign appeared on the lawn.

"Cow," he thought to himself as he climbed into the silver Prius. "Right Dudley - what's next?" he said as they drove off.

Ahead of the publication of the final episode of JK Rowling's Harry Potter series, Cif writers look at Pottermania.