HARRY POTTER: Questions Remain

Robin Seiler-Garman, 12, reads a Harry Potter book as she waits in line with her brother Peter, 7, left, before entering the Harry Potter Knight bus in front of the San Francisco public library main branch on Wednesday, July 11, 2007, in San Francisco, Calif. J.K. Rowling's much anticipated seventh and final book "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" arrives July 21. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) (Jeff Chiu - AP)

NEW YORK -- J.K. Rowling has kept us waiting for a LONG time. But finally, with "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" _ the last in her popular series _ there should be some answers to many questions. Here, in no particular order, are some threads that readers (OK, this reader) would LOVE to see tied up:

_Just who is R.A.B.? Fans already have put forth the theory that R.A.B. is Sirius Black's brother Regulus, who is thought to be dead. Is he? Or could he have been in hiding all this time?

_What happened to that Horcrux? And is the Horcrux that strange, unopenable locket Harry and friends found at 12 Grimmauld Place in Book 5 _ "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix"? If so, will there be some connection to Mundungus Fletcher, who apparently has been stealing stuff from the house?

_What role will Dumbledore play? Yes, yes, we know that Dumbledore is dead. And Rowling has said she means REALLY dead, no unexpected returns a la Gandalf here. But does that mean he's out for the count? The dead have made their presence felt in the other books, so what does that mean for Dumbledore?

_What is the deal with Snape? Good guy? Bad guy? Good guy playing bad guy? Was a good guy but returned to Voldemort's side? Never really left Voldemort's side? What?

_What's up with Aunt Petunia? Harry's non-magical aunt (a Muggle) has always been mean to him, and ashamed of her magical sister (Harry's mom), but understands more than she has ever let on about the danger Voldemort represents. Rowling has hinted she has a role to play in the last book. What will it be?

_Who is going to die? Rowling has said she killed off two major characters. Who will they be?