A week before Harry Potter’s 17th birthday, the seventh book in the J.K. Rowling’s series, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” will be released to bookstores and libraries all over the world.

Junior Hayley Hillman has been an avid reader and devoted fan of the Harry Potter series for years. According to Hillman, there are a few basic questions “Deathly Hallows” will answer.

“What’s behind the veil?” Hillman said. The veil referred to Sirius Black, Harry Potter’s godfather, who fell behind in the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic in the final chapters of “Order of the Phoenix.”

“What are the horcruxes? We know two confirmed horcruxes that have already been destroyed: Tom Riddle’s diary and Marvolo Guant’s ring. It is not certain that the remaining horcruxes predicted by Dumbledore are correct,” said Hillman.

Scholastic, the American publisher of the novel, has posed a series of these questions in an online poll. Two of seven questions that will be posted have found that a majority of Scholastic Web site visitors believe Harry Potter will live throughout the novel and 40 percent of visitors believe Professor Severus Snape is good and still a spy for the Order of the Phoenix.

“I think [Snape] is a double agent,” said Hillman. “He’s single-handedly set up this whole war.”

Rowling has provided fans with clues about the concluding novels. Harry’s eyes, which are described often to be like his mother’s, will be a key plot point, maybe in regards to something incredibly important to come out about Lily Potter herself.

Readers cannot expect anymore Quidditch matches, but they may anticipate the death of at least one character and a final showdown between Harry and Lord Voldemort.

Harry Potter and friends “will they or won’t they” moments shall be addressed as well. The end of “The Half-Blood Prince” saw Ron and Hermione finally coming together, while Harry pushed one-time girlfriend and long-time crush Ginny away to shield her from danger.

“Obviously, Ron and Hermione are going to get together … and so will Harry and Ginny, but he feels like he has to protect her,” said Hillman of the romances.

The 784-page series conclusion hits bookstores July 21. Scholastic printed 12 million copies of the book, which they emphasized was printed on paper that contained a minimum of 30 percent post-consumer waste fiber. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” will have the record for the largest first-printing of a book ever.

In Britain, the books are to be delivered to stores sealed in crates bound by chains a day before its release.

Amazon.com agreed to store its supply of books in secret locations around the country prior to release. Printing presses have added security. Also debuting this summer is “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” in theaters. David Yates, director of the acclaimed “The Girl in the Café,” directs a returning cast and a few new stars in the fifth installment of the series.

“Avid Harry Potter fans are more excited about the movie than the book,” said Hillman. “Because when the book comes out, it’s all over.”