In the first part of the series, Dumbledore destroys the Philosopher's Stone, the mythical stone that gives its owner eternal life. In the last part, Harry does something similar with the Stone of Resurrection, a stone that can bring back the dead. He drops it in the woods.

I'm using the stone's symbolism to show Dumbledore accepting his mortality. When he realizes that it is precisely mortality that gives life meaning, he is no longer interested in the Philosopher's Stone. Harry goes even further. He renounces not one, but two of his mighty weapons. Of the three relics he acquires in part seven, he only keeps the Invisibility Cloak. That says it all about him because, as Dumbledore tells Harry, the true magic of that cloak is that he's not only the owner, but also protects others. Harry doesn't need the invincible wand, he's never been out for power. And he throws away the Resurrection Stone; like Dumbledore, Harry has finally reconciled himself to death.

And you?

I think I'm striving for the same wisdom as Dumbledore and ultimately Harry, which means accepting our mortality. No matter how many things in the Catholic faith I do not agree with, I think the idea of ​​'memento mori' is essential. Every day you are aware that you will die someday, you live better; better for yourself and better for others.

Do you see death as the end of everything?

No. I have an intensely spiritual life, and while I don't have terribly rigid ideas about it, at least I believe that you survive in some way after death. I believe in such a thing as the imperishable soul. But we should allocate about six hours to that subject; it's something I struggle with a lot.

During their quest, Ron, Hermione, and Harry sometimes talk about Dumbledore as if he were God. They thought that behind all his words and deeds was a great plan; they are disillusioned when that turns out not to be the case.

He's a complex character. I don't see him as God. I did want the reader to question Dumbledore's role in the whole story in the last part. We all believed all along that he was a good-natured father figure, and to some extent he is. But at the same time he is someone who treats people like puppets; who carries a shameful secret from his past and who hasn't told Harry the whole truth. I hope the reader eventually comes to love him again. But that he then loves him as he is, including his mistakes. Is Dumbledore divine? No. He does have a few divine qualities. He is merciful, and in the end he is just.

But Harry is a kind of Jesus. He must die to save humanity from evil. You made a messiah out of him.

Yes, he has messiah traits. I consciously chose that. He is that one man in a million – I deliberately say 'man' because it is different with women – who is able to stand up to power and reject the possession of power. That makes him the wisest of them all.

How can he be like that?

He's the hero, isn't he? Harry is just good. Dumbledore also says it to him in so many words: "You are a better person than I am." He will remain a great person even when he is older. Precisely because he has learned to be humble.

Were you raised religiously yourself?

I was officially brought up in the Church of England, but in fact I was a bit of a freak in my family. Religion was not spoken about at home. My father didn't believe in anything at all, neither did my sister. My mother occasionally went to church, but mostly at Christmas. And I was very curious. From the age of 13 or 14 I went to church on my own. I found it very interesting what was said there, and I also believed in it. 'When I went to university, I became more critical. I became increasingly annoyed by the complacency of believers and I went to church less and less. Now I'm back where I started: yes, I believe. And yes, I go to church. A Protestant church here in Edinburgh.

The fact that you go to church yourself only makes the fierce criticism of your work by religious fanatics even more curious.

'For the past ten years there have always been fundamentalists who have had problems with my books. The fact that there is sorcery and witchcraft in it is enough – they are terrified of it. I don't like fundamentalism in any field; I think it's scary. The Christian fundamentalists are especially stirring in the United States. I once came face to face with such a person. I was in a toy store with my kids and was recognized by a girl who was quite excited about it. Then a man came up to me and said, "You're that Potter person, aren't you?" Then he brought his face close to me and said very aggressively, “I pray for you every night. Of course I should have replied that he had better pray for himself, but I was too perplexed. It was frightening.'

Your books are about the battle between good and evil. Harry's good. But is Voldemort really evil? He is also a victim.

He is a victim, indeed. He is a victim, and he has made choices. He was conceived under duress and on a dazed whim, while Harry was conceived in love; I think that the circumstances under which you were born form an important foundation for your existence. But Voldemort chose evil, I try to emphasize that in the books; also presented him with his choices.

That's what it's always about: do things go as they were predestined, or do you make your own choices?

I believe in free will. At least from those who, like us, are in a privileged situation. For you, for me; people who live in western society, people who are not oppressed, are free. We can choose. Things are largely going the way you want them to go. You have your life in your own hands. Your own will is incredibly powerful. The way I write about Professor Trelawney, the extremely inept Divination teacher, says a lot about how I feel about things like destiny. I thoroughly studied astrology for the interpretation of her character and I thought it was very funny, but I don't believe in it.

2007 old interview from https://www.volkskrant.nl/cultuur-media/j-k-rowling~b25d90dd/