In an interview some time ago, Rowling said that we would find the ending satisfying. That doesn’t mean happy, but it leaves that door open. I think she must mean that the ending will follow the rest of the books to a conclusion that makes sense, that doesn’t betray all that she has set up in the first six books.

What that will be, I really don’t know, except that I realize that I really don’t care about who ends up with whom, or why they do or don’t. The ships have always seemed like nice little detours from the main point of the story, while entirely appropriate, given the age of Harry and company. Without the relationships, and sometimes frequent snogging in HBP, they wouldn’t have seemed like real teens, to tell the truth. But that’s where I leave it–interesting and sometimes fun, but not something that I really care about one way or the other. In other words, I’m OK with Harry ending up with Ginny or Luna or Hermione–or someone else, or no one else. Harry ending up with someone would be the important part in that it would mean that he survives.

However, that’s not the point either.

The thing that I realize that I want and expect most is that the conclusion is consistent with all the things we have come to learn about Harry’s quest–the biggest being that he has something that sets him apart from the rest–that pure heart, and all that love. And to me that means that to remain in that state, we have to see Harry resolve his hatred of just a few people–Snape being at the top of the list.

So my biggest expectation is that we’ll see some sort of resolution between the two of them–something that shows that they are both on the same side (Dumbledore’s men, through and through), and that they now understand that. My expectation isn’t tied to who survives and who doesn’t–I think Rowling will write that in a way that makes sense of the characters and the story, and probably in a way that will completely surprise me.

And there are a lot of loose ends to tie up–but I really don’t think she can do all that in this one book. I suspect that when she conceived the story, and knew the outcome, that she had no idea how the readers would pick over every tiny detail in the books. That comes of having so long in between the books, and all of us having the internet available, allowing us to share all our wildest theories and obsevations. No one is perfect, nor is Rowling. But I do expect Deathly Hallows to fill in the huge missing pieces of the story–the ones that are the cause of our going off in such wild directions. What is it with Lily and Harry’s eyes being the same, anyway? And who was snogging Florence behind the greenhouse, and who was that awful boy that Petunia meant?

Clearly, I need the book soon, to put me out of my current misery of trying to keep my mind on things other than what is going to be in that last book.

Pat

Sorry to shoot this down, but Rowling has definitely said that Harry and Voldemort are not the same person. She seemed rather insulted by the idea.

I can and will go into a longer explanation, although mostly it’s a hunch based on intuition, if there is any interest but my prediction is that:

Harry Potter and Voldemort are in fact the same person/incarnation. That by some method, Voldemort cast himself, with Dumbledore’s aid, through time. He asked Dumbledore to keep him on the path of redemption.

Some quick supporting points:

-same types of wands
-birth mark
-Voldemort assuming part of Harry’s protection from the mother through the reincarnation
-we know Voldemort’s soul is fragmented
-argument between Snape and Dumbledore at end of Book 6 that doesn’t quite ring true; seems to suggest Snape knows more of the ultimate plan
-Harry’s extraordinary luck when confronting Voldemort

I think they are ultimately more deeply connected. Harry may be the “good” part of Voldemort’s soul that broke off. Just a thought…

Some characters fascinate me more than others. I really want Neville to have a happily ever after. I want to know what the significance is of Sirius taking the mirror with him through the veil and being behind the veil in spirit and BODY. I want all the Weasleys to live–well, she can kill off Percy if she has to but only after he fixes things with his family. I want to know more about Petunia and what she understands of magic. I want to see Peter Pettigrew pay the life-debt he owes Harry. I want to understand more of the dynamic with the three Black sisters and with their cousins Regulus and Sirius.

These things are all beyond the essential ‘will Harry live?’ and ‘is Snape good or bad?’ and I suppose it’s why I worry they might be overlooked.

I stopped reading projections months ago (have never been a rabid projection fan). I’ve copied those I want to read later (and am sure I’ll enjoy them). In reading projections I found myself beginning to have expectations, so I quit. I’d rather be stunned and thrilled in a more innocent state, rather than be constantly thinking, oh yeah, she was right/he was wrong. We’ll never have opportunity to read a brand-new Harry Potter book again and I want to savor the fun.

In that light, I just finished rereading the whole series a couple weeks ago (third time total). I find new aspects each time. Rowling’s storytelling is the most addictive thing about the books. One becomes simply immersed in her characters and world. It’s so satisfying.

So I agree about the things listed above and also hope to have my socks knocked off (more for Dobby) with surprises. If I have any expectation, it’s that I’ll be surprised if DH isn’t jam packed with the delightful oddities and twists that permeate the other books.

I do believe we’ll find a much more mature Harry, Ron and Hermione in this book, as we did in HBP. They aren’t schoolkids any more. And I think the book will have a somewhat different feel because of this and the upcoming war.

Kitties are yowling,
Arabella

I give you my “ditto’s” to your three heartfelt wishes for Book 7, esp. point number three in regard to the final confrontation between Harry and the Dark Lord Voldemort and his minions. That will only be part of the final chapter of Harry’s saga I believe. I think JKR will also close many of the stories within the story with regard to the “postmodernist” element of the fact that “right and wrong” live within the relms of the forces of “light” (Ministry of Magic, Aurors, Brotherhood of Wizarding Creatures, etc.) as well as the forces of “darkness”. Though we as children of the “light” (the Gospel of Christ) do battle against the “darkness” of this world, we know how far short we are of the perfect “good”, ie. prejudice, lieing to gain at the expense of others, slavery (classism). JKR has shown through this series with Harry Potter that the thirst for power and the effects of prejudice do not only effect the “Dark Lord” but the children of the “light” as well. Some (Severus Snape, Draco?) may come to a revelation of this point in Book 7 and come to the aid of Harry and his friends just at the right time in the last chapter perhaps?
Any further thoughts on this from ye “children of the light”?

David