How about... this ending? ...and more.

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 95157

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "cubfanbudwoman"
<susiequsie23 at s...> wrote:

>...snip - previous posts...
> 
> SIRIUSLY SNAPEY SUSAN:
> Kneasy's right that I'm not overly fond of the veil as a choice for 
> the final resolution.  Even w/ Steve's addendum to his description 
> of the scene, I think I'd still feel "cheated" out of a proper 
> duel/battle.  Again, I'm not looking necessarily for rivers of blood 
> & guts, but I am looking for some thing *definitive*...something 
> where's it's really, really clear what happened and how...and 
> something where Harry DIDN'T get the assistance of a "mechanism" 
> such as the veil.  I think, this time, I want Harry to do it all by 
> himself...or maybe w/ the help of someone in the DA [Neville?], but 
> essentially w/o something that might smack of deus ex machina.
> 
> ...snip...
> 
> Siriusly Snapey Susan

bboy_mn:

I'm not saying that I really believe the 'through the Veil and back'
ending, it was just something I thought of.

I have considered 'other' endings, one of which is an 'ending of
uncertainty'. What if the ending of this 'war' is just like the ending
of the previous war, but with slightly different circumstance? I won't
bore you by inventing detailed circumstance, but instead, get straight
to the point. Voldemort is vanguished, ripped from his body,
physically dead, but the death of his spirit or his essense is
uncertain, just as it was with his first defeat. The moral of the
story is, 'Constant Vigilance - Voldemort may be gone, but evil is
always among us'.

In the same 'uncertainty' vein, it possible the Draco will become so
bitter from constantly being bested by Harry, that with Voldemort's
death, Draco will step in to 'carry on the noble work of Slytherin',
and thereby, take his place as the next evil overlord in the wizard
world. Again, the moral of the story is, 'Constant Vigilance - evil is
always among us'.

Either way, despite the 'vanquishing' of Voldemort, there is a certain
ambiguity to the ending; an mixture of relief in the moment and
anxiety about the future. 

I think in either of these endings, Dumbledore will make it clear to
Harry that the future burden will not fall on his shoulders alone.
That, as always, eventually, the wizard world and the Houses of
Hogwarts will stand together in the face of evil and refuse to accept
defeat. In the fight against evil, love, friendship, loyalty,
determination, and faith are the greatest weapons.

Then again, maybe not. But on the other hand...

bboy_mn/Steve