Last book woes

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 145527

 
> Jen D. here:
> I tried to say this in our previous exchange but it was Christmas 
> Eve and things were chaotic but here's the thing: I believe you 
have 
> hit on the most important factor in Book 7, the fact that JKR has 
no 
> further books to clear things up, make things right, explain odd 
> plot points, deal with relationships, answer questions, find those 
> Horcruxes and deal with Voldemort. She has a whale of a job to do 
> and extremely little time to do it in and I fear she'll rely on 
> shorthand or worse a fair few deaths to eliminate the need to clear 
> things up. Wars have deaths. And they clear out plot threads fast 
as 
> well as create further motivation for winning the war. How far will 
> this thing go? How many pages will Book 7 be? I agree with 
Lupinlore 
> that we may all be saying "That's it?" about our favorite character 
> or plotline but it may be a little more final than we expected.
> Jen D.
>

Hickengruendler:

I am more optimistic there, even though I wasn't right at after 
reading HBP. IMO, that's what the Horcruxes are thre for. They keep 
the plot going and Harry wherever Jo nees him to be. During the books 
there was made a point, that the wizarding world in Britain is not 
that big, therefore I don't think it would be too unrealistic, if 
maybe a bit too artificial, if Harry runs during his Horcrux hunt in 
several people he knows. One example: There is this theory, which I 
personally believe is very likely to be true, that Regulus indeed 
stole the locket, hid it in GP 12, where it was stolen by Mundungus 
(who later was arrested) and bought by Aberforth. If this is true, 
than the search for the locket could lead Harry a) back to GP 12, b) 
maybe to Azkaban and c) to a relative from Dumbledore. And at least 
the last point has to be significant. I mean, theoretically the crazy 
old barkeeper, who bought the locket from Mundungus, could have been 
Aberforth Miller instead of Aberforth Dumbledore. But no, it is the 
brother of the deceased headmaster, which suggests, that this special 
visit might tie in with Jo's statement, that we will find out 
something more about Dumbledore's family. Similarly, the visit at 
Grimmauld Place could have something to do with the promise, that the 
mirror will play another role. Or Lucius Malfoy in Azkaban could 
overhear Harry telling to Mundungus and later, after the breakout I'm 
sure will happen, tell Voldie about it and get back into his good 
graces. And this was just one Horcrux. The others could be tied in 
with some secondary characters storylines as well.

Then of course there is the final battle. I know that it was 
discussed in fandom and used in fanfiction that often, that it's 
close to become a cliché. But that's not JKR's fault. I also know, 
that a big battle with many characters was used pretty often in 
fantasy literature, but so was the plot device about the prophecy, 
and I don't know a reason, why JKR shouldn't use it as well, if it 
makes for a satisfying ending. A final battle, particularly if it 
happens in Hogwarts (which could also tie in with the Horcrux hunt, 
since it is highly likely that Voldemort would choose Hogwarts as a 
place to hide a Horcrux. Voldemort could attack the castle in order 
to protect the last Horcrux, after he heard from the escaped Lucius 
Malfoy, that Harry was asking questions about the locket), could IMO 
satisfyingly resolve the subplots of several characters, and IMO not 
only because they die. Neville's storyline, for example, is IMO still 
open, not because his parents aren't cured, but because we (or at 
least I) want to see him appreciated and step out of their shadows. A 
heroic act during this battle could be one possibility. The same is 
true for Percy. Something like this could make him reunite with his 
family. Or similarly, Draco also has to make his final decision, if 
his friends lives are put in danger. And of course such an attack 
could do wonders for house unity, if they have to fight together for 
their lives. (Granted, it didn't in HBP, but then hardly anyone 
seemed to have realized that the DE's were there). Therefore one 
scene (if probably a very long one) could tie up several subplots. 

Of course not everything will be answered. I agree with Betsy, that 
there's no need to make the WW a Utopia with a fair minister and 
freed houseelves. There are also some questions, which I think are 
answered, for example Harry's discussion with Luna about the veil. 
IMO, the scene was there to present JKR's view, that there's a life 
after death, and that "they are just lurking out of death". It of 
course also is meant as a consolation for Harry. I might be mistaken 
and there will be more to it, but if it isn't, than I think the scene 
as it stands is poignant enough and does not need to be resolved any 
further.

And finally, I want to mention, that Jo Rowling is after all the 
woman, who only needed one line (which even was a funny one) to 
resolve the subplot about the problems between Fleur and the Weasleys 
convincingly.

Hickengruendler