[Mamzelle]

re: Many people I have talked to think DD was pleading for his life, when Harry heard, "Please, Snape". I think it's the opposite. DD was pleading with Snape to take his life.)))

Same here. I thought the saddest part of the book was not just D's death, but a kind of death for Hogwarts. Harry does say he's not returning--he's going to "drop out."

And it was distressing to see how helpless McDonigall seemed to be...she had very little to do with this sixth book.

[Not A Snowbird]

Harry does say he's not returning--he's going to "drop out."

Harry feels he has bigger fish to fry this next year, but in order to be an Aurer he'll need to complete his 7th year. How do you suppose Rowling will reconcile that?

[kingu]

Same here. I thought the saddest part of the book was not just D's death, but a kind of death for Hogwarts. Harry does say he's not returning--he's going to "drop out."

I suspect that Harry will have a very active summer and will return to Hogwarts to take the much hinted at Head Boy position, likely with a huge benefit to his house in the form of a large award of points. It would be unlike her to leave the story without returning Hogwarts to 'normal', or at least as normal as it can be.