Hogwarts **SPOILERS**

[Guest]

[siriusdogstar]

I'd like to think Hogwards will survive the present crisis and go on to make lots more Harrys Hermiones and Rons but, under the circumstances, its a bit hard to be optimistic.  :'(

For the life of me, I just can't see how it can survive and, if it doesn't, what will happen to all the Professors and Filch and Mrs Norris and Peeves and... everybody else who makes it such a wonderful place?

Where will all the up and coming young wizards go to school?  Its a long way to Durmstrang and, when last seen, their headmaster wasn't looking too healthy either. And I think they might have a language problem at Beauxbaton.

I just love this book... there are so many "what ifs".  Book 7 is going to have to be three feet thick to deal with all the outstanding questions. 

[EmmasOneandOnly]

Well, I'm sure it will be YEAR 7. I think Harry will go back I just dont know why

[Roz]

Yeah I have that impression - maybe it's just a vain hope

[siriusdogstar]

I don't know that I agree.

I think the continuance of Hogwarts is in the balance and Harry's quest lies elsewhere.

I think the focus of the story will move outside Hogwarts for Book 7 - primarily because that's where Voldemort is.

This is Harry's 'coming of age' - he has stopped being a boy and must operate as a skilled wizard in an adult world or die.

I think the end is about how the forces of good come together to combat evil and the continuance of Hogwarts will depend on the outcome.

[Sharon]

Maybe it is just me, but whatever happens to Harry I think JKR will have good overcoming evil in the end.  After all this is a childrens book and to have the 'baddies' win..... well I just don't think it will happen.

The best outcome in my eyes will be for the big battle with Voldy and then for the very last chapter to be Ron/Hermionie/Harry or whoever survives to see the next generation get on the Hogwarts Express to show life goes on.  That could bring a little tear to my eye 

[EmmasOneandOnly]

I this Harry will go back to Hogwarts because Dumbledore would want him to finish up. I think it will also take place outside Hogwarts but I think most of the planning and exscape routes and stuff will come from Hogwarts, a safe haven kind of thing

[ferdinand_the_yak]

I reckon that because most of the story and its characters have been based around Hogwarts, it will definitely play a large role in the last book. Whether Harry actually returns as a student is debatable, but I am pretty sure he will be there for a substantial amount of time. As far as story writing technique goes, I do not think that JK will be able to create a strong enough story in one book by basing it on totally new environments or ones that she has mentioned only briefly (eg. Spinners End, Little Hangleton, Godric Hollow). in order for plot development to be strong and convincng enough, she will need to base her story in an already consolidated setting

[Trey]

I think that Harry will start off outside of Hogwarts, on a quest to find the horcruxes...but I think he will end up back there...not as a student though.... my theory is that the 'final battle' will take place on hogwarts ground, maybe with one of the horcruxes being at hogwarts as well. I think the school will be in grave danger but will prevail...with harry beating voldy at the end on his home turf!

[kbmum]

I agree with Trey.   That's exactly how I envision the last book will unfold.  There's going to be something with the Hogwarts graveyard, too.  In the extra features of the POA DVD, the director said this:

Alfonso Cuaron: We needed a place where the kids could see the execution of Buckbeak, and we thought about having a graveyard. And we consulted Jo about it and she said "No, the graveyard is not there," and I said "Why?" And then she gave me the whole explanation of why the graveyard cannot be there, because it's in a different place of the castle. Because it's going to play...and she knows her thing, she knows exactly what's going to happen later.

[Trey]

ohhh graveyard....interesting...

well im glad to see someone is on the same wavelength as me! but of course we just have to wait and see what JKR comes up with!

[canny19]

I think that one of the horcurxes might even be in the school.
Maybe Voledmort might come back to protect it or something.

Good point about the grave yard BTW!
Chris 

[kbmum]

I've been wondering whether one of the Horcruxes is hidden in the graveyard.  We don't know who is buried there -- maybe Gryffindor or Ravenclaw?  It would be just like Voldemort to put a Horcrux in a founder's grave.  Plus, it might have been easier for Voldemort to hide something there, rather than inside the castle.

[allender]

I think that Harry will start off outside of Hogwarts, on a quest to find the horcruxes...but I think he will end up back there...not as a student though....

Well, the D.A.D.A. teacher job is open at the moment. 

I agree with what most people said above, a lot of the action will be at Hogwarts, but it won't be completely the same place. Jo certainly set up Voldy's interest in returning, and maybe there are reasons other than just finding another artifact for a horcrux.

I see Hogwarts as the Headquarters for the Order and the forces who are opposing the Dark Lord for the final battle. Grimmauld Place was okay when the group was smaller and nobody believed them, but now the opposition can be out in the open. They can make it a safe place to send your kids, with tailored training. Jo says no more quidditch, so the innocence will be gone. The resident ghosts and former headmasters will be important. And Hogwarts is nicely tied into the Flue Network. And Hagrid is there.