Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince-SPOILERS!!!!

[billd91]

Harry at Hogwarts

I'm fairly sure that Hogwarts will play a much bigger role in the seventh book than Harry suspects now, at the end of HBP. Not only does he lack the knowledge to begin hunting for Horcruxes on his own, but I remember the description of the series that I read, ages ago: the Harry Potter series shall consist of seven books, one for each year at Hogwarts. Besides, abandoning it now will have the seventh book resemble the first six even less than it will already - even assuming he goes, he won't have the traditional antagonistic from Draco on the Express, the glaring of Snape and the speechmaking of Dumbledore at the first dinner, etc., etc. It won't be Harry Potter if he does as he plans at the end of HBP - the book would not be recognizeable as part of the series. Already, I'm dreading the mopey beginning of the final book. (Also, if the school year at Hogwarts was unimportant, why would the series be limited to seven? Why not ten? A dozen? The remnant of Harry's battle against the Dark Lord seems like it could be stretched out to an awful lot more time and money, were they so inclined.)

I suspect part of the opening of Book 7 will include some debate between Harry, Hermione, and Ron about going back to Hogwarts. Ron's parents will probably push them toward it at Bill and Fleur's wedding at the very least.
But I think there will be differences anyway. I can't imagine seeing Draco appear at Hogwarts since he has outed himself as a Death Eater. He'll be on the lam with the rest of them. Harry/Slytherin hostility would have to be confined to Crabbe and Goyle.

 

[Vocenoctum]

I'm going to blame my lack of knowledge on my being VERY new to the Harry Potter universe. Started the first book about 6 weeks ago...

Me too, so HA!

Someone lent me 1-6. It's more a matter of me rereading a particular part when discussion turned that way.

 

[MaxKaladin]

(Also, if the school year at Hogwarts was unimportant, why would the series be limited to seven? Why not ten? A dozen? The remnant of Harry's battle against the Dark Lord seems like it could be stretched out to an awful lot more time and money, were they so inclined.)

My completely groundless theory is that Dumbledore has just been reborn like a phoenix -- as a baby. The next series will be about reborn-Dumbledore's years at Hogwarts with a new antagonist -- possibly a reborn Voldemort. Harry has a role as the head of Griffendor and the DADA teacher...

 

[kingpaul]

The next series

I thought Rowling has gone on record saying she's not writing anymore books in the Potter-verse

 

[DragonMan Ren]

Me too, so HA!

Someone lent me 1-6. It's more a matter of me rereading a particular part when discussion turned that way.

I conned my mother into buying me books 1-5 about three weeks ago. Bought number 6 myself.

And yes, Billd91, that was my point. The whole series has been sort of formulaic, up to this point. Several large parts of that formula was written out of their previous places in book six. I think it will be crucial to retain as many familiar elements as absolutely possible in book seven, as it still needs to feel like a Harry Potter book.

 

[MaxKaladin]

I thought Rowling has gone on record saying she's not writing anymore books in the Potter-verse

Could be. I'm not exactly up on everything in the "Potterverse". I thought I'd heard that she didn't intend to write more books about Harry once she finished these books, but I may be misremembering that. I think it might have been something about exploring other parts of the Potterverse (or whatever it's called). I can't remember. I really just remember having the impression that she might write more after the current series but the books wouldn't focus on Harry.

 

[Vocenoctum]

Could be. I'm not exactly up on everything in the "Potterverse". I thought I'd heard that she didn't intend to write more books about Harry once she finished these books, but I may be misremembering that. I think it might have been something about exploring other parts of the Potterverse (or whatever it's called). I can't remember. I really just remember having the impression that she might write more after the current series but the books wouldn't focus on Harry.

From what I've read, she doesn't plan to touch the HP World next. I'm not sure, but it might be over on mugglenet.com somewhere.

 

[John Crichton]

Me too, so HA!

Someone lent me 1-6. It's more a matter of me rereading a particular part when discussion turned that way.

Yeah, my sister lent me 1-5 and then bought me 6 cuz I liked them so much.

 

[John Crichton]

I thought Rowling has gone on record saying she's not writing anymore books in the Potter-verse

I've heard the same from many fans. These 7 books are It, with a capital 'I'. She's already plotted out the 7th book and written the last chapter (done years ago). There is a very obvious mythology being formed from the very first book which is why some universities study the series as a look at modern mythology and narrative.