Not the majority view, but one I feel I should address: Rowling wimped out and spared Harry.

Now, those of you who know me know that Harry Potter was among my least favorite characters from the first 6 books. However, continuing the theme from the end of Book 6, Harry grows up. He's walloped over the head by Dumbledore's death and the events preceeding it in the Inferi cave that showed him, in no uncertain terms (even moreso than Cedric's death) that dispatching Voldemort wasn't going to be a piece of cake, in fact, he was likely to die in the attempt.

So, in Book 7, Harry does in fact do what he intended to do. He leaves Hogwarts, and there is nothing in his demeanor that suggests that he believes that killing Voldemort will be done by Christmas. Ron, however, has trouble grasping this concept. One does not simply flit around for a bit, find all the clues, and then dispatch the second most powerful wizard of the 20th century, especially not if one is seventeen.

Harry didn't just leave Hogwarts, though, he left Ginny because he knew that she'd be a target. He hurt himself and someone he cared deeply about to protect her. He sacrificed for someone else, a role that he hadn't really been forced into before. But he knew what to do.

So, Rowling let one character off the hook and two others that were supposed to live snuff it. Who were they?

Well, personally, I think Harry, Ron and Hermione were going to make it from the beginning. Even the idea of Ron, in the end, catching an Avada Kedavera in the chest, spurring Harry to furious victory, is pretty dull. I had the notion early that it was heading that way after Ron runs out (thus setting himself up for horrible redemption in the end), but that line is shut down when he immediately decides to return and tracks them down to continue helping in the quest (thus redeeming himself). Besides, he only left because the Horcrux was giving him bad thoughts - it wasn't really his idea to leave.

None of the Trio were going to buy it, and Rowling stated that extras don't really count, so having Colin Creevy aced doesn't count towards the two who die. For that matter, neither do Fred, Tonks, Dobby and Mad-Eye (favorites, yes, but not main characters). So, here are my suspicions as to who bought it that maybe wouldn't have:

Hedwig. Yes, the owl. Hedwig is a minor character in the fact that she doesn't have many lines (usually just a bunch of hooting), but she was a loyal friend and confidant, and Harry's constant partner over six years. She was with him practically from day one of his wizarding career. Only Hagrid predates her in those terms. Her death was a stiff price for Harry to pay, and immediately showed him that he (and everyone around him) wasn't safe.

Lupin. His death seemed... forced. Like Joss Whedon had wrote that in. The manner of his death (and Tonks') is unknown, the Big Damn Hero dying off-camera in a battle. Because, dammit, people die in battles. Even beloved mentors who have just married and had a baby. I don't think he was supposed to die, but I can understand why his death was necessary:

By the end of the series, all the Marauders are dead. James and Lily died to save Harry. Sirius dies coming to Harry's rescue. Wormtail, in the end, dies to save Harry. Even Snape dies in the pursuit of saving Harry. For Lupin not to die for Harry's cause would be strange. It would leave him as... wasted figure. Lupin had to die. His death didn't need to be glorious, it didn't need to be televised. His death was tragic. But at least he, Tonks, Fred and Colin got an obit, which is better than can be said for 50 others at Hogwarts (all 6th and 7th and maybe assorted 4th and 5th years, to be sure, as none of the teachers or other OotP members were listed among the dead).

So, who lived?

Neville. The Boy Who Lived. If anyone was going to catch a green bolt in the chest, it would be the model Gryffindor, Neville. Probably my favorite character, especially to the close. I can see how he would have taken that blast for Harry, even moreso than Ron. His sacrifice would have been noble and daring. But those are the qualities that earned him the reprieve. Instead, in the end, he marches defiantly to Voldemort, and in the face of an offer of power and prestige, tells the most powerful and deadly wizard alive to stuff it up his ass.

Then, resisting the horrific pain of being burned alive, shrugs off the curse, pulls the sword of Godric Gryffindor from the Sorting Hat (as only a true Gryffindor could), and removes the head of Voldemort's immortality. Neville, quite literally, strikes the last blow any of the good guys will strike against Voldemort. The last blow is delivered by the evil bastard himself. Neville saves the day.

Who's the chosen one again?

Were there loose ends that I felt needed to be wrapped up? Sure. I was dissapointed that the last scene wasn't in Diagon Alley. I was dissapointed that they didn't wander past Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.

Was I wrong about some stuff? Sure. I was convinced that the house elves would have a much bigger role. Sure, Kreacher did alot and Dobby sacrificed, but I was expecting them to come out of Hogwarts and start blasting Death Eaters willy-nilly (like Dobby did to Lucius waaay back when). Instead, they just came out with knives and tea cozies in a one-off line with Kreacher leading the charge. Woo. I was also expecting Fawkes to make an appearance. His departure at the end of Book 6 just didn't seem... final.

All in all, though, I though it ended the series perfectly. Evil defeats itself, Good licks its wounds, and there's a happily every after.

For at least 19 years. Wizards live to be in their hundreds, you know. Age 36 Harry is just getting started. I expect another book in 2016 (the year that Deathly Hallows officially ends).

-pb