Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the soon to be published seventh book in the series of novels by J. K. Rowling will feature the final adventures of Harry Potter as he attempts to bring an end to the evil dark wizard, Lord Voldemort. The title for Book 7 was announced on December 21, 2006. The previous six books in the series have left many unanswered questions, and readers hope to learn how the many loose ends and unfinished adventures in the series will be completed. Rowling has stated that, more so than the other books in the series, the final volume is a continuation of the story line from the sixth book of the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. She has also stated that she has no intention of writing any further books about the Harry Potter characters, meaning that Book 7 will be the last book in the Harry Potter series. As of 2006, she has been working on the stories for over 16 years.

Some Known plot details

Continuing storylines from previous books

Harry

  • Harry returns to the home of his non-magical (Muggle) relatives, the Dursleys, during the summer. The magical protection which Albus Dumbledore arranged, that requires Harry to have a home with his surviving family, is set to expire on Harry's 17th birthday July 31.
  • There is expected to be a continuing relationship between Ginny Weasley and Harry Potter, even though Harry told Ginny in the last chapter of the sixth book that he "can't be involved with her anymore" and that they have "got to stop seeing each other" and that they "can't be together," because he's "got things to do alone now". [HP6]

Hogwarts

  • Harry stated in the sixth book that he does not intend to complete his final year, but that doesn't mean he might not make an appearance on Hogwarts grounds at some point during the story.
  • Hogwarts is expected to have a new head teacher or headmaster, as the previous headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, was killed in book six. Minerva McGonagall is the most likely, as she served as deputy headmistress under Dumbledore, and because she seems to have inherited the office from Dumbledore. Additionally, when Dumbledore was removed from office in Chamber of Secrets, it was McGonagall who took over as Headmistress.
  • If Hogwarts is re-opened, then a new Head Boy and Head Girl will be appointed.
  • If Harry returns to Hogwarts, it will be his seventh and final year. However, at the end of Book 6, Harry stated that he would not return even if Hogwarts were to re-open. Ron and Hermione said that they would leave Hogwarts as well, to help Harry fight Voldemort. Should Hogwarts reopen, Harry and his classmates would be expected to complete their final N.E.W.T. exams.

Other

  • The quest to identify, locate, and destroy Voldemort's remaining Horcruxes will continue. The remaining Horcruxes must be destroyed before Voldemort can be successfully conquered.
  • There is no suggestion in the prophecy that Harry will prevail over Lord Voldemort; at this time it is unknown. More of the things that happened on the night this prophecy was made will be revealed, and that most probably play a very important point in the survival of Harry or Voldemort.
  • Book seven is expected to identify the mysterious R.A.B., who claimed to have stolen one of Voldemort's Horcruxes with the intent to destroy it, while replacing it with a fake that was recovered by Harry and Dumbledore. In an interview, J. K. Rowling said that Regulus Black was "a fine guess" for R.A.B.'s identity. [6]
  • The true and final loyalties of Severus Snape will be revealed, with an explanation of Dumbledore's death at the hands of Snape, and in Snape's reporting of the prophecy about Harry Potter to Voldemort. A confrontation between Snape and Harry is expected.
  • Kreacher, the former Black Family house elf which passed to Harry's ownership with the death of Sirius Black, may make an appearance. Rowling told the filmmakers of Order of the Phoenix to include the character in the movie, because he is "very important." [7]
  • The reason why Lord Voldemort believes that Harry Potter (rather than Neville Longbottom) fulfills the prophecy of Sybill Trelawney will be revealed. According to Dumbledore, Lord Voldemort did so for a reason that only he knows.
  • In the third book, Wormtail incurred a debt to Harry when Harry saved Wormtail's life. Wormtail has not yet had the opportunity to discharge this debt. (page 459, Bloomsbury pocket edition)(Page 375, Scholastic Press edition). On that very night, Dumbledore said to a sceptical Harry that he would one day be glad that he had saved the life of Voldemort's servant.
  • Rowling stated on her web site that there is something "significant—even crucial" about the answer to the question of why Dumbledore had James Potter's Invisibility Cloak. [8]
  • More will become known about Harry's scar.
  • Also, this book will explain why some people can become ghosts while others cannot[citation needed]. One of the important characters will appear as ghost in this book [citation needed]. (This may have already been answered, at least to a certain degree, in Order of the Phoenix Chapter 38, where Nearly Headless Nick explains that wizards who are afraid of death often return as ghosts.)
  • It will be clear in this book about the meaning of that letter sent to Aunt Petunia from Dumbledore in the opening of book five. Till now, it is unknown what "remember my last" means, although Rowling addressed the question on her web site [9]. Also, Rowling had stated that we will find out more about her in the last book.[10]

Information from J. K. Rowling

  • J. K. Rowling said that Harry might get another pet at some point.[11] However, Kreacher and/or Buckbeak may have filled this role. She also hinted that Fawkes, Dumbledore's phoenix, might have another role.[12]
  • In an interview with Tatler magazine, Rowling confirmed that she had decided upon a title, saying: "I so nearly told you the title, it almost popped out...".[13] However, in a later appearance at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, she stated that she had just thought of a new title, in the shower preparing for her appearance.[14] Rowling has since stated that she now has a third potential title, and that this new title is "ahead by a short nose, or perhaps that should be a vowel and two consonants".[15]
  • Rowling wrote the last chapter of the book some time ago, to give her an ending to work up to. The last word of the seventh book, according to Rowling, is currently "scar" [16], but she has also said it may change, along with the whole last chapter she has previously written. This last chapter contains details of what happens to each surviving character:

"This is the thing that I was very dubious about showing you... This is the final chapter of book seven. This is really where I wrap everything up, it's the epilogue. And I basically say what happens to everyone after they leave school - those who survive - because there are deaths - more deaths coming. It was a way of saying to myself, 'Well, you will get it, you will get to book seven one day. And then you'll need this!' So I'd just like to remind all the children I know who come around my house and start sneaking into cupboards that it's not there anymore - I don't keep it at home anymore for very, very, very obvious reasons. So there it is." – J. K. Rowling[17]

  • Rowling has stated that there will be no Quidditch matches in book seven.[18]
  • We will learn something very important about Lily in book seven:
Now, the important thing about Harry's mother - the really, really significant thing - you're going to find out in two parts. You'll find out a lot more about her in book five, or you'll find out something very significant about her in book five, and you'll find out something incredibly important about her in book seven." – J. K. Rowling[19]
  • Rowling has long said that Harry's eyes resembling his mother's is important.[20]
  • Severus Snape has been an important and enigmatic character throughout the books, as his true loyalty has always remained unclear. It is to be anticipated that as a surviving major character, his loyalty will be settled in the final confrontation of the book.[21]
Questioner: There’s an important kind of redemptive pattern to Snape.
Rowling: He, um, there’s so much I wish I could say to you, and I can't because it would ruin. I promise you, whoever asked that question, can I just say to you that I'm slightly stunned that you've said that and you'll find out why I'm so stunned if you read Book Seven. That's all I’m going to say.[19]
  • She has stated we will learn more about Peter Pettigrew, Dumbledore, and his family.[18]
  • At the Edinburgh book festival, Rowling mentioned that something more would be revealed about Petunia Dursley. Nothing of note occurred in book 6, so this remains to be discovered.[10]

"..there is a little bit more to Aunt Petunia than meets the eye...She is not a squib, although that is a very good guess. Oh, I am giving a lot away here. I am being shockingly indiscreet."

Rowling repeated this comment at the Radio city charity reading in August 2006. [23]
  • Whether related or not, Rowling has also said that some non-magical character will perform magic late in life in desperate circumstances.[24] However, she has also said that Aunt Petunia will not perform magic.[25]
  • Also at Edinburgh, Rita Skeeter was mentioned: "She is loathsome . . . but I can't help admiring her toughness. . . . There is more to come on Rita"[10]
  • On Dolores Umbridge, "It's too much fun to torture her not to have another little bit more before I finish"[18]
  • The two-way mirror given to Harry by Sirius Black and his flying motorbike will return.[26] Rowling refused to comment whether Sirius himself might in some way reappear, but she has also said that there was a reason why he had to die.
  • Dumbledore was said to have a "gleam of triumph" in his eyes when told that Voldemort had restored his body using Harry's blood, at the end of Goblet of Fire (Ch. 36). Rowling has confirmed that this is "still enormously significant".[22]
  • Someone from Harry's class, not Harry, Ron, or Hermione, also not who most readers would expect, will become a Hogwarts teacher. This seems to indicate that Hogwarts will indeed re-open, though possibly not until after the main events of book seven have occurred. [19]
  • Rowling has stated that there will be a member of the Order of the Phoenix who has been seen very little so far who will be important in the seventh book.[citation needed]
  • Rowling has been consulted on the film versions of the books, so as to ensure that important aspects of the story do not get omitted or changed that might contradict her future plans for the series. After completion of Prisoner of Azkaban she was interviewed and commented that she was startled by clues which had crept into the film, relating to the final outcome of the series.[citation needed]
  • There are indications that at least two of the main characters will die. In a June 2006 interview about the previously-written ending, Rowling stated that:
    • "One character got a reprieve, but I have to say two die that I didn't intend to die...A price has to be paid. We are dealing with pure evil...They go for the main characters, or I do".[27]
  • When further questioned in June 2006 about authors who kill off their main characters, Rowling said "I can completely understand, however, the mentality of an author who thinks, well, I'm going to kill them off because that means there can be no non-author-written sequels'".[27]
  • Rowling clarified that "Dumbledore is definitely dead", when asked by Salman Rushdie and others at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. Rowling answered the same question three times, each time with increasing conviction.[14] [28].
  • When asked what questions she should have been asked, she admitted that "the final book contains a couple of pieces of information that I don't think you could guess at", and declined to explain further.[23] On September 13, 2006 she updated her website saying that when she was asked that question, her mind went blank. Since she couldn't make amends, she created a NAQ section of her website, in tribute to the girl who asked the question. In her NAQ section, she states:
    • "Why did Dumbledore have James' invisibility cloak at the time of James' death, given that Dumbledore could make himself invisible without a cloak?"
    • September 29, 2006, she reveals that Severus Snape was not under the cloak the night of the Potters' death in the Rumors Section.
  • Asked which five of her characters she would like to invite to dinner, she chose Harry, Hermione and Ron, but then hesitated before choosing her last characters, saying "See... I know who's actually dead", unsure whether she was permitted to invite those who are 'dead'. [23]
  • On her website, in the Rumours section, there is the suggestion, Book Seven will be called "Harry Potter And The Pyramids of Furmat", this is answered jokingly with: The Pyramids Of Furmat lie a few miles east of the famous Fortress Of Shadows, not far from the magnificent Pillar Of Storgé. Many tourists prefer to view these ancient monuments at night, when they are illuminated by the Green Flame Torch. All of these "landmarks" are former rumoured names for the various Harry Potter books.
  • Lord Voldemort was voted best villain at the Big Bad Read poll. Responding to the news Rowling commented:
    • "I hope those of you who voted for him in the big bad read enjoy reading about him in book seven, where he finally gets the leg room for which he has been aching all those years in exile."[29]
  • Rowling has promised fans that they'll, "See [stuff] again" from Ginny in book seven, implying that at some point, whether Harry likes it or not, she will become involved in the fight against Voldemort.