It may be that Hogwarts itself doesn't survive Book 7. Rowling's own Gotterdammerung.

I dunno. Unlike Sunnydale High, Hogarts has been a good place for )most) of the students who attend. At least, it's not over a hellmouth. What meaning would there be in destroying it, particularly if the headmaster's office is the only place that anyone can "interact" with DD?

"Cross the streams!"

I must confess, that although I'm a sucker for collective ganging up on bullies, I can see such a scene being nail-on-chalkboard scratching if handled poorly.

The only possible symbolic benefit I could see would be the abolishement of the houses, so that All the Wizarding World (in the UK) Shall Be As One, but that seems a bit of over-kill, as there haven't been a lot of rot evident in the characterization of the school.

Unless Hogwarts is one of the horcruxes? Horcruces?

I think that JKR had Slughorn be a Slytherin as an example that all the Houses have something good in them, even the one with the history of the trickiest/most evil wizards being sorted into it.

The only problem with that is that it doesn't fit with the categories DD gave us, and I don't see JKR throwing those out (given that they were given in the first place) without a good reason.

I would guess someone out there might have a description of every small object mentioned in the HP books. One could comb through them all and guess which ones could be the horcrux(i?).

I think the last book will definitely be set in the school. From the first book it's been set up as Harry's home, his haven.

But I totally see this as Harry's coming of age. Just as we all have to leave behind the home where we grow up and go out into the world, Harry will have to learn to survive without Hogwarts. I mean, he'd have to anyway, after graduation (or whatever) but with Dumbledore (his father figure and mentor) dead, he's reached that turning point a little sooner.

I think some of the book will be set at Hogwarts, so we can see what Dumbledore's portrait has to say, et cetera, but I think a lot of will involve Harry trying to fumble his way along on his own, with mixed results.

And I meant to add that Hogwarts under attack, the Gryffindor thing falling apart, et cetera, is a gentle nudge in the direction of, "This place is not a fortress. It's not going to protect everyone forever." Finding a "home" and a safe place, metaphorically or physically, is going to be Harry's task now.

Finding a "home" and a safe place, metaphorically or physically, is going to be Harry's task now.

I think protecting the home he's found is going to be his task now. Until this point, Dumbledore's been standing in the way, but with him gone Harry has to take his place as leader and protector.

Harry won't have the protection of the Dursleys once he's of age, will he? I wonder how they will play out? We've seen more of Dudley etc. than I thought we would.

Crap, now I'm wondering if hte Dursleys are doomed.