Doesn't any one else think that 'Hallows' could be a place-name or place-name element?

ISTR it from The Return of the King.

Wasn't the area in Minas Tirith with the tombs of the kings called the Hallows?

Sounds plausible, dcp. It could be that's what I'm remembering.

I still remain unconvinced, especially with the existence of Godric's Hollow as an established place (the location of the former Potter residence). A hollow and a hallow as two different locations seems excessively confusing.

I'm guessing that the Final Battle has to be on Hogwarts grounds, since that is the central location of the entire series, so maybe the Hallows are somewhere there?

I can't help but read a Dumbledore reference into that Deathly Hallows title (maybe a reference to Harry's parents, too).

Hey, maybe we'll get Dumbledore's ghost wandering about--or nasty necromancy.

I'll bet Dumbledore's painting in the Headmaster's office will have something to say.

I'll bet Dumbledore's painting in the Headmaster's office will have something to say.

God, I hope so.

I'm fine with the title. But somehow, upon hearing it, my DH has convinced himself that either Dumbledore is not dead, or that Snape is actually evil. I don't know how he's getting that from "Deathly Hallows," but whatever.

All I know is, my brain has become a sieve. I have to reread Order of the Phoenix before the movie comes out, and then Half-Blood Prince before Deathly Hallows is released, as a refresher.

I have to thank JKR for giving me a connection to my niece and two nephews. We ended spending a good portion of our Christmas Eve dinner discussing various aspects of Harry Potter, both book and movie versions (the 10-y.o. knew more about the films and was able to participate via that route).

The 13-y.o. niece is a big Sirius Black fan, and told me that she didn't see what the big deal was about Dumbledore dying. Well, she understood that he's a big wizard hotshot, but thought that Sirius's death was more important to Harry (also, he's "way cooler than Dumbledore!"). She's really looking forward to the OotP movie, as a result.

I love reading books that the boys are reading, too, and being able to discuss them (although the nine-year-old is honestly only watching the movies, which makes me sad -- I want him to read Order of the Phoenix now, or at least read it with him before the movie comes out, because there's so much *more* in the books). Also sharing them with my DH, because our reading tastes are wildly different, except where Harry/JKR are concerned.

I'm a huge Sirius fan, too, but Dumbledore's death is important in a different way. Sirius was an outlaw of sorts, living on the edge, blah blah, so his death wasn't such a surprise, whereas Dumbledore was teacher, mentor, touchstone, and de facto father to Harry. He also symbolizes so much good and wisdom, that his death seems like a door opening to Chaos and Heartbreak Ahead.