OK then. Here are some of my thoughts on what just might happen in book 7. Your comments, objections and derision are most welcome. After all, it's a free world that some of us live in. Just remember, it’s a work of fiction, as is the HP series itself.

Harry will have to return to the Dursleys for part of the summer as per the requirement for the ongoing protection charm up to his 17th birthday. Harry will spend a lot of time fuming about Dumbledore, brushing up on DADA, thinking about Horcruxes and plotting revenge. I suspect that more will be learned about Aunt Petunia's knowledge of the wizarding world and her true (perhaps nicer) feelings about Lily will come out, as will some past knowledge about Harry’s parents. Harry, legally able to practice magic outside of Hogwarts the day he turns 17, will give Dudley a parting gift along the lines of the piggy tail that Hagrid gave him several years earlier and will also put Vernon in his place, However, I think that Harry and Petunia will come to a state of truce and acceptance of each other once the air has been cleared between them.

The Weasleys will retrieve Harry to take him to the Burrow prior to Bill and Fleur's wedding, which has been scheduled prior to the start of Hogwart's term whilst the family and friends are still around. The Weasleys will throw Harry a coming of age birthday party and Harry, Ron and Hermione will learn to successfully apparate. This lovely time together will be the calm before the storm

The wedding will draw together the entire Weasley family (except Percy the prat who boycotts it) and the Order of the Phoenix members - this will be a too inviting target for Voldemort and the Death Eaters, and the wedding will be disrupted by an attack in force by the DE's. Blood will be shed and lives lost, including a Weasley twin and a Weasley parent. Also, I guessing that Tonks will be revealed as being under the imperius curse (as evidenced by her recent strange behaviour in Hogwarts in book 6) and she will (involuntarily) become a traitor to the Order, killing or attempting to kill Lupin. Following her subsequent return to normalcy (after she has been stunned and the dust has settled), her guilt and angst about her deeds will be devastating for her and she will die when she storms off in the attempt to seek solo revenge against the DE's in a fit of rage.

Ron's grief from losing family members will finally bring him and Hermione together as a couple when he kisses her as she holds and comforts him. Harry, Hermione and Ron will return to Hogwarts to consult with McGonagal and Dumbledore's portrait in the Head's office. Together, they will eventually work out the locations of the RAB/Slytherin locket and the Hufflepuff cup. The locket is at 12 Grimmauld Place, unless Mundungus has pilfered it and then there will be an adventure trying to track down its wherebouts. The other will be stored in a location significant to Voldemort and might include Hogwarts itself (probably in the room of requirement), at Burke and Borgins where Voldemort worked as a youngster or perhaps a previously undisclosed location.

Harry will get advice on how to recognise and what is actually required to destroy a horcrux and he will leave Hogwarts to pursue the horcruxes and Voldemort, accompanied by Ron and Hermione. Moody and some of the surviving Order members will take Harry aside and try to arm him with what they consider the requisite weapons to take on Voldemort, teaching Harry the unforgivable curses including avada kedavra. Harry will struggle with the implications of using these curses and be conflicted between being a good guy and desperately wanting revenge as he is being taught.

Brainiac Hermione will be instrumental in helping to find and destroy the horcruxes. With Riddle’s diary, Marvolo’s ring, Hufflepuff’s cup and Slytherin’s Locket out of the way, the remaining horcruxes will include Nagini the snake, and an item of Ravenclaw’s.

Harry will come to realise that a Horcrux was made the night that his parents were killed and that the disembodied Voldemort did not have the energy or ability to retrieve it at the time. Since the Potters’ deaths, everything has been packed up and magically charmed and put away out of reach of everyone including Voldemort for Harry’s later inheritance. Harry will find a horcrux item belonging to Ravenclaw amongst his parents’ belongings, having been inadvertently packed away by others not realising what it was. Harry will also probably be attacked after finding it, as Godric’s Hollow is a fairly obvious place for Voldemort to lay a trap for Harry. Harry will defend himself against an ambushing Death Eater such as Crabbe or Goyle (senior) and feel stricken about using an unforgivable curse and killing in his own defence. Ron will die in this battle and Hermione will exact her revenge but feel less guilty than Harry about killing.

The other things to come out of Godric’s Hollow could include a more detailed understanding of Harry’s own history, and perhaps even a way to contact/track Wormtail who was once great friends with the Potters. Hermione’s DADA coins are a precedent for remote contact between friends, and perhaps Harry might find a way to contact Wormtail. He of course, fears the returned Voldemort and owes Harry his life, and just might be convinced to lead Harry to Voldemort.

Wormtail will be killed for his treachery by Voldemort, but Snape will be revealed as a good guy when he temporarily distracts (i.e. gets him to leave) or even disarms Voldemort to protect Harry and then helps to destroy Nagini (Voldemort’s final horcrux). Snape will chastise Harry for not listening to Dumbledore about how to defeat Voldemort with love and the penny will drop for Harry about the room filled with love at the Ministry of Magic. The Voldemort will return and/or Death Eaters will inevitably regain control of the stand off situation and Snape will be killed for his treachery. Harry and Hermione will apparate to the Ministry in their escape from Voldemort who will be lured to follow and try to kill Harry once and for all.

Harry will finally confront Voldemort in the Ministry’s department of mysteries where the room of love largely negates his powers and makes him vulnerable. Harry and Voldemort will fight on physical terms and not just entirely magical but Hermione will have been disabled by Voldemort (e.g. stunned or knocked out). The struggle will lead the weakened Voldemort and Harry into the room with the veiled archway, which will be revealed as a portal to the afterlife. Voldemort will be pushed into the veil and be dragged kicking and screaming into hell by demons from the other side. The scene will fade and Harry will see the archway reconfigure into a portal to heaven, and he will finally see and talk to his parents, who will, after a nice tear jerking chat, advise him to be a good boy, lead a full and happy life, and see you in a century or so in the afterlife.

Harry will return triumphant, marry Ginny and live happily ever after, minus the scar which disappeared after Voldemort’s final downfall. He will become an auror. Hermione will be the new DADA or Transfiguration teacher at Hogwarts. Neville will end up teaching Herbology. McGonagal will have a long and successful career as Headmistress. Ginny and Harry will have a baby boy who looks just like Harry, except has Ginny’s eyes.

There’ll be lots of subplots along the way and probably some new minor characters, but the above could very well be the main thrust of the story. Just a few thoughts for consideration.

Durro