What would have been your ideal epilogue to book 7?

[Giovanna Clairval]

Some of us are happy with it, for different reasons; some are not.

Many understand why Rowling chose that epilogue, and yet, others would have liked to read something else...

And,you, if you are not satisfied, what would your favourite epilogue be?

[Strife]

When i read the spoilers i was not happy.
Someone posted photocopies with the titles. It was the real book. I saw nineteen years after and I expected something worse. I'm not enchanted but it's better than what I thought.

I'd change Malfoy. he was a balding man... I'd have liked to see him take Harry's side. But he was afraid of him and ashamed.
Opportunity lost, I thought.

[Thessaly]

I was moderately happy, and I can totally understand why Rowling chose that particular epilogue. I guess I wasn't really bothered about who each character ended up marrying, as how they carried on after Voldemort was overthrown, and what they ended up doing with their lives. I liked that we found out about Neville becoming a teacher, but I would have been interested to know what the others did too. I suppose everyone marrying each other felt a bit twee, particularly since in my experience, nobody I know is still going out with, or has married, people they went to school with! I can see that it was quite cute, though, and tied things up neatly.

I would have loved to see what happened after the battle at Hogwarts. The story finished quite abruptly after that, and the epilogue didn't really resolve the social tensions that surely wouldn't have gone away overnight, regarding the prejudice against mudbloods, the fate of the surplus death eaters etc. I do realise, however, that this could have taken up an entire book on its own, and Rowling had to finish somewhere. I just don't think that finding out about the characters' love lives was necessarily the best way of winding things up, but I'd rather have that than nothing at all.

[Giovanna Clairval]

Originally Posted by Thessaly

I suppose everyone marrying each other felt a bit twee, particularly since in my experience, nobody I know is still going out with, or has married, people they went to school with! I can see that it was quite cute, though, and tied things up neatly.

That answered the fans' questions, didn't it? And I understand why she did answer, but, gosh... twee... I got the same feeling.

I wonder what the epilogue would have been without the (natural and understandable) pressure...


Does someone disagree? Other ideas?

[Leisha]

I'm not a fan of it personally. I know Rowling wanted to show us about the characters' future, but most of it centred around the kids. I'm sorry, but I read the books for the main characters, not their children. I'd have preferred a little more on some of the lesser characters, such as the twins (both sets), the teachers, and perhaps even some of the animals too, like Buckbeak and Crookshanks.

Don't get me wrong, though, I loved the book! Rowling has improved with each novel, both technically and storytelling-wise.

[PTeppic]

The epilogue was really to close down the series and try to ensure it couldn't be extended. To address all of her fans' queries she'd have to virtually write a whole new book. We'd want to know about every character and situation we'd come across in the seven books: characters, relationships, punishments, careers, staff at Hogwarts etc. Yet, story-wise, she was already finished. So, where to draw the line? I'm very happy with what she put. To write an extra book: she's already implied she will, in the form of an encyclopaedia, which can include on the end of most entries what happened after the Battle of Hogwarts.

[Majimaune]

I personally would have been very very happy to have no epilogue at all. It ruined a good book for me because it was so open-ended. Almost everything before that had been cleared up and then I had to go and read the epilogue. Didn't like it at all. I see there is a missing thing in the poll. There should be "Would have been better without one"

[Joel007]

I wanted an inferi Dobby!

[Majimaune]

Didn't we all but that wasn't quite in the epilogue or where the epilogue was.

[Giovanna Clairval]

I like epilogues, because they give you the opportunity to take a cup of tea in the company of one or more characters and cool down: you just read something so emotional or fast paced or unexpected… you have to breathe a little, and also come to terms with the inevitable loss of a dear companion (how will you live without that wretched book now?).

Besides tying up a few loose ties, that’s what epilogues are for!

Perhaps, in this case, not reading any epilogue at all might have been frustrating, yes, but less unsatisfactory too.

Following that line of thought, there should have been a different final chapter, of course, that would have included a small, friendly tearoom for you and me…

BUT who would have stamped her foot and cried out in rage

discovering no epilogue at all in book 7?

Is there any Chronic who would have done just that?

[Strife]

not me, even if i voted *moderatedly happy*

i hadn't though of not having an epilogue at all, but now someone mentioned it...

yes, why not IMAO

[Majimaune]

Originally Posted by Giovanna Clairval

I like epilogues, because they give you the opportunity to take a cup of tea in the company of one or more characters and cool down: you just read something so emotional or fast paced or unexpected… you have to breathe a little, and also come to terms with the inevitable loss of a dear companion (how will you live without that wretched book now?).

Besides tying up a few loose ties, that’s what epilogues are for!

I'm living exactly the same as I ever did. I found it gave more loose ends then it wrapped up.

[PTeppic]

Was it as much to kill off any sequels, perhaps more than to add story value to the characters...?

[Giovanna Clairval]

Originally Posted by PTeppic

Was it as much to kill off any sequels, perhaps more than to add story value to the characters...?

Ouch, my whole post just disappeared. Are we too many around here, dementing the server?

To PTeppic: Yes, yes, very likeky. I think Rowling did it to force herself to kill the story in the first place, more than to convince the fans that the story is finished.


What would the ideal epilogue have been?

For me: Harry, Hermione and Ron are at Hog, where Neville is beginning his first assignment as a teacher. A few old (but not so much) students show up and they discuss what happened, which ties up the lose ropes.

[Majimaune]

Originally Posted by Giovanna Clairval

What would the ideal epilogue have been?

For me: Harry, Hermione and Ron are at Hog, where Neville is beginning his first assignment as a teacher. A few old (but not so much) students show up and they discuss what happened, which ties up the lose ropes.

Why would they be at Hogwarts? You have to have a reason for them to be there. Doing that at the station might have worked when they were dropping off kids to go to school but I don't think it would have worked if they were at Hogwarts. Theres no reason for them to be there.