My friend KMcDougan wrote a post about feeling a sense of loss at finishing the Harry Potter series. Having finally come to the end of the 7th book myself, I can agree with him. It’s not that the ending wasn’t a good one, that J. K. Rowling didn’t leave you with a sense for the most part, the big questions had been answered, the loose ends had been tied. The real sadness comes in the thought that somehow you’ve spent years getting to know these people, they’ve become your friends and family, you’ve invested time watching them grow up and you’ve grown up with them. You’ve been on this long journey with them and now, the journey has come to an end. There will be no more mishaps with Ron’s wand, no more teas in Hagrid’s hut, no more of Fred and George’s practical jokes, no more crazy theories from Luna, no more Peeves harassment, no more sweaters from Mrs. Weasley, no more disgusting flavors of Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans, no more Whomping Tree…no more discovering the magical world through Harry.
And really, it’s as if your best friends have moved and left you behind. It’s a little sad to know you aren’t going to be seeing them again, you aren’t going to be hearing about their new adventures.
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I haven’t read the last book yet, so I don’t know how final Rowling was, but I find it hard to believe that such a lucrative project with such a deeply-developed setting and dedicated fanbase will really end with this book. I have no doubt that we’ll have spin-offs for many years.
Actually, she said in an interview with Merideth from Today last week that she was done writing in that universe. She said she wasn’t done writing, mind you, but that pretty much, she had been there and done that. It was the part of the interview that was Q&A with the kids and she’s been fairly honest in the past.
Though admittedly, I’d like to see a book written from Neville’s point of view of this particular last story, but that’s me. So much happened to his character “off-camera”.