My daughter and I finished it last night.
My opinion would be that the HBP is the best written of the series to this point. The last two books really dragged on in places, where a bit more editing was in order. Everythings crafted a bit better, pulling past events together while setting a very get stage for book 7. Couple of notes.
Who's the HBP? Must admit that the answer did surprise me, even though the clues made sense once it's revealed.
Is the HBP evil? I'm still trying to decide if Dumby conspired with him, knowing that survival was not possible. Perhaps the ultimate way to expose the he-who-must-not-be-named to those who are loyal to Dumby. Then again, the author really doesn't seem to have left much wriggle room to bring HBP back from the Dark Side.
Redemption? Well, if you accept that the HBP has gone over with no hope of coming back, then the next question is who's the sinner that will help the DA? My money's on Malfoy and Peter Pettigrew. I predict they will both be crucial characters in the next book.
Warped thoughts? Harry & Co. said they'd not be returning to hogwarts for the fall semester. This means that either (a). There's a chance for a book 8, because they won't get around to graduating; or, on the opposite extreme (b). Book 6 is the last of the series, as JKR plays a cruel hoax on the PFY, teaching them a lesson about unfulfilled aspirations (get used to disappointment kid). Of course, if JKR gets real inspired, she'll write 3 different versions of the last book. The first is where Lord Voldemort & minions successfully slaughter the hogwarts brats. The second where the trifecta of Harry, Hermione and Ron triumph and they fall in love and snog happily ever after. Finally, the real book should be some mixture of success and failure, with much of the question of evil unresolved.
