I am so glad to see someone taking a realistic and critical look at DH. The final book never really sat well with me, even excluding the horrible epilogue. For a series which had so much build-up and planning the final book seemed rushed, contradictory and disorganized. Now that you have mentioned it, I can't help but agree that JKR definitely seems to have cowardly backed away from a darker more adult conclusion. She seems to have a fear of the "grey" characters, instead forcing almost everyone into a role as either good or evil.

Additionally, I thought the sorting hat unity was another "gun on the table" which lent to the D/G subplot but was never addressed. There are many references in the earlier books about how all of the houses must unite. In the OOTP sorting song it specifically sings "For our Hogwarts is in danger; From external, deadly foes; And we must unite inside her; Or we'll crumble from within". JKR set the stage for the Slytherins (or Draco) to make a significant contribution to the final outcome. Instead the Slytherins just ran away. Its one of the loose ends that always bothered me.

I look forward to your continued analysis. Keep up the good work.

Author's Response: Thanks!! :) (Does the Happy Wonderful Review Dance.) I'm SO glad that I wasn't the only one who thought that DH had problems. And I totally agree about the "house unity" issue (you're one of those great reviewers who points out things I didn't think of! ;) It really made no sense at all to throw out the idea of what the Slytherins could have offered to the school (and the entire wizarding world. And the rest of the world, actually.) It just isn't believable for EVERY SINGLE STUDENT who ever went through that house to be the epitome of darkly evil evil-ness. And you're right-- it's not consistent with information we received before.

Anyway, more soon!! I'll try to get the next chapter out ASAP-- the fic exchange just started, so it might be a little bit delayed, but soon.