Dear you (no obvious spoilers for not-yet-finished HP readers)

Dear Jo Rowling,
You made me cry a lot, but I still love you. There's no way you can't call your last book somewhat of a bloodbath, but I can see your point in making it so... to trivialize and soften war and death by saving all of our favorite characters would have contradicted the entire point of Harry's epic journey to kill off Voldemort. Death is permanent, and love is enormously risky, and life is delicate and transient and miraculous... and even in a so-called "kids' book" series, you conveyed it all brilliantly. Props to you for keeping it real about war and loss, and knowing when to cut the strings.
Still, what's with your epilogue? What happens to George, for criminy's sake? And to Luna? And does Harry really keep his promise to Lupin? (I guess we know the answer to this last. After his own experience, it would be impossible for him not to.) More closure might have been nice though...
Epilogue aside, what a treasure of an epic you've woven for us all--this series has completely reset the standard for quality fiction, in my opinion. I doubt we'll ever see the streets of London crowded with book characters again in this lifetime, but you've inspired so many people to start writing that it might actually be a possibility. Thanks for that. And for getting so many kids into reading and imagining a world beyond their everyday existence... any English teacher knows that's no small feat.
An earth-shaking end to a fantastic series. Way to go, Jo.

Heart,
Nilly

P.S. While reading, I literally cheered aloud (in my silent house at approximately 3:00 AM) for Molly Weasley. Knew she had it in her! A woman with fiery red hair and seven children? But of course!