What we do know about Book Seven

According to the fantastic Harry Potter Lexicon, these are the hints we have of what Jo Rowling will cover in Book Seven.

What we do know about the seventh book:

The last word of the seventh book, according to Rowling, is "scar." She says that she has written the very last chapter already (BN) and that the last chapter contains details of what happens to each surviving character. (HPM).

This is the thing that I was very dubious about showing you... (T)his is the final chapter of book seven. This is really where I wrap everything up, it's the epilogue. And I basically say what happens to everyone after they leave school - those who survive - because there are deaths - more deaths coming. It was a way of saying to myself, "Well you will get it, you will get to book seven one day. And then you'll need this!" So I'd just like to remind all the children I know who come around my house and start sneaking into cupboards that it's not there anymore - I don't keep it at home anymore for very, very, very obvious reasons. So there it is. (HPM)

Harry will be in his seventh and final year in book seven. The events of book seven will take place between July 31, 1997 and the end of the school year, which presumably will be June, 1998.

Harry will go back to the Dursleys one last time before his 17th birthday. He plans to visit Godric's Hollow and also to attend Bill and Fleur's wedding in July.

Harry will turn seventeen on 31 July 1997, and therefore will be of age in the wizarding world and old enough to obtain a license to Apparate. Neville Longbottom will likewise be of age at the end of July 1997. Ron and Hermione are already 17.

We will learn why some people become ghosts and some don't (Sch1).

Q: What makes some witches/wizards become ghosts after they die and some not?
A: You don't really find that out until Book VII, but I can say that the happiest people do not become ghosts. As you might guess, Moaning Myrtle!

NOTE: This information may have already been included in the conversation which Harry has with Nick in book five. The interview in which JKR gave this response was years before book five was written and she may have changed her plans somewhat.

We will learn something very important about Lily in book seven:

Now, the - the important thing about Harry's mother - the really, really significant thing - you're going to find out in two - in two parts. You'll find out a lot more about her in book five, or you'll find out something very significant about her in book five, and you'll find out something incredibly important about her in book seven. (Con)

Interesting things to watch out for, if the usual progression of school life continues:

It is not clear whether Harry will even return to Hogwarts for his seventh year. He plans to spend that year finding and destroying Voldemort's Horcruxes.

It is also unclear whether Hogwarts will even be open for the 1997-1998 [Y17-Y18] school year. If it is, however, certain things will likely happen:

Two students in Harry's year will be made Head Boy and Head Girl. They will not necessarily be Gryffindors.

Harry and his classmates will be taking their most difficult set of tests, the NEWTs, and making preparations for their careers in the wizarding world.

The last chapter is written. It tells what happens to everyone after the tale is finished (those who survive) (HPM)

There is no university after Hogwarts and no further Harry Potter books.

Q: Do you think that you will write about Harry after he graduates from Hogwarts? Isn't there a University of Wizardry?
A: (T)here's no University for Wizards. At the moment I'm only planning to write seven Harry Potter books. I won't say "never," but I have no plans to write an eighth book (Sch1).