Is Rowling successful in creating doubt as to whether Dumbledore is really dead? I never bought into it, but that was in part because I knew she had stated that no one would return from the dead in her books. I cannot help think that this would have been a strong red herring if I had not known that. But I think I would also be disappointed when it turned out Dumbledore was not back. As it is, I like the Aberforth enigma.

I like how they rob Gringott's after so much was made of the impossibility of it in book 1. That was obviously in order to build up the danger of Death Eaters, not to lay the ground for book 7, but I like how it is taken up again. It gives me a sense of full circle. Or, that is the wrong expression, I think. A sort of development circle, where going back to the beginning makes you realise how much has changed.