After going through many years of Harry’s life over the course of the seven Harry Potter books, fans wanted him to get a fitting ending and a happy one at that. So, with the epilogue in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, many fans were excited that Harry did get many things he’d always wanted.
However, that epilogue, along with other information given by J.K. Rowling about Harry’s life after Hogwarts, didn’t completely make sense. While parts of Harry’s ending really work, other things just didn’t seem to fit the character and his journey.
Make No Sense: Becoming an Auror
This is a point that many fans have talked about and argued over. On the one hand, Harry was always very passionate about protecting others, and he obviously has very personal reasons to hate dark magic.
On the other hand, given that his entire life up until the point he was almost 18 was about fighting against Voldemort, it seems he would want a break. He would also likely not want to put his own family at risk or have a dangerous job that might hurt his family.
Fitting: His conversation with Albus Severus
While things get a bit more complicated if you include what happens in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, this moment in the epilogue itself shows a lot of character growth.
While Harry as an eleven-year-old didn’t want to be in Slytherin and was brought into the idea that most Slytherins couldn’t be trusted, he had a much more nuanced view as an adult. This is why he explained to his own son that there was nothing wrong with being sorted into the house.
Make No Sense: His Struggles Are Forgotten
While fans can’t say completely for sure if Harry ever truly dealt with the many difficult things he went through, it seems like they're more swept aside by the ending.
While he seems to have healed and grown, this journey isn't shown at all. He went through so many things as a child and teen, and it seems like a big part to leave unaddressed.
Fitting: He stays close with his best friends
One of the most endearing and best things about the epilogue is it shows that Harry remained close with his friends. In fact, he even was related to both Hermione and Ron at this point. But, beyond the trio, he also was still close with others like Hagrid and Luna.
The fact that Harry was still good friends with so many people who had supported him is heartwarming, and it makes a lot of sense that he would still keep these people in his life.
Make No Sense: He idolizes people that hurt him
One of the most upsetting things about Harry’s ending is that he seems to see both Dumbledore and Snape with rose-colored glasses. Instead of viewing them as flawed people who mistreated him at times, he sees them as purely heroes.
He ignores Snape’s cruel treatment of many others he loved, including his own mother, and names his son after him. It’s hard to accept that this is the takeaway when really they weren’t healthy mentor figures.
Fitting: He is a good godfather
As for Harry himself, it totally makes sense that he would be a good godfather to Teddy Lupin. Teddy and Harry’s stories are similar in some ways, but because Teddy had so many people to love and support him, he grew up much happier than Harry did. While Teddy was raised by his grandparents, it's made clear that Harry and Ginny were very involved in his life.
Seeing as how Sirius meant a lot to Harry, it’s nice to see this come full circle.
Make No Sense: He would have made a great professor
Many fans have pointed out that a career as a professor at Hogwarts would have made a lot more sense for Harry. While this might not have been feasible while he had younger kids, this does seem like a great option for Harry in later life when his kids were grown up.
This would have been a nice break for him from always fighting dark magic, and he would have been able to spend more time in one of his favorite places. And, he was always a good teacher.
Fitting: He gets to spend his life protecting people
While being an Auror forever might not make entire sense for Harry, there is also a part of him that always wanted to protect others.
While this doesn’t mean he would have had to make being an Auror his career, or at least not forever, it does make sense that he would at least help ensure that other dark witches or wizards with bigoted views didn’t come to power.
Make No Sense: The names he gives his kids
As touched on earlier, it’s really weird in many ways that Harry named his kids after Dumbledore and Snape. And, many fans feel like he knew other braver men and women who he should have named Albus Severus after instead such as Neville or Arthur Weasley. But, the other weird thing about the names of all three of his kids is they are all connected to Harry.
His other two children are named after his parents, and while that is sweet, it seems odd that Ginny had such little input and didn’t even get to pass down any of her own family names.
Fitting: He gets the family he always wanted
But, while Harry’s naming choices might be suspect, there is something endearing about him finally getting a happy family life. This is something he always wanted because it was so cruelly taken from him. He gets to create that happiness for himself in a very healing way.
Also, while not everyone loves Harry and Ginny together, there is something extra endearing about Harry becoming an official part of the Weasley family even if he practically was already.