If we go under the assumption that Hogwarts does indeed stay open for Harry's final year (which it should because it serves as an anchor to the series), then Harry will have a host of new teachers to deal with.

First....lets look at what we have as of Book 6:

Headmaster....Dumbledore
Deputy Mistress/Transfiguration/Gryffindor Head of House....McGonnagal
Charms/Ravenclaw Head of House....Flitwick
Potions....Slughorn
DADA/Slytherin Head of House....Snape
Herbology/Hufflepuff Head of House....Sprout
Care of Magical Creatures....Hagrid

Thise seems to be the "Inner Circle" of the staff at Hogwarts so thery are the members I'll focus on.

Now, at the end of the book we know Dumbledore is gone, Snape is A.W.O.L, Slughorn is supposedly finishing up his one year favor to Dumbledore, and we can only assume McGonnagal wil lbe getting promoted.

So now our list looks like this:

Headmistress....McGonnagal
Deputy Master or Mistress/Transfiguration/Gryffindor Head of House....????
Charms/Ravenclaw Head of House....Flitwick
Potions....????
DADA/Slytherin Head of House....????
Herbology/Hufflepuff Head of House....Sprout
Care of Magical Creatures....Hagrid

So with this type of major mix up leaving so many open slots, I wonder what everyone's ideas are for who is taking over, who might become the next Gryffindor Head of House or if McGonnagal will stay put and a new Headmaster is put in place by the school governors.

I think this is important because assuming Harry returns to school (he'll have to to get his N.E.W.Ts to become and Auror), the people who are placed in these positions could very well mean the difference between victory and defeat for Harry.

Granted we have around another 2 years before the final installment is released, but in the meantime I think this is a good theory to really try and think about and perhaps address to Rowling if anyone gets the chance.

it seemed clear that slughorn was staying and was gonna be the slytherin's head of house and i dont know if anyone reads TIME but in their latest edition they predicted harry coming back to school to teach dada, this was made right after an interview with JKR

just moved this to its rightful place!

Cruticus

I was thinking...originally my vote was for Tonks to take up DADA, but actually she is a better choice for Transfiguration, what w/ being a metamorphosizer or whatever it's called :) she'd be perfect..i want her to teach.

Y cant McGonagol still teach?
Yeah, i think Slughorn will b the new slytherin HOH.
But not sure Harry will teach DoDa, but if he does, mayb Hermy could teach potions - with the help of the HBP book. lol.
I hope they do return to hogwarts, the school is like the feature of the books.
Mayb there will b a showdown at the school?
LV an Harry, where it all begins, with majic, an where it must end.
Dum dum dum...lol.

We know from Chamber that Dumbledore was once the Transfiguration teacher and was then made Headmaster and stopped teaching. If the same pattern is followed and McGonagal is promoted to Head Mistress, then her duties will be to running the school, not teaching or being Head of House for the Gryffindors. I suppose the School Governors could appoint a new Headmaster/Mistress and leave her where she is, but I don't think so.

Even though it was only supposed to be a one year term (I think..not sure if it ever said this specifically), I am beginning to think Slughorn will stay on for potions and head of Slytherin House especialyl because they are postions to which he has experience with.

As for the trio returing to school, I beleive there will be a reason...but it may be in a limited capacity. This being hanging around just enough to take N.E.W.Ts or to use the library and other resources at school to find information on the remaining Horcruxs. They have to work the school in somehow, it has been the backdrop for all six books so far. It would seem kind of stupid to all of a sudden drop this background.

Maybe, I'm being too literal but I take Harry at his word when he says that he won't return to Hogwarts. I'm not saying that the school wont figure at all but I believe the action will be somewhere else. As to Harry being the new DADA, wouldn't he have needed to graduate first???

AND REMEMBER that position is still CURSED!!

i dont think harry would teach like, he's still too young and not even qualified, plus it would be too much presure spesh with everything else going on.

Hagrid might not even teach next year... he said he would stay, but the person who was giving him permission to stay is dead. I know McGonogall wont kick him out... but, does Hagrid even still have the desire to teach after DD's death?


~Gargantuan

This is taken directly from page 628 in the US version.

I would say as Headmistress, McGonagall is saying Hagrid would be welcome to remain. After all, you can't say you value a person's opinion and then chuck them out of their home. Since the Ministry has no beef against Hagrid since Buckbeak's attack on Malfoy in Azkaban, I doubt they would ask Hagrid to leave either.

Besides, I think the theme of Dumbledore not being gone at Hogwarts until there are none left who are loyal to him is a powerful one. More than anything I believe that continuing the education of student's and the assissting of Harry are the best way they can honor his memory and be loyal to him.

Totally agree like I definetly CANT see McGonnagol fireing hagrid.

And now we know why!