[kingu]

I do think Dumbledore is dead because he's now a portrait in the Headmaster's office. But I'm open to Snape having set it up with him.

Missed that one - had to go back and re-read the scene (a hard trick, since my 12 year old didn't want to let go of the book) - you're right, Dumbledore is on the wall. But one thing that the author has been careful to explain is that photos and portraits are not the people they portray, simply the capturing of a similarity of how they were when that photo or portrait was produced.

A good example of how this works is all the photos and portraits of Lockhart that Lockhart kept in the Dark Arts classroom.

I wouldn't be shocked if it was a stunt put together by Snape and Dumbledore, and I wouldn't be shocked if it wasn't a stunt and Dumbledore is dead.

[Malacoda]

You're right!

Wasn't Dumbledore on the chocolate frog cards, as well??

[retrokitten]

But one thing that the author has been careful to explain is that photos and portraits are not the people they portray, simply the capturing of a similarity of how they were when that photo or portrait was produced.

True, but I think he'll still be able to assist Harry from his portrait. You know there has got to be at least a few more that he can travel between.

[WV Mountain Mama]

DD did tell Draco they could hide he and his mother more completely that he could ever know and everyone would believe they would both have been killed. Maybe that is what Snape and DD planned for DD. I just don't want to believe that he is dead. I was in a funk for a couple of hours yesterday after I finished reading the book.