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.
I found myself thinking of this conversation as well. BUT Rowling has said that she isn't into tricks, but writes straightforwardly. That ought to mean that Snape performing the killing curse DID kill Dumbledore.
I still trust Snape. (My son is just as convinced that he's gone bad.) I like the idea that DD and Snape worked out his murder, especially to protect Draco from being a murderer. That sounds like Dumbledore.
I think Ron, Ginny and Hermione will stay with Harry even if he doesn't return to Hogwarts. I can't see them just going on with school or whatever while Harry fights. The ultimate fight will be with just Harry and Voldemort, of course, but he needs the Order and the DA kids to help with the Death Eaters and to gather info.
There is so much left to tie up! I just know that there is a larger story line with Neville! Something has to happen with Percy too, either an overtly evil act or a return to the fold. There was so much dealing with the werewolf thing too, I think, that there has to be something with Bill's resultant circumstances that means something for Harry.
I was surprised about Snape being the HBP, but I read the book so quickly...it seemed absolutely obvious once I knew! LOL! I had the Ron/Hermione romance pegged ages ago. I had thought Fleur would dump Bill at the hospital and that she'd turn out to be spying on the Weasley's or something.
I had heard enough rumors that DD's death wasn't a big surprise. But I did suspect at one point that it would be Hagrid. Glad it wasn't!
Now, WHY was DD so insistent that Harry only share info with Ron and Hermione? Did DD mean to exclude McGonagall and other professors...Lupin and the rest too? Couldn't DD have talked with them from his portrait and given them all comfort and advice, right away, once he appeared? Why didn't he? Even just a short chat with Harry to say something inspirational... We know that DD will never TRULY leave Hogwarts unless there is no one there who is loyal. That HAS to refer to help from his portrait, I think.