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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 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.

There is so much left to tie up! I just know that there is a larger story line with Neville!

I know! I loved when McGonagall said, "It's high time your grandmother be proud of the grandson she has rather then the one she wishes she had."

I was also very surprised that we didn't hear anything about Susan Bones. With Ameila Bones' murder she's basically an orphan. Voldermort killed her entire family. I think we will hear more from her, too.

...especially to protect Draco from being a murderer. That sounds like Dumbledore.

It mirrors exactly why he was so reluctant to tell Harry about the prophecy. Prophesy? Yeesh, I'm tired today. Anyway, DD knew that Harry would realize what the prophecy means: He will be murdered, or he will murder. Both options were horrific to DD. He may not look upon Draco as favorably as he does Harry, but he couldn't allow Draco's fate to be sealed because of him. It also explains why he was pleading to Severus--he wanted to be killed quickly, before Draco mustered up the courage to do it himself. Snape acted very quickly. He pushed Draco aside; moments later, he killed DD.

I do not understand DD's insistence that Harry should share information with R and H but not with the other professors. I don't get that at all. Maybe, since DD knew that Harry is closer to them than anyone else--and would, I assume, recognize if they were being imperiused--they are the safest confidants. Does Harry know McGonagall well enough to be able to recognize if she were being controlled? The Weasleys? He has spent a fair amount of time with many of the characters, but R and H are the only ones he knows inside and out.