[coconutt2000]

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MAJOR SPOILERS

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There's a chance that Dumbledore isn't dead. We are dealing with magic here.

Things to keep in mind though:

1) Albus Dumbledore went through a lot of trouble to prepare Harry Potter to carry on the fight on his own. Those "extra lessons" were nothing other than background briefings.

2) Dumbledore did not have to immobilize Harry, sacrificing the time he could've used to defend himself from Draco. Harry was therefore made to stand still to be a witness to Dumbledore's death and Snape's treachery. Too neat, to easy to think that Snape who up to this point has been a trusted colleague of Dumbledore.

3) Snape had plenty of time to kill or even kidnap Harry. He didn't. In fact, he went out of his way to ensure that Harry would live to report his treachery.

4) Snape killing Dumbledore before Draco could do it (and Draco was conflicted over taking that last step) was too convenient. Falls into something Dumbledore would've asked Snape to do, to prevent Draco from being the one who did it.

5) Snape didn't kill Flitwick, only stunned him. Snape could've killed Flitwick, Hermione, and Luna without any risk to blowing his cover as a Death Eater, if that was indeed the case what he was.

That Snape is a mean, grumpy, vindictive, and bad excuse for a human being is without question. But there isn't any evidence that he is a killer. Yes, there is a body. Albus is, as far as we can tell, dead. But there is a chance that either he is still alive and his death has been faked, or his death was a planned gambit to save Draco, put Snape back into the Death Eaters, and to push the plot forward to the next stage, where Harry Potter must come out from underneath Albus Dumbledore's protective wing and actually go on the offensive against Voldemort.

[Not A Snowbird]

Good theory.

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.

[backinthefold]

I agree 100% with all of that, Dumbledore was so open with everything in this book, and allowing Harry to share the info with Ron and Hermione

 

The only way for Voldemort to die is by Harry hand, and Harry must stand on his own 2 feet to do it. I was wondering why Dumbledore went to Privet Drive in the begining of the book, now I know why, he knew he may have to die...

 

But then again, he is now in a picture on the wall, so he is still around...

 

[retrokitten]

I'm going with the assumption he is dead. He could have very well set up all of those things, but he couldn't have faked the Phoenix's lament. JKR has also said, "When you are dead, you are dead. There is no coming back, not even in the wizarding world." I would absolutely love it if he were still alive, but I don't think that is the case here.

[grellis]

Snape had plenty of time to kill or even kidnap Harry...

Now I am convinced: Either Snape is not completely evil or Rowling has made a mighty slip. Snape had the perfect opportunity to immobilize and kidnap Harry, but he didn't. He's not stupid. If he were truly evil, he missed his golden opportunity to hand Voldemort exactly what he's been wanting.

Good catch! I never thought of the kidnap angle.

[MozartLover]

I agree with all of your points.:)

How long until we find out if you're right????

Too long.:(

[r9etb]

But there is a chance that either he is still alive and his death has been faked

Nah -- Fawkes the phoenix was mourning, so Dumbledore is really dead. Now -- seeing as phoenixes don't die, and that Harry is "Dumbledore's man, through and through," don't you think we've not seen the last of that particular bird? I suspect Harry will have a new pet before long.

[Doohickey]

Good analyis, but don't forget that Hermoine, Ron, Luna and Ginny had taken the Felix Felicious.

[Tanniker Smith]

5) Snape didn't kill Flitwick, only stunned him. Snape could've killed Flitwick, Hermione, and Luna without any risk to blowing his cover as a Death Eater, if that was indeed the case what he was.

No, he couldn't do this unless Dumbledore was guaranteed to be dead. For that matter, had there been no witnesses to the event, Snape would not have had to reveal himself at all. There was a possibility that Evil Snape could continue onward at Hogwarts for better or ill.

TS

[AFreeBird]

That Snape is a mean, grumpy, vindictive, and bad excuse for a human being is without question. But there isn't any evidence that he is a killer. Yes, there is a body. Albus is, as far as we can tell, dead. But there is a chance that either he is still alive and his death has been faked, or his death was a planned gambit to save Draco, put Snape back into the Death Eaters, and to push the plot forward to the next stage, where Harry Potter must come out from underneath Albus Dumbledore's protective wing and actually go on the offensive against Voldemort.

Yep, I sorta suspect something like that. And how exactly did Harry happen to get Snape's (The Half Blood Prince) chemistry err... potions book? Mere coincidince?

Think maybe D knew Harry needed help in that area, and that he would NEED to know potions for the battles ahead?

And as someone else mentioned; D's familiar is a Phoenix so who knows if he is really dead, and burried despite the rules on Hogwarts grounds?

J.K. did good with this book. I read the first ten chapters in one sitting, and the rest in the next. It just picked up and didn't stop.