Its going to be interesting for Harry to find out that Snape is actually on the good side and was in love with his mother.
I've wondered often what Snape was all about and I think being in love with Lily is true.
If anything, either Snape or Neville (or both) will prove crucial in the final confrontation but I'll bet Harry takes LV out.
Also, I've read alot of comments here and I think Snape was angered that he had to play the role of the villian and finish off DD. But then again, DD was as good as dead anyway from the drink. Its going to be very interesting to see how Snapes name gets cleared because really only DD seemed to believe in him completely and then this happened. Since I know it was all planned, DD probably has a horcrux someplace with part of himself to assist in the final book. Don't you think?
Absolutely not a horcrux (which would require Dumbledore to have killed someone) -- probably a memory to be used in the Penseive, however.
In a word, no.
DD hated the Dark Arts. He used "ancient charms" (love) to protect Harry, by having him stay with his Aunt Petunia. What I'm looking forward to in Book 7 is finding out what DD's letter to Petunia said - how DD made it clear that Harry had to be allowed to stay at the Dursley residence for some amount of time each year in order to be protected. It said in GOF or OOTP that Harry could not be harmed by LV while under 17 and while going to the Dursley residence.
Of course, we all know that the Summer that follows HBP will be Harry's 17th Birthday and then he doesn't have the protection of the Dursley residence charm anymore.
But the "problem" of LV's and Harry's wand having the same core, and the retrograde curse thing on each other IS a problem. If they keep getting locked in that gold stream, how on earth does Harry kill LV? Does he have to borrow someone else's wand? Will the love in his heart be stronger than the hate in LV's and that will allow him to kill LV?
I don't know. So many questions, so few clues!
I don't think I've ever waited for the next in a series to come out. I've never read an UNcompleted series. I wait for them all to be published and THEN read them, except with Harry Potter. To continue, then add the fact that it will be the end of the series gives me great trepidation. As someone else wrote, they want the book, but they don't want the series to end. Me too!!!
I agree with your other conclusions. I think Snape was angry that he had to fulfil his vow to DD and kill him. I agree that DD, between the blackened hand, and the potion he had to drink to check out the Horcrux in the cave, was dying, and wished for his death to "serve a purpose" and using Snape while protecting Draco Malfoy from performing an unforgivable curse - well, that's pure DD.
But if Snape WAS/IS evil, then it makes no sense that he didn't kidnap Harry and take him to LV after killed DD, when they were at the edge of grounds, where the Death Eaters were going to Hogsmeade so they could Apparate.
So, how the Snape story ends has me intrigued. I agree with the posters on here and you who say that he must have been very much in love with Lily, and that's the reason he hated James so much. BUT. But if Harry looks so much like James, except that he his Mother's eyes, don't you think that might make Snape act more kindly toward Harry - the love for Lily that he feels and must feel when he sees Harry's got his Mother's eyes???
But isn't it fun to discuss the unanswered questions, ponder the "clues" we think we have, while waiting somewhat impatiently but with trepidation for the final book? It's all just too delicious, if you ask me.
Oops, almost forgot. DD is going to be around to help Harry. Not only from the "former Headmasters" picture in the Headmaster's office, but perhaps even from the Chocolate Frogs? Or from other pictures of him that have been taken, although we haven't heard about there being a LOT of pics with DD in them. Even so, from portraits, from pictures, he will still be helping Harry.
And where did Fawkes go? After singing the mourning song for DD, which convinced me that DD was dead, along with DD's portrait being on his former office wall, I think Fawkes is going to show up at the Dursley residence, and somehow is going to play some part in the end of LV. I don't know how but I suspect after COS, and healing Harry's leg in GOF, OOTP (and HBP?), I have to believe that Fawkes is now going to be with Harry.
Sigh. I keep diverting myself from answering the last objection I had of yours - that DD will have a Horcrux. I don't believe that DD could have had a Horcrux. Not only did he not like or respect the Dark Arts, creating a Horcrux requires a murder. Who did DD ever murder?
And if he did murder someone, what is the Horcrux? JKR says that all the books, but especially book 1 (if I understood her interview with the kids is correct) have clues to how book 7 will turn out. I even thought I read that she said that book 1 had all the clues to the final book. That's one of the reasons I just reread book #1, but it didn't help me figure anything out I hadn't already put together.
OTOH, there were clues, asides, in GOF and OOTP that I did miss on the previous 3 readings, over a year ago, that I was amazed. One thing more - in GOF, pg. 565 of paperback copy, where LV is discussing 6 missing DE's: 3 are dead, one is too weak to return (Karkaroff), one thinks he has left forever, and "he will be killed" (Snape) and one has already returned to my service and is at Hogwarts (Bartie Crouch Jr, the Moody imposter).
Okay from that, is Snape really a double agent if LV thinks that Snape has left him?
Sorry for the long post. :o)
TNT