SPOILER don't read if you haven't finished book 6

I haven't read all the posts here, but do we have a consensus about whether Dumbledore is really gone or not?

I kept thinking that he had previously arranged for Snape to help him fake his death, and that that is why he kept telling Harry he needed Snape only.

This possibility, plus the argument between Dumbledore & Snape leads me to think Snape might be working for the good guys.

Anyone?

Pat

I'm iffy on whether Dumbledore is alive or not. It was sort of implied that Sirius Black was "just on the other side", alive but he never showed up in this book. I think she's doing the same little trick with Dumbledore and he's dead.

I do think that Snape is good. He saved Harry's life too many times in past books to suddenly turn in my opinion.

I think Dumbledore is probably dead, but I don't think he's completely gone from the story. I think he will have arranged for some way to still help Harry after his death. I do buy into the theory that D had an agreement w/Snape for him to kill D so Draco wouldn't have to, or something like that. So, following that theory, D knew his death was coming, and could have figured some way to still help Harry from beyond the grave. I hope, anyway.;)

I do buy into the theory that D had an agreement w/Snape for him to kill D so Draco wouldn't have to, or something like that. So, following that theory, D knew his death was coming, and could have figured some way to still help Harry from beyond the grave. I hope, anyway.;)

I agree. I think Harry will be getting advice from Dumbledore through a portrait or something. I never trusted Snape. He needs to keep Harry alive for Voldemort, that's why he keeps saving him.

Sue

I'm on my second reading and listening to the audio book with my DS, and I do think that Dumbledore is dead. I hadn't figured he would die in this book tho, but I did feel he would have to die in order to open up the door for Harry to take on Voldemort. While my first instinct was to say Snape is good, I'm finding a pattern in this book that Harry's instincts are getting better...and he is amazingly right about a LOT of things that other people (namely Hermione) blew him off about, like Malfoy. I'm wondering if JKR isn't playing us. So I'm up in the air about Snape.

I do think Dumbledore is dead.

I also think that Snape is still on the "good" side.

I think he is dead but the whole portrait thing is what has me intrigued. Just how much is current thoughts from the other side and how much is memory. I am wishy washy about Snape. Just depends on the mood I am in when you ask. :)

plus the argument between Dumbledore & Snape leads me to think Snape might be working for the good guys.


I do think Snape is still on the "good" side.

How else did Dumbledore know early on that Malfoy was trying to kill him?

just finished the book today...here are my ideas...
Snape is on the side of good, ultimately. He had an agreement with Dumbledore to kill D if necessary. Either to A) protect Draco from the evil life he would be locked into by killing Dumbledore or B) to keep Voldemort from gaining some power he would get by having Draco kill Dumbledore in his honor. Snape had made the Unbreakable Vow (or whatever) to protect Draco...so maybe that meant that he couldn't allow Draco to kill Dumbledore, cuz that would have doomed Draco...see? so the only way to keep Draco 'safe' was to kill Dumbledore.
The things Snape was yelling to Harry on the chase out of the castle wasn't just taunts...it was to help Harry prepare for bigger fights in the future. Soooo well done!

In the end, it didn't seem like Snape was angry with Harry until Harry called him a coward.

Anyone else pick up on that whole thing?

I thought that was odd that Snape gave Harry advice. Waiting for the last book is going to drive me nuts!

I can't believe Dumbledore is gone. I just cried....

I'm unsure of Snape. Harry's instincts are rarely wrong, but then I would trust D's 100%..
I'm wondering what it was the convinced Dumbledore that Snape was good? Maybe after he told Voldemort of the prophecy, and James and Lilly were killed; he (snape) went to Dumbledore in grief. My theory is that he was desperately in love with Lilly (which made him hate James and ultimately Harry, even more) and it was his love for Lilly that convinced Dumbledore that he truly was sorry.

The writing is fabulous. But what upsets me the most, is that Harry has nothing now. No parents, no Sirius, no Dumbledore, no Hogwarts, no Ginny (BTW, I love that romance :D ) and no Ron and Hermoine (if he gets his way in convincing them to leave him do it himself) ..... I can't wait for book #7....