Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince point of discussion (Spoilers)

[Bront]

I've talked about this with a few friends, but wanted to get some views here from the board.

It is my suposition that:

Dumbledore either is not dead, and simply arranged with Snape to fake it, or, at least arranged for his own death to inspire Harry.

Points:
1) Some of the death scene seem a bit too choriographed.
2) Snape is supposedly a master of casting spells without speaking, so could have easily cast a different spell instead of the killing spell and simply disguised it.
3) The actual death didn't take place in the school, as he was blown out of it.
4) Durring the chase, Snape seems to be lecturing Harry on casting without speaking instead of simply dealing with him with a stun or hold spell of some kind. It seemed like more of a lecture than a taunt.
5) Snape and Dumbledore seem to have a trusting relationship, at least it's hinted at, so the two working up this plan seems possable or even likely.

I'd like to hear any thoughts on this.

 

[Someone]

IIRC, Rowling said something like "'E's not pinin'! 'E's passed on! This wizard is no more! He has ceased to be! 'E's expired and gone to meet 'is maker! 'E's a stiff! Bereft of life, 'e rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed 'im to the perch 'e'd be pushing up the daisies! 'Is metabolic processes are now 'istory! 'E's off the twig! 'E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisibile!! THIS IS AN EX-WIZARD!!"

So yes, Dumbledore´s dead.

 

[Bront]

That could be marketing

It's just a theory, and untill the 7th book comes out, you can't prove me wrong

 

[billd91]

But don't forget that Dumbledore's portrait appeared in the headmaster's office. I think that's a sure sign he's dead as a doornail. It would also make his actual survival unnecessary since at least part of him remains at the headmaster's (in this case, headmistress's) disposal.

I think Dumbledore is pushing up the daisies.
ANd while Snape is clearly good at dueling and casting spells without voicing them, we don't know that works too well with the killing curse. Otherwise, you'd figure Voldemort would do the same. It might just be too powerful a spell to not verbalize it.

 

[Bront]

He doesn't kill Harry because he claims the Dark Lord has claimed him for his own, so that's not an issue, but he does verbalize the killing curse, the question is if he nonverbalizes something before that to counter it.

I had forgoten about the Portrate, but that doesn't mean he's got to be dead. I just thought it was a cool theory, and potential supprise in the next book if you hadn't though about it, and figured I'd get some other opinions.

 

[David Howery]

one thing that really stuck out in my mind is that during the chase, Snape made a point of preventing Harry from using one of the unforgivable curses (can't remember which one) against him... even at this point, he found it important to do this, as it would put Harry in Azkaban to do so. Which makes me think that Snape is still one of the good guys, and the whole Dumbledore dies thing was a contingency plan.. something along the lines of "OK, Snape, if it comes down to blowing your cover or killing me, kill me, and keep Harry safe"...

 

[Crothian]

Points:
1) Some of the death scene seem a bit too choriographed.

This is easy to ingone as she's just not that good of writer so I think its a writing problem and not a planned thing.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

This is easy to ingone as she's just not that good of writer so I think its a writing problem and not a planned thing.

I think it looked staged because, well, it was staged. For Harry and/or Draco's benefit, if nothing else. I think Dumbledore and Snape both knew what parts they had to play and did so - although judging by the argument Harry earlier overheard between the two of them, Snape might have needed a lot of persuasion.

As for me, I believe
A) Dumbledore's dead. No one survives the killing curse (except the 'boy who lived', of course). And,

B) Snape is very deep cover, but still working for the good guys. The whole chapter at the beginning of the book where he's scheming with Bellatrix and Narcissa? Too much of a plot giveaway if Snape were telling the truth.

 

[mojo1701]

I think it looked staged because, well, it was staged. For Harry and/or Draco's benefit, if nothing else. I think Dumbledore and Snape both knew what parts they had to play and did so - although judging by the argument Harry earlier overheard between the two of them, Snape might have needed a lot of persuasion.

As for me, I believe
A) Dumbledore's dead. No one survives the killing curse (except the 'boy who lived', of course). And,

B) Snape is very deep cover, but still working for the good guys. The whole chapter at the beginning of the book where he's scheming with Bellatrix and Narcissa? Too much of a plot giveaway if Snape were telling the truth.

A quote from somewhere else fits my theory, which corresponds with yours:

"If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine."

Dumbledore knew that the most good he could do was this.

 

[Vocenoctum]

I also believe him to be dead, though the phoenix/not dead imagery is pretty brutal. I mean, talking about faking death, just before you die? But I'm pretty sure he's dead, otherwise it'd be a bit too mean.

And heck, who needs him? He must be the worst headmaster ever! The stuff Snape got away with? rampantly abused his position to punish Harry and other non-Slitherin students! Hiring Hagrid as a teacher? Is there ANY chance his students learned enough to pass their exams? (Many passed, most likely in spite of his teaching, rather than because of it, IMO.)

Heck, he even hired a WEREWOLF to teach a class! That werewolf tried to attack several students!