You may have a point, but, I am leaning towards Dumbledore being dead. If he wasn't dead his potrait wouldn't appear in his office (McGonagall's office) would it? I mean I'm sure the potrait (or whatever makes them) would know if he was really dead or not. I know they have moving pictures and stuff of living people but JKR called it a potrait in the book. I guess we'll find out if its a picture or a potrait when Harry sees it in book 7. My guess though is that Dumbledore is dead. No matter how much I hate the fact! But, your comment intrigures me and makes me wonder if MAYBE just maybe. . .

Does anyone have any supporting arguments for Dumbledore being alive? I don't but then again I wasn't looking for clues to that theory when I re-read. I was only looking for Snape being on the good side clues, although when I did re-read the passage about Dumbledore making Grawp a cave to live in it stood out to me as though it was a possibility that Dumbleodre may have made the cave to stay in also??? I wrote that down but never found any supporting passages so I dropped it!

Another theory I had when re-reading was the fact that Regulus Black's name was metioned exactly 3 times in book 6! There is a web site called something like HP SLEUTHS that tells you what JKR's clues are and how to find them. One of her clues according to this site and someone named Galadreil (spelled wrong I'm sure) Waters is that if JKR metions something 3 times its a clue therefore the name Regulus Black could be a clue, and also his initials are perfect for the locket initials! I'm sure most people already believed it was Regulus as did I, I just thought the thrice mentioned name made it seem more solid!

Okay, I hope to hear from someone soon!