The Death Of Dumbledore

It might be wishful thinking, but is it possible that the entire storyline of Dumbledore's death is a ruse.

I am finding it hard to believe that Snape is his killer, and I am finding it even more difficult to think that a character, so intergral to the ongoing plotline is dead.

My theory is this: Dumbledore, for whatever reason, needs Lord Voldemort to believe that he has passed on. To make it believable it would have to be a production that the entire wizarding world would also need to believe. Therefore the only two people who know that he is still alive are Dumbledore himself and Snape, his alleged killer.

I believe that Dumbledore will reveal himself to Harry early in the seventh book. This wil prompt the boy to return to Hogwarts for his last year, instead of heading off to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes.

Any intelligent opinions?

I agree with you. I too find it hard to believe that JK would kill off such a staple of a character in this book and still have the whole last book without him. I do believe that Snape had a agreement with Dumbledore before all of this happened. There are many floating theories out there on if Dumbledore was actually killed. No one actually saw his body when they put in in the casket at Hogwarts just something wrapped in his robes. I think there is also something going on and to do with Fawkes when he returned from the flames.

How better to push Harry into learning all he can to defeat Voldemort than for him to believe that Dumbledore is dead. I think that is the biggest push he could have right now. I am hoping that becomes evident in the last book. (Which I would really like to have now more so than any other book!).

What do you think?

Nobody would've guessed Dumbledorw would be the one to die.

I was in shock when I read it and found out. I almost was hoping it was a really long typo thing...

It could be a ruse though (really hoping it is)
Like you said he could some back and promt Harry not to go on his little escapade thinggy till later.

No body even considered killing him. It's like... wow.

I think I can finally talk about it.Man I was so depressed after readin' that ending,at first that's what I thougth,It was all a trick and he would reveal himself again in the end.I do wish that would happen' but I remember when Sirius died in book five I hoped he would return in book five because he wasn't relly killed he fell throuh that thingy in the Ministry and maybe he could be brought back in book six.Hmmm.....I've still got my fingers crossed but I'm not gonna hold my breath

I remember a poll where we voted who we thought/hoped would die... No one ever even thought it

"I believe that Dumbledore will reveal himself to Harry early in the seventh book. This wil prompt the boy to return to Hogwarts for his last year, instead of heading off to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes."-

Excuse me? Isn't this book about Harry? About Harry killing voldermort? It's not a books about how Dumbledore kills voldermort- it's all about Harry. So why should harry return to hogwarts? Harry should be out there, destroying the Horcruxes & Killing voldermort, not wimping out on the sidelines as dumbledore does all.



It's should hardly seem unexpected that JK kills off somebody close to harry- his parents, cedric (who he got signicantly closer to during bk four), Sirius...

The denial I've seen in people is massive. Just because he's a great guy doesn't mean JK won't pull the plug.


" remember a poll where we voted who we thought/hoped would die... No one ever even thought it"

There was a pool of bets in britan that was shut down following a massive amount of betting on dumbledore, a few months before release...

Regarding JK killing off people close to Harry...good point. However, I would venture to say that each of the persons you have made reference to is not nearly the impact player in the complete drama as Dumbledore.

Without the deaths of Harry parents there would have been no catalyst for the entire story. The fictional world in which JK operates evolved from this event. Also, to refer to them as "close" is a bit of an oddity - I wouldn't say that Harry is close to James or Lily seeing as their deaths were prior to Harry's functional memory. His motivation for action would be brewing from the instinctual priority to defend ones family honour and avenge the wrongs done to it.

The death of Sirius Black is a little more close to home, however his development as a character was stunted by his requirement to keep in hiding. I would define JK's motivation for killing off this character which Harry had obviously emotionally attached himself to, was "stoking the fire" of hatred towards the beast with whom he is magically connected. She laid the groundwork that anyone could be killed off, and Sirius' character was an excellent choice, as the development of the storyline could easily proceed without him. If anything, it advance the story.

Cedric...I think you are reaching at straws there. A friendship may have been developing but "close", come on now. Cedric was merely the junction character required to prove to the world that Voldemort had returned (although it took an entire novel to get the point across).

Now understanding that the story is about Harry, and him killing Voldemort, I don't think JK has been so quick to kill off a character in which Harry is still to this point somewhat dependent on. Dumbledore has been a parent, guardian, protector, instructor, mentor...whatever you will, to Harry since shortly after his birth. He has so far been the guide to completing the task that has been dictated in the prophesy AND has been the only person who, other than Harry himself, has given Voldemort any opposition in the wizarding world. I find it hard to believe that Dumbledore could so easily been killed.

Plus, there are the obvious reasons...why would Snape, who (although there is some mystery around his allegiance) kill the man he truly serves? Why, as pointed out by The GreenEyedWitch was his body not seen in the casket? The reasoning would have to be because of a requirement to cause some sort of deception. The deception is complete if you ask me.

Again, it may just be wishful thinking, but I think there is more to this event than we have seen so far.

I agree with you, I do believe there is much more than we have seen so far and though it is wonderful to speculate what the outcome may be we won't truely know till the last book is out. The bad part of that is that it is going to be a while before it comes out - but maybe with time and more discussion we will come to realize what may truely happen in the last book. I have had my eyes opened to many different possibilities as to the thinking of JK and what she may have instore for us all.

Good thing I did not held my breath,my face would probably be purple by now. :P .Still I can only moarn a great loss.

Here are my reasons that I believe that Dumbledore is not in fact dead:

1) Dumbledore had to have known that Snape had an unbreakable vow, and that would ultimately lead to his death. Snape and Dumbledore had staged the death and prepared for the ultimate moment when Snape would have to kill Dumbledore in front of Death Eaters. Snape would have to kill Dumbledore or be killed himself. It was inevitable. In both instances, Snape gains credibility with the Death Eaters and Voldemort, and Dumbledore is a "dead man," leaving him the ability to go after Voldemort without impediment.

2) Dumbledore suggested to Malfoy, shortly before his death, that Malfoy's death could be staged to protect him from Voldemort. This shows us what Dumbledore was planning with Snape.

3) Dumbledore trusted Snape for some unknown reason that has never been revealed. Harry's assumption that the trust was based on Snape telling Dumbledore that Harry's parents died because of Snape, and that Snape felt bad about this, is a wrong assumption and way too obvious to be the reason. The reason for the trust has been alluded to in several books and simply has to be rock solid evidence-- in other words, evidence that goes beyond any reasoning that Snape is simply a good occulance. The answer of what this trust is based on simply cannot go unanswered and must be addressed in the final book. Dumbledore could not have been mistaken in his trust and that is why I think his death was staged.

Perhaps Snape made an unbreakable vow with Dumbledore that he would never be in league with Voldemort? All I know is that it has to be something deep-seeded that cannot be overidden.

***Can anyone think of other possible reasons?

Troubling fact: the one fact in the book that makes me think that I could be completely wrong is that Dumbledore's picture magically appeared at Hogwarts in his office with all of the other dead headmasters and headmistresses, symbolizing his death. Could this have happened if he staged his death?

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