[HPforGrownups] Is Dumbledore fading?

[Jennifer]

No: HPFGUIDX 24894

scaryfairymary at hotmail.com wrote:
> 
> I couldnt help noticing (to my horror) that JKR kept stating that
> Dumbledore looked weary and very old, especially in the chapter about
> the pensieve (GoF) and the thought struck me... is she going to kill
> him off.  I think that would be the worst move possible as, in my
> opinion, he is one character that make the stories amazing, his
> relationship with Harry (and my own favourite thoery of him actually
> being a blood relative of Harrys) I just dont think the books would
> be the same without him, apart fromt the fact that i think the trauma
> of his death might just be too much for me, making it nessecary for
> me to get some sort of therapy!!!!! I heard JKR mention in an
> interview that Harry might be getting a new pet at some stage and i
> thought that I'd like him to get a phoenix... and then I thought
> FAWKES!! Is he going to inherit Fawkes from Dumbledore?? (ahhh, its
> just too much for me to take!!!) Who would believe Harry's stories
> and be on hand for the ever raging battle with Voldermort!!
> I JUST DONT KNOW ... I'd be grateful for anyone elses opinion on the
> matter...

There could be several takes on this --

1) We could *think* he's dead for a book or 2, and then he returns in
the last one (heh...or he disappears right before the climactic ending
of #7 & returns saying "oh what happened?" with a sly grin).

2) He could actually be dead.  Remember his association with Fawkes.  It
could be that he's really a LOT older than he is, but keeps dying &
returning to the scene (interesting thought -- maybe he *IS* the
Merlin).

3) He could die to protect Harry somewhere, in the style of his mother. 
Thus giving Harry protection (whether we are sure of that or not...I'm
sure JKR can make us wonder up until the very last moment).

4) This one I think would be very interesting, but destroys the
Harry-dying-at-end theory (although not necessarily the
can't-really-continue-the-series-now-can-I part).  Remember, when Harry
first went into Dumbledore's office, Fawkes went poof and was reborn
from his own ashes.  Symbolic of something perhaps?  I've briefly
wondered if that means that Dumbledore will either die or retire or
something...and Harry will take his place.  Not necessarily as Hogwarts'
headmaster (but that *would* be interesting), but they have said that
Harry could be a very impressive wizard (look at the patronius he made
at such a young age, for example)...and we all know that Dumbledore is a
rather awesome wizard.  Also goes along with the Order of the Phoenix
title -- perhaps all of the masters went like this (don't remember what
was said about the previous headmaster, except that he wouldn't have
been so nice)?

Thoughts?  Comments?  The more I think about it, the more I like #4...or
something very similar to that.
-- 
Jenny

"We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."
"How do you know I'm mad?" said Alice.
"You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldn't have come here."