Slughorn

[hermionegallo]

No: HPFGUIDX 137521

I think a case could be made for Slughorn having metamorphed himself 
into Dumbledore at the end, and I have compiled a lot of textual 
signals (that would make me even think it in the first place).  But I 
haven't posted on this because I can't for the life of me determine 
why that would have happened.  If it's a simple case of red herrings, 
then there are a significant number of them.  

I'm not in denial about Dumbledore's passing, but I do think that I'm 
affected to a certain degree by JK's "all bets are off" stage-setting 
since the opening of the book, as if she said: "Look out!  People 
will be poly-juicing, metamorphing, felixed, or pretending to be on 
your side when they're not; they may be dead and pretending to be 
living; they may be pretending to be dead when they're alive..." and 
so on.  In light of that, I'm willing to attribute my close 
examination of Slughorn to paranoia!  I just don't wish to do so if 
there's no need. 

I don't think Dumbledore worked out a scheme with Snape to fake his 
death, and I don't think Dumbledore intended to die on the tower.  I 
do think it's possible that if there was a scheme, it was between 
Dumbledore and Slughorn, or that it was solely Slughorn's, with good 
intentions; I think that Slughorn is definitely a good guy/not a 
Death Eater, and capable of far more than he lets on.  I would even 
believe that Dumbledore is dead -- even if the tower scene were faked 
somehow by Slughorn, just not dead by Snape's AK -- and not the body 
we saw.  And if they did do a switch, I don't think Slughorn died 
posing as Dumbledore, but that Dumbledore is gone (or dead, 
elsewhere, another way) and that the Slughorn who comes into the 
office after the tower scene is himself.

With that in mind, are there any theorists who have any ideas to 
add?  I'm not looking for proof/evidence that Dumbledore is dead (I'm 
familiar with all of it) or for any posts kindly admonishing me to 
move on.  Like I said, if there's no point in speculating on this, I 
won't, but I want to hear from folks who think that there might be a 
point to it, and most importantly WHY.  (Or a reasonable why-not, 
mainly in terms of Slughorn and not along the lines of "but the AK, 
the portrait, the phoenix, etc.")

Thanks!
hg.