Slughorn and Dumbledore: possible motive

[Auria]

No: HPFGUIDX 138230

hg wrote:
>Snape doesn't necessarily have to know Dumbledore's plan.  One 
> could read it either way.  If Snape knows, then he's definitely 
> committed to Voldemort's downfall; if he doesn't know, then he's 
been 
> flushed out by Dumbledore and Slughorn -- outed to the world as a 
> baddy. 

Auria writes:
Hey there hg! Glad to be aboard the 'DD-faked-death' boat! 
You make some more good points, although I am more inclined to think 
that Snape IS in on the plan. The main reason is that Hagrid 
overheard DD and Snape having an argument over something that Snape 
didn't want to continue doing anymore (I dont have the quote to 
hand).  This could mean that Snape doesn't want to go through with 
the plan and continue faking his allegiance to LV. Snape also had the 
opportunity to allow the other DEs to if not kill then perhaps 
torture Harry after the tower scene but he convinced them to leave 
him alone. If he was a true DE surely he would have the evil tendency 
to at least injure Harry, but he didn't.

>hg wrote: > So far, you've pointed out three really rock-solid 
reasons why 
> Dumbledore would make the choice: to preserve Snape's vow, to 
> convince Harry; both of these would ensure that Voldemort believed 
it 
> and was lured to Hogwarts (presumably, to look for a Horcrux he'd 
> left there?  or for something he'd really want to use to make a 
> Horcrux?); and to hunt down Horcruxes unhampered by Ministry tails.

I am also open to the second theory that Dumbledore did die but it 
was a planned death for the reasons you stated above.  Again this 
would tie in with the argument between Snape and DD which Hagrid 
overheard - maybe Snape didn't want to go ahead with the planned 
killing of DD. But this theory doesn't quite fit with all the little 
inconsistencies in DD's character in this book.  And I like to 
believe in happy endings, so DD in hiding would be my preference :-
).  
I also had the thought that in all the previous books DD has always 
acted carefully and cautiously when it comes to Harry. So surely 
taking Harry to the cave, which could be very dangerous as DD stated 
himself, was taking a huge unnecessary risk? Why did he need Harry 
with him anyway, as Harry didn't do anything that was unique to his 
talents?  Surely DD could have taken Slughorn or Snape instead? So 
having Harry there must have another motive. DD probably already knew 
the horcrux was a fake and it was part of his plan to convince the 
world and Harry of his final demise.

Good point about the five minutes for Harry to get his cloak - I 
thought of that too.  I hadn't thought about DD perhaps using a 
bezoar however, so thats an excellent theory.  I liked all your other 
pointers too, and will look out for them while I am rereading the 
book.  In particular the absence of Fawkes when DD is in trouble on 
the tower is particularly strange and would link to the faked death 
theory perfectly.
Anyway, let me know any futher thoughts you may have!

Auria.