Slughorn and Dumbledore: possible motive

[hermionegallo]

No: HPFGUIDX 138475

> Virginia:
> hg, I really like your theory and I really would like it to be 
> true. I also would like to see your complete list of inconsistencies, 
> but I have a question. 
> 
> If Dumbledore doesn't want Voldemort to read in Harry's mind that 
> Dumbledore is not really dead, I suppose they wouldn't want either 
> that Voldemort reads that they know about the horcruxes. So why they 
> would let Harry to know about the horcruxes and not about the fake 
> death plan if they are afraid of Voldemort reading Harry's mind?

hg:
Really good question.  It bugs me, too.  It's why I wondered if 
Slughorn planned the death-faking and Dumbledore didn't.  I don't think 
Slughorn trusts Snape, even if Dumbledore does.  (If it was Slughorn on 
the tower portraying Dumbledore, he'd have his pockets loaded with 
tricks in preparation for any contingencies.)  But I think he would do 
just about anything for Harry, and saving Dumbledore's life would 
easily be one of those things, even if Dumbledore disagreed.
If Dumbledore planned it, I think he would have concluded late in the 
book that it needed to happen; and the hope would be that if Voldemort 
were to take a peek into Harry's mind to see if it was true, that he'd 
be looking for something specific, not be rummaging around through 
anything else.
Ultimately, Dumbledore doesn't seem to worry anymore that Voldemort 
would go into Harry's mind, since the possession episode at the 
Ministry.  But if Dumbledore's death was faked, then for Dumbledore's 
protection Harry would have to be convinced of the death, at least in 
the short term, as the wizarding world would likely look to Harry for 
answers -- and salvation (shudder).

I did put up my abbreviated list, without quotations or pages, in post 
number 138190.  It's way up this thread somewhere.  Mind you, I'm not 
sold, myself, on the idea that Dumbledore was portrayed by Slughorn in 
the cave/tower scene, but since there were so many indicators that it 
was a possibility, I couldn't in good conscience overlook them.  
However, I do favor the idea that Slughorn faked Dumbledore's death, 
whether he stood in for Dumbledore or was just backstage orchestrating 
the show on the tower.

I won't post as yet about my other ideas about Slughorn, because I 
haven't put it all together.  And I'd get laughed off the board.  

Thanks for writing, Virginia; tell me what you think when you look at 
the list.

hg.