Tower Scene from Fantasy genre perspective

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 144812

Since JKR works within the fantasy genre among others, there might 
be some aspect of Dumbledore's death which has a fantasy explanation 
rather than a RW one. In a world of phophecies, life debts & 
rebirthing potions there's a possibility ancient magic has returned 
to the series at a critical moment.

The rebirthing potion which Voldemort referred to as old Dark Magic 
was the impetus for this idea. Writing about the ingredients of the 
potion on another thread and how all were human ingredients in some 
form, my mind wandered to the tower and the reverse scenario taking 
place there. 

Instead of using the life-force of others for his own benefit as 
Voldemort does by taking blood & demanding flesh, Dumbledore is the 
giver of life in many ways, symbolized by his second chances. They 
are also polar opposites in the way they view death--whereas 
Voldemort fears death and will destroy his soul in order to avoid 
it, Dumbledore accepts death as a natural part of life and doesn't 
fear the end.

To me the possibility then arises that if Voldemort used old Dark 
Magic to be resurrected and possibly weakened himself in the 
process, Dumbledore might have used ancient magic in his death and 
thus conferred some type of strength to a living being or beings. 

How Dumbledore died would then be critical to activating the ancient 
magic: First would be a willingness to sacrifice himself should that 
be necessary and it's clear he was; then, what if dying by the hand 
of one who was once traitorous to Dumbledore & his love magic, but 
now has True Loyalty in his heart is the key? 

Some explanation along those lines would make me think Snape might 
have struggled with his loyalty, possibly up to the moment on the 
tower. But in that moment when Dumbledore pleaded, Snape made his 
choice. His hands were tied by the UV, but only the truth in his 
heart would activate the ancient magic and help Dumbledore fulfill 
his plan even after death.

I'm not sure how all the particulars would work out, but it would 
definitely plant the story firmly in the fantasy realm again where 
it does live part of the time. JKR has talked about subverting the 
genre, mainly in the sense of making the WW far from utopian as some 
ideal fantasy worlds are, but she's not shy about incorporating 
fantasy elements at critical junctures to give meaning to the events 
(and separate them from RW debates such as euthanasia).

Jen