cryptic remarks by DD at tower

[urghiggi]

No: HPFGUIDX 133187

Here's my last post of the day -- maybe someone already commented on this, I haven't 
read all of what's been put up here today (though a lot of it).

Was anyone else struck by Dumbledore's weird conversation with Draco at the top of the 
tower (chapter 27, page 590 in the American edition)?

DD and Malfoy are sorting out the evening's prior events (dark mark, etc) and Malfoy says 
(of his communication with Rosmerta):
"..She said you were just going for a drink, you'd be back."

"Well, I certainly did have a drink ... and I came back .... after a fashion," mumbled 
Dumbledore. "So you decided to spring a trap for me?"

"We decided to put the Dark Mark over the tower and get you to hurry up here, to see 
who'd been killed," said Malfoy. "And it worked!"

"Well .... yes and no ...." said Dumbledore.

Now -- what's all this "after a fashion" and "yes and no" stuff? I don't think DDore's "lost it" 
from potion drinking (he is weak, but no evidence that he's addled, right up to the point 
he gets AK'd). What does he mean that he came back "after a fashion???" He seems to be 
there, all right. I think he's definitely dead, none of this coming back from the dead stuff 
for me -- but that "after a fashion," what the heck is that about? And ahat does he mean 
by saying "yes and no" when Draco asserts that the plan (display the Dark mark, get 
Dumbledore to hurry up to see who'd been killed) worked? If the scene is read at face 
value it DEFINITELY worked ... yet Dumbledore's saying that, in some respects, it didn't.

Is this a clue to the nature of what's happening at that tower? And if so -- theories? (I 
don't have any yet personally, but there is something very strange about the language 
here, a definite "more than meets the eye" sort of thing.)

Julie H, chicago