Why did Dumbledore freeze Harry?

[glcasmith14]

No: HPFGUIDX 133356

I have expected Dumbledore to die in book 6 or 7 for a while now. 
It's a standard plot, the mentor dies so the student has to set out 
on his own. But, the entire Dumbledore death scene in this book 
makes no sense to me.

One of the glaring issues is his freezing of Harry. If he hadn't 
frozen Harry, he could have stopped Draco and probably the other 
death eaters as well. I know Dumbledore was seriously weakened, but 
come on, this is the same Dumbledore who defeated an entire room of 
ministry personnel in OOTP. Also he's the only wizard Voldemort 
fears. Surely he could have handled Draco and a couple of second 
rate Death Eaters even in his condition.

Many have used the arguement that it was to protect Harry. How can 
you protect Harry by making him helpless? If he's worried about 
Harry's safety, why not stun Draco and then Harry and Dumbledore 
could ride their brooms to safety before the other DE's arrived (DD 
had a lengthy conversation alone with Draco before the others 
arrived) 

Besides, when has DD seemed so concerned about Harry's safety that 
he keeps him from facing a few minions of Voldemort? Harry has faced 
DE's before. 

Freezing Harry did keep him hidden for a little while, but what 
happened the instant DD was killed and Harry was freed from the 
spell? Harry did just what he would have done if DD hadn't frozen 
him in the first place, he began to attack the DE's, only now Harry 
does not even have the help from a weakened DD, but is completely on 
his own. So how could it protect Harry for DD to freeze him and let 
himself be killed to then leave Harry to face the DE's alone?

I just can't take this chapter of the book at face value, there has 
to be something else going on, or it just doesn't make sense. 
Unfortunately, none of the theories I have seen yet seem very 
satisfying.

glcasmith