Cheating

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 146483

maria:
> I have this assumption base on the things that happen in the 
> funeral of DD, "White smoke spiralled into the air and made 
> strange shapes: Harry thought, for one heart stopping moment, 
> that he saw a phoenix fly joyfully into the blue, but next 
> second the fire had vanished." I think that if that phoenix, 
> Harry thought he saw isn't Dumbledore, then that is Dumbledore's 
> patronus. And who could he be sending his patronus, except for 
> Snape, that all is well and must proceed according to their plan. 
> Just a thought. What do you think?

Ceridwen:
There is some reason JKR put that part in the book.  Yes, it could be 
DD's Patronus being fired off, or it could be his soul being 
released.  I once attended a Native American funeral, with the 
traditional drumming, and the songs that were sung gave the definite 
impression of releasing the soul.  So that's what I brought to the 
scene when I read it.

The nagging problem for me in a Patronus being sent is, Dumbledore is 
shut up in a tomb.  If he's sending a Patronus, and he's alive in 
there, it stirs all the ancient fears of being buried alive.  Of 
course, with Dumbledore, there will always be some out, some secret 
passage or some way for him to not be stuck in there with life 
draining away (can one Apparate from inside a sealed tomb?).

It is a curious thing, and it was mentioned for a reason, either to 
give a more mystical send-off for DD, or to set something up for book 
7.  I don't think this has been discussed very much.  At least I 
haven't seen much mention.

Ceridwen.