Did Dumbledore know he was going to die?

[Bex]

No: HPFGUIDX 164063

jennabell:
> > I am a firm believer that DD knew he was going to die. I think
> > it is very significant that throughout the journey to the cave,
> > the drinking of the potion and the time spent at the top of 
> > the astronomy tower, that Fawkes wasn't there at all. Any time 
> > DD has need of him or he is in danger Fawkes is always there...
> > 
Carol's response:
> Many of us think that Dumbledore's behavior throughout HBP all
> indicate that he knew he was going to die. <snip> He certainly 
> seems to be preparing for his own death throughout the book.
> 

Blitz now:
Welcome to the list, Jennabell! You are not at all alone, as Carol 
said - I personally think that Dumbledore knew his days were numbered 
after the prophecy was lost. Voldemort had no way of getting it, so 
he has to get Harry and hope that the other half isn't something 
like "and the One shall defeat the Dark Lord with a well-placed wand 
up the nose when The Dark Lord tries to attack the One at the end of 
the One's seventh year...."

Obviously, getting Harry's biggest protector - Dumbledore - out of 
the way is a big priority. My guess is that Voldemort *thinks* that 
Dmbledore did something to force him out of Harry's head at the MoM. 
We may wind up seeing some more possesion going on in the new book.
(And I do think Harry should have a better handle on Occlumency, not 
so that he can lock out his emotions, but so that he can have a LV-
free head. But that's another post.)

I agree that the Dursleys speech is like a "last wish" speech - it 
has that feel of Dumbledore adding at the end, ".... because I won't 
be there to *make* you take him back." He is getting his affairs in 
order, telling Harry about the Horcruxes, and hoping the boy has 
enoughy sense to buck up and work on his skills for the year ahead.
That was a good point about Fawkes, too - I hadn't thought of that - 
he should have been there by all rights....

Out of curiosity, does anyone else think that that last evening, with 
the cave and the tower, just plain reeks of Felix? (If not the entire 
year - there *was* a whole cauldron of it in Sluggy's possession.) 
The moves, the language, the risks? 

I think that Dumbledore had some Felix in him because, among other 
things, he tells Harry to get his cloak, knowing full well he has it 
with him - he knew Harry would want to handle any extra business with 
his friends before they set out. And he says exactly the right things 
to give Draco some props for his work (even if he didn't come up with 
the Protean charm or the Mead himself, he did have to pull it off), 
get him off the adrenaline high and thinking clearly, and get him to 
lower his wand. Rather lucky, wouldn't you say?

~Blitz, thinking out loud.