Unbreakable Vows and Dumbledore's connection

[Theresa McKee]

No: HPFGUIDX 165583

CV:
> Now, had Snape allowed Draco to come to harm, it would have been
> curtains for Severus, so that part he took well in hand. Whether he
> actually killed Dumbledore, we can't say for certain yet. 
> Dumbledore appears to be dead (although what he is doing causing 
> JKR trouble from beyond is a mystery), but did Snape kill him, did
> he die in the fall or was he poisoned. (Sounds a lot like the 
> demise of Rasputin, come to think of it - who was poisoned,
> stabbed, shot and his body thrown in a frozen river. When pulled 
> out of the river, it was determined he died of drowning.)

Theresa:
 If Dumbledore is dead why did JK go through enough trouble to change how he died?  Everyone else in the books who was killed by this curse was dead before hitting the ground but in Dumbledore's case, he was surprised and flew backwards.  Much like a similiar situation where Snape taught Lockhart a lesson during the duel class.
   
  Which this goes on to make me wonder if Snape said the words but did not mean them (Bellatrix did once tell Harry you have to mean it for the curse to work) and instead said another curse in his mind (much like Dumbledore did to freeze Harry).
   
  However Snape did know in a way what was going on. He is a skilled Occlumens and even if Voldemort had not told him his plan he could have easily read Narcissa's and Draco's thought.  I think in this case the only vow he promised was to protect Draco even at the risk of doing the task himself.  If Draco failed to kill Dumbledore that would have left Snape no other choice but to do it - as in the vow he gave. 
   
  Now to give more thought - Hagrid mentioned to Harry in the book that he overheard Dumbledore and Snape arguing with Snape telling Dumbledore he wouldn't do it.  Do what? Dumbledore is a powerful wizard, can we honestly believe he did not know what was going on?  If he did not, why did he promise Draco his protection which would be extended to his father and mother, going so far as to say they could fake their deaths. Is it possible Snape was working on Dumbledore's orders?  And is it possible they faked Dumbledore's own death?  I believe Dumbledore is dead, especially since he always saw it as a long rest but I do not believe that Snape was working for Voldemort at the time but instead following Dumbledore's order.

Theresa