HBP: More first thoughts

[Talisman]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "Neil Ward" <neilward at d...> 
wrote:
I'LL FOLLOW SUIT AND USE MY RANT 

ABOUT BORDERS TO FILL THE SPACE.

I JUST HAPPENED TO BE SAUNTERING BY

THE LOCAL SHOP AT 5:30 AM ON THE 

MORNING OF THE 15TH, WHICH HAPPILY 

MADE ME FIRST IN LINE TO RECEIVE 

THE TICKET TO RECEIVE THE BOOK AT

MIDNIGHT.  A LOVELY LINE COLLECTED 

SHORTLY THEREAFTER.  IN DUE TIME,

THE MANAGER CAME OUT AND BEGAN HANDING 

OUT TICKETS.  I GOT NUMBER 25.  SHE SAID 

NUMBERS 1-24 WERE RESERVED FOR "KIDS ONLY" 

PRIZES.  QUITE A HANDSOME GESTURE, NO?

AS MIDNIGHT NEARED, I CHATTED WITH THE 

PEOPLE IN FRONT OF ME, INQUIRING AS TO THE 

CONTEST THEY MAY HAVE WON.  MOST WERE NOT

CHILDREN, NARY A ONE WON ANYTHING, BUT ALL 

WERE FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF BORDERS EMPLOYEES.

FINI

Neil:
I'm pondering the idea that Dumbledore didn't die, but I'm not sure
if anything would be gained by feigning death and making Snape a
murderer and #2 on Harry's hitlist, so I'm still mulling that over.
I think the AK and other evidence of Dumbledore's death (the
portrait in the office, the flaming funereal floorshow) could have
been faked. It seems likely that he was giving Snape non-verbal
instructions just before he was hit with the curse. He seemed to
want to be killed by Snape if by anyone.

Talisman, trying to see how many times she can say "Wilkie 
Twycross,"  in quick succession, and imagining Rowling typing it up 
with fiendish glee. 

Neil, I agree with your suspicions that DD's death may not be quite 
as it seems.

This may be partly because I had "fake death" on my mind, even 
before the release of HBP.  What with the "who will die" drumbeat 
starting up again, and given Rowling's delight in goosing the fans.

Then, after Spinner's End, I was expecting Rowling to employ the 
Draught of Death in some fashion that would save Snape, Draco, and 
Harry (whom I first thought was the target) from the otherwise 
seemingly unbreakable triangle of death.

I certainly do join with those who see that DD and Snape were 
working in concert.  I agree that the argument was relevant to 
Snape's desire not to have to "kill" DD, which suggests that he also 
believes he did it.

[Still, the fact that only DD and Snape are in on the death pact is 
a clear demonstration of the level of trust DD has for Snape, 
though, of course, there are security issues.  Most, if not all, of 
the benefit is derived from peoples' belief that it happened.]

Then there is the fact that everything DD showed Harry, including 
the AK on the ramparts, was designed for the purpose of furthering 
the desired developments in Harry.  

Clearly DD wanted it to happen, and he wanted Harry to see it. 
Therefore, it would not be to DD's purposes to tell Harry that Snape 
was only following orders.

Though DD certainly seemed to be dying by inches as he slid down the 
wall, though the AK may well have been legit, and though the funeral 
was lovely, there is plenty of room for ruse.

We've seen that AKs can be blocked--if not by spells then by 
physical objects.  A bit of body armor under the robes (shades of 
mithril) would suffice. 

The statue-shattering force of an AK would heave you over the 
ramparts (all to the good--where you'd levitate down in the 
darkness) and a swig of Draught of Death would cap the whole thing 
off.  A few hours later you could wake up, conjure up a body 
facsimile, and be about your business. 

The fact that DD offers to fake Draco and Narcissa's deaths in order 
to help them escape LV, is not unnoticed.  It definitely shows DD 
has thought these things out, and puts the idea right at the scene.  
Rowling could point to this for absolution if fans cry foul, later.

So was DD under the robe at the funeral?  Maybe, maybe not.

Even if he was in there, if he was not "really" dead, we may find 
that he is more like a Phoenix than previously suspected.

I swear, as I read the lines where he pleaded with Snape, an echo 
from Book 2 sounded in my mind: get on with it, it's time for  
Burning Day.

Talisman, who loves the scene where Snape kneels over Draco, wiping 
the blood away and healing the wounds, in part by "muttering an 
incantation that sounded almost like a song." (523)