Wait! I've got it

[joywitch_m_curmudgeon]

Once upon a time there was a spoiler.
A spoiler once upon a time there was.
It spoiled here, it spoiled there.
And a spoiled spoiler it was.

So, here's my theory of what really happened at the end of HBP.  
Dumbledore is not really dead.  For the purpose of defeating 
Voldemort, it is necessary that everyone think that he's dead, even 
poor Harry.  The person who died that night was really his twin 
brother, Aberforth.  Albus is now busily tending bar (and goats) at 
the Hogshead.  Somewhere during the brief time Harry and Albus were 
in Hogsmead, Albus used the Old Switcheroo Spell so that dumb old 
Aber would have his twin's smarts and exact looks (but not his 
magical abilities) for a little while.  Of course it's pretty nasty 
to sacrifice your own brother, but by all accounts Aberforth was 
pretty worthless, and all's fair in love and war, right?

A little cliche, maybe, the old twin switcheroo AND the old phony 
death, but how much time do you have to think up new plotlines when 
you've got 3 kids?

Just a thought.

--JZC