Good points, Jazzman.:snap:

As far as whether or not Dumbledore was up to something, something he says (on page 553) tipped me off to the idea that perhaps all was not as it appears. He tells Harry, when asked about what others might think of him leaving the school, that "I am off to Hogsmeade for a drink" and "I sometimes offer Rosmerta my custom...or I appear to. It is as good a way as any of disguising one's true destination". I also caught what Jazzman pointed out regarding Draco, and the Pheonix connection as well. Thanks for saving me lots of typing, Jazz- my fingers are killing me from painting all day!

Having started the other thread and talked about this at length (to an embarrassing degree, no less) on LJ, I don't have much energy to discuss the book again here, BUT, Wendybeth!!!!:

"Lupin and Bill will be released from the curse once Fenrir is dead."

That didn't even occur to me. How awesome! And I really hope this happens. But it may not. The werewolf condition, afterall, has been primarily used as a metaphor for illness and disability. And there's not usually a magical cure for either, so she may think it a betrayal to suddenly cure Remus and Bill of a sudden toward the end of the book.

Pettigrew will probably be important because, I think, he owes a life debt to Harry.

Also, I have developed the BEST theory of all about the importance of Harry having Lily's eyes:

"Harry, you have your mother's eyes."

"Remus, I know. You keep telling me. Everyone keeps telling me. We both have green eyes. Gotcha."

"No, I mean, your mother's actual eyes. You have them."

"Wha???"

"Dumbledore left them in the letter he gave to Petunia, the evening he left you at the Dursley's doorstep. She has kept them safe for you. They are very powerful weapons, which you will need to use inorder to destroy Voldemort."

"EW! And, how?"

"Throw them at him."

"Throw them? Will they, um, blow him up?"

"No. They will really gross him out, though. And while he's all frantic and trying to wipe off leaky eyeball juice, you will be given the opportunity to kill him."

:eek: Holy crap!! Where did I miss this? ;)

I love that I'm reading this in the morning where I can laugh my ass off then show the people at work when I go in! :snap:

Lol, Eliza!!!
And my apologies for forgetting about the other thread- I didn't mean to step on toes, but I guess this one differs in that there are no spoiler tags to wade through.:D

I wonder of Pettigrew's nifty new hand is a horcrux? I can't see him intentionally helping Harry.

The hand theory is way far out and totally worth wondering about. Though I can't imagine Voldemort entrusting such an object to such a rat fink. Heh.

Well, now that Eliza's here, I guess this really is the official thread. :)

I've seen various people say "How did the Dursleys abuse Dudley?" I thought that much was obvious. They abused him by turning him into a monster. Spoiling a child doesn't mean they're giving him everything he needs - they didn't give him discipline.

Me, too! That's what I thought Dumbledore meant, as well. He's going to turn into a wreck of a grown up, that Dudley. They've ruined him. But Heidi wonders what it was that got Dudley so horribly upset when the Dementor's attack. They seem to work best against those who have had a tragic or disturbing past, so maybe there *is*more to what Dumbledore had to say. Rowling's answered a lot of questions recently and I'm surprised none of them were about the Dudley/Dumbledore thing.

Sorry about asking for a new Harry Potter thread. I had not gone looking beyond the obvious to see if someone had already started one (I will actually look next time I swear). After reading through this thread, I am not nearly as confident about whether Dumbledore is dead of not. Your ideas are very good, and have given me lot to think about.

I was listening to the book in the car yesterday on the way to work and got to the part where Harry is off for Christmas at the Weasleys. During that chapter Lupin asked Harry how old the potions book was, and when he looks later it was fifty years old (a book from back in Tom Riddles time in school). Does this mean Snape is not the original owner, but maybe the second person to benefit from it (Harry being the third). Could there be two types of writing in the book, that maybe Harry did not notice? Does the age mater?

I think Dumbledore is really dead, but I also think that doesn't matter in the long run. Look at Nearly Headless Nick and all the various paintings. I think Dumbledore will continue to be an influence.