Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Spoilers)

[Meredith Rice]

Originally Posted by shyra1353

Dumbledore trusted Snape because Snape told him that it was he who had told Voldemort about the prophecy. I don't quite understand how that makes Dumbledore trust him, but it's the reason that he gives Harry. I think there is something more to it though. Think maybe Snape had to do something to prove his loyalty to Dumbledore?

Reading this triggered a thought in my mind. I always knew there must be a really good reason behind Dumbeldore's consistent trust in Snape, and here is one theory.....

As someone else mentioned, it was during Snape's confession to Dumbeldore that he was responsible for telling Voldemort about the Prophecy resulting in Lily's and James' deaths, that Dumbeldore knew Snape had repented and gave him his trust. I think you are right Shyra that Dumbeldore must have tested this.... What if the test was that he asked Snape to partake in an Unbreakable Vow with himself to protect Harry's life, and maybe even to help him in his quest to ultimately destroy Voldemort? This would be very appropriate since it would be something extremely hard for Snape to do given his history with James, yet prove his remorse by protecting the child he helped in orphaning. And, by including in the Vow that he must aid in destroying Voldemort, it would ensure that he was no longer on the side of the Death Eaters. It is my opinion that the idea of the Unbreakable Vow was purposefully underdeveloped and left unexplained because it will play a much greater role in the final book, beyond even that of protecting Malfoy. (Please let me know what you think of this one idea!!)

Perhaps Dumbeldore's death was connected to these two Unbreakable Vows and in a way was expected or necessary, although how, I am not sure of. It seems easy enough for Dumbeldore to continue parting his wisdom to Harry and the Order through his headmaster's portrait....almost too easy. Has JKR ever explained how portraits are able to maintain what seems like a piece of someone's soul that can communicate with the living? Harry's photos of his parents never communicate to him. It seems too good to be true that someone can live on in their portrait as we all hope Dumbeldore does.

I definitely predict that book 7 will be immensely long since there is so much left to be explained. JKR promised more insight into the nature of ghosts and the veil that was seen at the Ministry in book 5, and so much more. I imagine since this will be a very involved conclusion to the series that an early would be very hard to achieve. I doubt she has finished writing it, let alone editing it (I could be wrong though, which would be very nice ).

Originally Posted by Ryan Dognaux

I bet he'd still come back to converse with Dumbledore's painting though.

He can't really do that though, because the paintings are merely a moving image that happens to have the ability to speak, they can't really make any decisions they didn't already make in life. He could talk to Dumbledore's painting, but the painting can't really help him

Also I think Rowling may be expanding the series, there's still four or so Horcruxes left, and it's going to take a while to figure out where the heck they are. We know what most of them are, yes, but where they are is still to be determined.

[Eugenia Gabrielov]

Originally Posted by Watashi_wa_Kame

He can't really do that though, because the paintings are merely a moving image that happens to have the ability to speak, they can't really make any decisions they didn't already make in life. He could talk to Dumbledore's painting, but the painting can't really help him

Also I think Rowling may be expanding the series, there's still four or so Horcruxes left, and it's going to take a while to figure out where the heck they are. We know what most of them are, yes, but where they are is still to be determined.

I politely disagree. The portrait of Dumbledore, among other headmasters, could be very useful. First of all, the information that Harry needs to know is stuff that Dumbledore knew in his life, such as the whole Snape issue, among other things. Second of all, Rowling is really starting to tie in a load of history here, to the point where you really have to pay attention to keep up with what's happening and who's related to who in what regard. She wouldn't have put it in there if it didn't have some significance. Keep that in mind.

My thoughts on the romance -
I support Harry and Ginny. I admit it. I was hoping for it since the start. I think they're cute.

However, I agree with Cory. The way it played out was kinda in the style, but kinda not. I find it mediocre. The breakup was also rather oddly emo.

[Ian Curtis]

The mirror of Erised as a horocrux maybe.

Anyways, I thought the addition of the Horcruxes really added a more mature element to the storry.

[Jay Trzaskos]

Originally Posted by Ryan Dognaux

A friend of mine threw out an idea that possibly Dumbledore didn't die at all, and that it was someone under the influence of Polyjuice potion. I'm no HP expert, but I'd believe that the person would still retain the form of whoever they were until the potion wore off, which would probably be within the hour. However, if you noticed, Dumbledore's body was not viewed at the funeral, it was covered even when Hagrid carried him to the tomb. All theory, of course.

We may have mutual friends, because this is the same theory I shared with a few of my friends. I believe that Dumbledore and Snape took Polyjuice potion to obtain the others identity.

Originally Posted by ali_rockon22

I don't think that it was somebody using Polyjuice Potion because there was not a time in during the last parts where Dumbledore could have switched with somebody else.

This is a good point, but what about the liquid Dumbledore had to drink in the cave? Possibly a potion to extend the polyjuice potions life? Or quite possibly a poison that does not allow your body to change form. Seeing as Snape is the Half-Blood Prince and he came up with the spells and potion shortcuts, it is quite possible he could have invented one of these potions.

Just my $0.02.
JT

[Adrienne E.]

I have to agree with you Ryan, Rowling is a brilliant writer and I think in the next book there will be more explanation as to what REALLY went on. The main reason I think this is that in all the books she has made Dumbledore out to be smart and observant, and he has always trusted Snape. Every time we thought Snape was "the bad guy" he always came back to save Harry. I don't think there is any way that Snape just switched sides without Dumbledore at least having a clue. I, too, can not wait for the next book (even though right after finishing I was swearing to Jay I would never read another Harry Potter book again )

[Cory]

Originally Posted by Jay Trzaskos

This is a good point, but what about the liquid Dumbledore had to drink in the cave? Possibly a potion to extend the polyjuice potions life? Or quite possibly a poison that does not allow your body to change form.
JT

But why would Voldemort have thought of that when he was designing his defenses? He surely wouldn't have wanted to help the person drinking the potion.

R.A.B must be someone important, as they have one of the horcrux's. There has to be another mystery party as well, since Dumbledore stated there would be absolutely no way for one person to have drank the potion and retrieved the horcrux. They must have been pretty powerful wizards to discover a way into the cave, and retrieve the locket.

The whole romance thing was really lame... it didn't seem to me like it fit well at all

We still don't know why Dumbledore trusted Snape so much... there has to have been a good reason, as he never trusted Voldemort from the moment he met him.

Originally Posted by Ryan Dognaux

I wonder if Hogwarts will even reopen next year. But even if it does, Harry said he wouldn't return (at least not for schooling). I bet he'd still come back to converse with Dumbledore's painting though.

It would be incredibly weird for Rowling to spend six books developing all the characters at Hogwarts, and then just drop the vast majority of them out of the final book.

[Jay Trzaskos]

Originally Posted by Cory

But why would Voldemort have thought of that when he was designing his defenses? He surely wouldn't have wanted to help the person drinking the potion.

R.A.B must be someone important, as they have one of the horcrux's

Cory remember the note in the fake Hocrux

Originally Posted by R.A.B.

To the Dark Lord, I know I will be dead long before you read this, but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more.

R.A.B. could have very well changed to liquid in the basin. Snape would have known that he was defying Voldemort. (If R.A.B is actually Regulus Black) And if Snape was already on the side of The Order of the Phoenix, he could have given him th potion to replace the old one with. It may not make complete sense, but its an idea.