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Reader Comments: (Page 3)

I have read with interest some of ideas being floated by your contributers. I think the bigest clue to the fate of Dumbledore lies i the following fragment.

Harry thought for one heart-stopping moment, that he saw a phoenix fly joyfully into the blue (HBP pg 645/601)

JK is a real genius when it comes dropping hints, this fleeting thought of Harrys, I think we find is far closer the truth than any us can imagine.

Posted by robert gornall from cambridgeshire on January 30, 2007 2:42 PM

dumbledore put a horcrux on fawkes (his phoenix) and had snape him on his orders

Posted by neville from hilo,hawaii on January 31, 2007 7:07 PM

Robert,
The phoenix flying joyfully into the blue may have been Dumbledore's spirit off on the next great adventure in . I don't see that Dumbledore can still be alive, but I think he have left directions for Harry to continue on with.

Neville,
I can't believe that Dumbledore would do something so evil as create a Horcrux for himself. He has dedicated his life to destroying Voldemort. He wouldn't act like him. Even Professor Mcgonagal in book 1 says Dumbledore is too noble to use such dark magic.
Dumbledore, being the great wizard that he is have found a way to support Harry beyond .

Posted by Patty from Quincy MA on February 4, 2007 08:54 AM

Patty--
I happen to agree with you on the fact that Dumbledore is too noble to use Dark Magic. it says that in black and white.

Posted by Ashley from Missouri on February 12, 2007 3:14 PM

I do not think Dumbledore made a Horcrux. But, it won't surprise me if Dumbledore ends up being shown as less then totally always good and honorable in book 7. With everything not so black and white. I think we see that he has often had to make choices, very hard choices, that have caused people to , and suffer. I think it has been a case of doing what would cause the least amount of and destruction and suffering. But that won't erase the , destruction and pain that might have been caused by the decisions that he did make. I can see some as having not agreed with the decisions that Dumbledore has made, and I can see Snape possibly being one of them.

Posted by Karen from Texas on February 18, 2007 9:08 PM

There are more ways of supporting someone other than coming back to life. As mentioned before, JKR said Dumbledore not do a Gandalf. I believe Dumbledore is , and it is a logical decision. Harry, throughout the books, had been through major developments as a wizard, always guided by Dumbledore as a mentor. Yet the prophecy says only one can defeat Voldemort. That one is Harry, because Voldemort marked him as his equal. This means that, eventually, in his development, Harry has to become independent of his mentor, he has to do this alone (albeit with the support of his friends and the whole wizarding world, but still). If Dumbledore was still alive, it would prevent Harry from fulfilling his destiny, namely ing Voldemort, because Dumbledore loves Harry too much to actually risk Harry going off and looking for LV. And his is precisely the motivation Harry needs to turn his back on Hogwarts and get his revenge. Don't take me wrong, I love Dumbledore, and I was immensely sad when he was ed, but I think, considering everything, it is just not likely that he be back in the flesh in book 7. In everyone's education, whether at university or of life, one eventually has to loose the mentor (not specifically in this way, but eventually everyone has to become independent). However, if someone is not physically present that does not mean he is not there. I think Dumbledore be important in book 7, but in another way. I think Harry find strength from the memory of him (and maybe from his portrait, which is, I think, a kind of echo of the soul, not a Horcrux, not an actual part of the soul, more a sort of recreation of it). I think the memory of Dumbledore provide Harry with what he needs throughout book 7, namely the sense of safety and protection Dumbledore gave when he was still alive, and, most importantly, a feeling of LOVE, as mentioned before the strongest possible magic. Harry loved Dumbledore, and this love (and from it the anger from his ) might just be the final thing he needed to enable him to Voldemort.
Moreover, as to saying Dumbledore created a Horcrux, that is just blasphemism. I'm sorry guys, Dumbledore might not have been a saint, but he was way too noble and loved life way too much to actually consider doing something that debasing.
Dumbledore might be , but I believe, as Harry himself said, one is not actually until he is forgotten. The way he might come back to life might just be that, in the hearts and minds of those who loved and respected him.

Posted by Marina from The Netherlands on March 1, 2007 12:18 PM

Marina, I completely agree with your comment. I believe Harry's strength come from within, from his heart. And it's there where all his mentors (his parents, Sirius and Dumbledore) remain alive.
Great site!

Posted by Olga from Spain on March 1, 2007 1:40 PM

Marina, I think you are absolutely right about Harry finding strength from Dumbledore even though he is . Dumbledore says something very like that to Harry at the end of POA. "You think the we have loved ever truly leave us?"
The lesson in Chamber of Secrets is not dissimilar; that Dumbledore never be gone while people are loyal to him.
In every book Dumbledore has made Harry see some of the most profound truths about life, frequently relating to loyalty or love and its power.
Finally Harry has to face Voldemort possibly armed only with his wand and the knowledge that love, as the Song of Solomon tells us, "is as strong as ."

Harry himself understands at the end of HBP that he has to accept that all his protectors are gone; his parents, Sirius and Dumbledore. I think he also knows that he is not really alone.

Posted by Elizabeth from Australia on March 14, 2007 02:59 AM

yes marina i agree that dumbledore is though i dont think he be back in the seventh because dumbledore being alive would prevent the showdown between harry and voldemort from ever happening. i also think snape is good (though i still can never forgive him) but his proving his alegiance to voldemort gain him very important knowlege as to what voldemort plans. Also i have a question does anyone think harry graduate from hogwarts or he drop out to persue voldemort.

Posted by Chuck Dubbs from chestnut hill, pa on April 7, 2007 10:30 PM

Chuck--
I think Harry return to Hogwarts, but I don't think he take any classes or anything. I just think he look for clues as to where the Horcruxes are.
Similarly, can you flunk a grade at Hogwarts? Like, if you had a few T's or something or you failed everything, could they hold you back a year?
Also, if you miss a year of school (i.e. Harry's last year) can you return to finish out the school year? If Harry misses the last year of his education and defeats Voldemort, could he go back to Hogwarts when he was 18?

Posted by Ashley from Missouri on April 22, 2007 09:16 AM

Dumbledore said He'll always come back to Hogwarts when there are those who are truly loyal to him remain there. Maybe Harry has to go there to talk to Dumbledore one last time or to destroy the last Horcruxes, and he see Dumbledore one last time. The last Horcrux (not in Voldemort) has to be there because I think Hogwarts is the chief ly Hallow!

Posted by Katherine from Southend, England on May 29, 2007 08:37 AM

During some recent "research" I was reminded of Nut, the Egyptian goddess of the sky, who was often described and depicted with star-like speckles, or wearing a star-spangled dress. Stars were symbols of the spirits of the who had gone to join the gods so as to maintain the order of the world and keep chaos at bay. I can't help but compare to Albus always wearing those purple robes glittering with stars. Perhaps another parallel to mythology all the while was right in front of our eyes, as if to say he needed to in order to keep, well, order.

Posted by Monkeeshrines from orlando fl on June 1, 2007 07:16 AM

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