h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

The impersonator would have to have Dumbledore's knowledge, though. And know how Dumbledore acts. Though the pleading is out of character.

The only person I can think of who might be willing to go through with the only thing, and possible die in Dumbledore's place, would be Aberforth.

If Voldemort's instruction was 'Kill Dumbledore', rather than 'Kill Albus Dumbledore', then the instruction would be carried out, and the Unbreakable Vow fulfilled, with Aberforth's death.

That doesn't quite explain the picture appearing among the portraits of ex-headmasters, though.


Geggs

And as for the locket - Mundungus Fletcher was last seen in Aberforth Dumbledore's company!

If Dumbledore isn't dead then why did his portrait appear on the wall of dead ex-headmasters?

And I still think the 'pleading' was not pleading for his life, but rather pleading with Snape to remember his promise. The thing they had the argument about in the woods.


az

And Snape was preventing Harry from using unforgivable curses, letting him "stay clean".

> If Dumbledore isn't dead then why did his portrait appear on the wall of dead ex-headmasters?

Well, maybe the portrait wall is only of ex-headmasters... maybe you don't have to be dead, just a former headmaster? However, I'm not sure about that... it depends on whether portraits work on the same principle as wizarding photos and Chocolate Frog cards etc.

Speaking of Chocolate Frog cards... anyone think they mean anything more? And does Grindelwald (who, you say? Read Philosopher's Stone again) have anything to do with anything?

And more notably, the portrait is asleep - could he in fact just be in some kind of stasis or limbo?

Possibly, but it is rather late at night, and other portraits have been known to sleep as well.


Geggs

(Yes... Who I say?... I just finished Sor... the first book. Remind me.)

I'm sure the portraits only show ex-headmasters... If he had stepped down I don't see why his portrait wouldn't appear until he died.

And just what are the portraits? Are they a type of ghost? I don't think so, I think they just ape the personalities of those portrayed in them. Remember, Lockhart had plenty of portraits of himself in his class and office.

But the others seem to be awake!

Have they been known to sleep? The only case I remember is Phineas Nigellus *pretending* to be asleep in OotP - maybe portraits can't sleep?

Yea.. they sleep all the time. In Goblet we see The Fat Lady and her friend Violet sleeping off candied liquors and a mermaid sleeping in the prefects' loo.

The fat lady seems to sleep a lot

I repeat my assertion that there are too many loopholes for me to believe that Dumbeldore is really dead. I hadn't thought that it might have been some polyjuicer that got the fatal hit instead of Dumbledore. It's a good theory.

I don't think it was a doppleganger Dumbledore (what a great phrase) But I also am not convinced that Big D is dead. The Avadra Kadavra curse is a difficult one that takes much more than just saying the words to perform as Moody tells the class in Goblet. It also leaves the body appearing compleatly unharmed so it would be no evidence that it was performed, no scar, no outward signs. Also we have just been introduced to silent spells which makes me believe that it's possible to speak one spell but cast another.

Of course if it does indeed come about that Big D is truly dead, well, I'm fine with that too.


So, Who thinks Harry will actually not go back to school for "year 7"?

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Lockhart had photos, which seem (somehow!) to work differently than portraits.

For example, Harry couldn't communicate with the photos of his dead parents. But people can communicate with the portraits.


az

I don't think he will, nor will Hermionie or Ron. I'm not sure there will be a Hogwarts for him to back to. Harry fully expects to die when he faces Voldemort so why would he feel the need to go back? Ron would feel his loyalty to Harry as more important and won't mind following in Fred and George's footsteps by not graduating and Hermione can always go back to living as a Muggle

I'm not sure. I'm fairly certain that he has to got to Hogwarts, as the whole plot seem tied up in the place, but I don't know whether he will be having any lessons.


Geggs

I think Hogwarts will figure in the story, but not as the main location of the action. I think HP, Hermione and Ron won't go back except to follow up on clues related to the horcruxes (horcroix?)

I think he will be convinced to return.

But, hey, maybe he can use his quest for the horcruxes as a special study credit.

He may need to go back just to get the tools for the job - I'm sure they'd have a chance at quite advanced spells!