Muggles' Guide to Harry Potter/Books/Half-Blood Prince/Chapter 29
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Chapter 29 of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: The Phoenix Lament
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[edit] Synopsis
Ginny leads Harry to the Hospital Wing where everyone is gathered. Harry, remembering the Dark Mark, fearfully asks who is dead. Ginny tells him nobody, but Harry recalls falling over a body. Ginny says that was Bill, and he is a bit of a mess, but he will survive. Apparently, he was savagely mauled by Fenrir Greyback. It is unknown what the long-term effects will be, but it is not believed that Bill will be a werewolf because Fenrir was not transformed at the time, but he will never heal completely and is permenantly disfigured.
Because Ginny, Ron, and Hermione took the Felix Felicis potion, they were safe, and only Professor Dumbledore and one Death Eater were killed – the big blond Death Eater was firing curses indiscriminately and accidentally hit his ally.
Ron and Lupin are stunned when Harry informs them that Dumbledore is dead. Professor McGonagall arrives and asks Harry if he witnessed what happened. Harry says Snape killed Dumbledore. McGonagall wonders aloud why Dumbledore ever trusted Snape. Harry replies that Snape relayed the Prophecy's contents to Voldemort, and later claimed remorse that Voldemort killed his father and mother. McGonagall blames herself; she sent Professor Flitwick to fetch Snape. Lupin reassures her that they were all glad that Snape would be joining them.
According to McGonagall, when Dumbledore left, Tonks, Lupin, and Bill were on patrol, but it is unknown where the Death Eaters appeared from. Harry explains about the Vanishing Cabinets and the Room of Requirement. Ron says that he, Ginny, and Neville had been watching the Room of Requirement and saw Draco appear with the Hand of Glory. When he had spotted them, he threw something and everything went dark. People were heard rushing past, but they were unable to see to Jinx them. They groped their way out of the corridor. Luckily they ran into Lupin, who found the Death Eaters at the Astronomy Tower. One, Gibbon, cast the Dark Mark, then was killed. Meanwhile, Hermione and Luna were at Snape's office. Flitwick went to warn Snape that Death Eaters were in the castle, then there were confused sounds from within and Snape came out. Spotting Hermione and Luna, he told them that Flitwick had fallen and to take care of him.
At the main battle, Draco disappeared, apparently going up the tower. Four Death Eaters followed him, leaving behind a barrier and, "that big blond death eater," who was firing curses in all directions. Snape reappeared and went through the barrier. Then, after the big one had brought down about half the ceiling and knocked out the barrier, Snape and Draco returned, and they just let him pass.
Mrs. Weasley, Mr. Weasley, and Fleur Delacour now arrive. Mrs. Weasley immediately tends to Bill's injuries. She believes Fleur will end the engagement because Bill is disfigured. Angry, Fleur declares she loves Bill and still plans to marry him. This act bonds her with Mrs. Weasley. Tonks reveals she has been in love with Remus Lupin who, because he is a werewolf and older, had discouraged her feelings. Harry suddenly realizes that Tonks' new Patronus is a wolf. Lupin is still reluctant, but Mr. Weasley points out that the future is always uncertain.
Hagrid reports that he moved Dumbledore's body, the students are back in bed, and the Ministry has been notified. Professor McGonagall takes over as interim Headmistress and calls a meeting with the House Heads plus Hagrid, suggesting that Horace Slughorn should represent Slytherin. McGonagall first meets with Harry in the Headmaster's office, where Dumbledore's sleeping portrait now hangs among the other past Headmasters. McGonagall asks Harry what happened after he and Dumbledore left the school, but Harry, still honoring his vow to Dumbledore, reveals nothing and says, "Professor Dumbledore never told me to stop following his orders if he died." He warns McGonagall that Madam Rosmerta is under the Imperius curse. The House Heads troop in, and McGonagall canvasses them as to whether Hogwarts should stay open, given that their Headmaster was just murdered by a teacher. All agree it should remain open. Professor McGonagall will consult the Governors, who will make the final decision.
McGonagall suggests students should depart early on the Hogwarts Express, but Harry points out that they may want to stay for the funeral. The House Heads unanimously agree to honour Dumbledore's wish that he be laid to rest at the school. Professor Flitwick says that transport arrangements can be made after the funeral.
Professor McGonagall sees Rufus Scrimgeour arriving with a delegation. Wanting to avoid questions, Harry leaves and heads to Gryffindor tower. Almost everyone is in the Common room. Thankfully, only Ron is in their dormitory. Harry tells Ron that the Horcrux was a fake; the real one was stolen. Ron, reading the note, asks who R.A.B. is. Harry has no idea.
[edit] Analysis
Whether or not Dumbledore is really dead was endlessly debated by fans. The author left many hints that Dumbledore may still be alive or will return in some manner - either physically or spiritually. His portrait in the Headmaster's office "appears" to be sleeping. It is possible it is not a real portrait, but only imitating those of other former Headmasters and Headmistresses as a ruse to deceive enemies. If, however, the portrait starts interacting in a similar manner as the others, this would be some proof that Dumbledore is actually dead.
It is possible that although Snape killed Dumbledore, he did not actually murder him. That is, there may have been a prearranged agreement that Snape would kill the Headmaster if events deemed it necessary to protect the Order's mission. Indeed, during their confrontation on the Astronomy Tower, it is almost as if Dumbledore was pleading with a conflicted Snape to curse him. In a previous conversation between them, Snape was overheard telling Dumbledore that he would refuse to do something, to which Dumbledore insisted he must follow through. This may have been a reference to Snape's Unbreakable Vow that would require him to kill Dumbledore if Draco failed.
Dumbledore (possibly with Snape's assistance) may have taken measures to prevent his own death. During Harry's first year, Snape told students that there are potions that can, "put a stopper in death." Dumbledore certainly was aware Draco was aiding Voldemort's plan to invade Hogwarts, and it is unlikely he could be caught unprepared by Death Eaters, much less an underaged wizard like Draco.
Also, Voldemort himself may have prevented Dumbledore's death. When Dumbledore drinks the potion in the cave, he tells Harry it will not immediately kill him because Voldemort would want to keep whoever stole the locket alive long enough to learn how they were able to penetrate the Dark Lord's defenses. It is possible that the potion protected Dumbledore from the Avada Kedavra curse, keeping him in a deathlike state. If this is true, there may be an antidote to the potion's poisonous effects, and which could be why Dumbledore wanted Harry to fetch Snape rather than Madam Pomfrey, when they returned to Hogwarts. As mentioned in a previous chapter, readers should be aware that the effects of Snape's curse seem dissimilar to other Avada Kedavra curses.
That Dumbledore's animal familiar is a phoenix is unlikely a coincidence. A phoenix dies by bursting into flames and is reborn from its own ashes. This could be symbolic that Dumbledore may experience a similar resurrection. A phoenix's cry is healing, and Fawkes' lament was heard as he soared over his master's body.
Countering these speculations is the author's assertion in an interview after the sixth book's release that Dumbledore is "definitely dead." However, the Headmasters do live on, in a fashion, within their portraits, interacting with people and retaining the headmasters' memories. Dumbledore's portrait should be able to speak with Harry and provide information regarding events that have not yet been resolved. Additionally, Dumbledore will have stored memories in his Pensieve, which Harry may be able to access.
On a completely separate subject, in this chapter we see, again, the romance between Harry and Ginny. When Hagrid tells Harry that he must leave Dumbledore's body, Harry does not move; it is only when Ginny leads him away by the hand that Harry moves. Also, in the Hospital Wing, Ginny stays next to Harry, possibly to give him comfort if he needs it, possibly to get some comfort from him herself. He does not leave her side until Professor McGonagall summons him to the headmaster's office.
[edit] Questions
- What reasons might Snape have killed Dumbledore? Is it possible he is still loyal to Dumbledore even after causing his death?
- Why does Mrs. Weasley believe Fleur will end her engagement to Bill Weasley? What is Fleur's reaction?
- What might happen to Bill in the future?
- Can Tonks and Lupin's relationship last? What precautions must they take?
- Why does Hogwarts close early? Will it reopen next year?
- Who is likely to be the new headmaster/headmistress?
- Why does Harry refuse to tell McGonagall what happened after he and Dumbledore left for the cave? Couldn't she get this same information from Dumbledore's portrait?
[edit] Greater Picture
The speculation around Dumbledore's death was, of course, ended with the publication of the seventh and final book. In that book, it was revealed that in fact Dumbledore had become cursed by contact with the Peverell ring, which had been so cursed because it contained a Horcrux. Despite Snape's best efforts, the curse had given Dumbledore at most a year to live. Dumbledore, already aware of Voldemort's plan to have Draco Malfoy try to murder him, also knew that Draco would not be able to do so unless compelled by other Death Eaters, and was concerned that he would be tormented by Death Eaters in the process. He had exacted a promise from Snape that in that eventuality, Snape would step in and kill him, so as to spare Draco's soul and allow Dumbledore to retain some dignity.
