Does Dumbledore want to die?

[atac109]

Okay, as far as we know, Dumbledore does not lie to Harry. He may not give away all information, but he does not lie. (Pg. 298 of SS: "The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing and should therefore be treated with great caution. However, I shall answer your questions unless I have a very good reason not to, in which case I beg you'll forgive me. I shall not, of course, lie.") Yet, Harry was convinced earlier on in the book that Dumbledore may have lied or "may not have been quite truthful" simply because he couldn't imagine why Dumbledore would see himself in the Mirror of Erised holding a pair of socks. But Harry was ignorant then. He didn't know that clothes were a sign of freedom. What if Dumbledore just wants to be free? How else could the mirror show that he wanted to be free? After all, Dumbledore seems to be able to come to peace with everything, so why would the mirror produce a complex reflection of him? I believe Dumbledore that he sees himself holding the socks, and I believe that he wouldn't mind burning up and being reborn again--like a phoenix.

Even if Dumbledore doesn't want to die, I think he'll embrace it wholeheartedly when it comes. He says on page 297 of SS, "[Death] is like going to bed after a very, very long day." Also, Dumbledore knows he can't defeat Voldemort, yet he dueled with him in OotP. Was he trying to soften him up for Harry, thinking he would eventually die? Did Dumbledore think the battle in OotP would be the final one? Is Dumbledore under the impression that he will have to die to put Harry in a position to defeat Voldemort? Might there have been a prophecy that Dumbledore will die at the hands of Voldemort? Is Dumbledore's deepest desire being free of Voldemort's threat on the magical world?

[The Golden Snitch]

A very good point,

Dumbledore duels with Voldemort because it was the only choice, he's not going to sit back and let Voldemort kill Harry is he? However the sock thing is quite interesting, who knows. Maybe he just wants a pair of socks, but Sirius said in OotP that some things are worth dying for, perhaps Dumbledore just feels protecting Harry and the students is one of the things worth dying for.

[McKinnon02]

Actually, after all the years that have passed since then, I'm amazed Harry hasn't given DD socks for Christmas. :)

[The Golden Snitch]

Has Harry ever given anybody besides Hermoine, Ron and Dobby presents? I dont think it mentions it but he could at least send the Weasely's something, how rude of him :( ;)

[JenJen]

Dumbledore may not want to die, but he's not afraid of it, and will embrace it when it comes. He knows that he's not invincible, and that one day, he will die. He's always said that there are worse things than death.

Harry got Dobby socks, couldn't he get Dumbledore some, too? The nerve of him! :)

[ssssalizar]

Let's face it: the guy's 150 years old! Isn't there a point where you stop fearing death? I don't think he wants to die (except for a good cause perhaps) but I don't think he is afraid of dying.

[MagiCils]

Don't think he is considering death right now. I mean, if you think about some of the ancient wizards who administered the OWLS, he's still pretty young!

[Jassmeister]

Very interesting points raised. When JK revealed that a main character was going to die, I was worried it would be Dumbledore... it made sense that he might die and Harry would step up to defeat Dumbledore.

I did notice in the duel with Voldemort, that he never flinched or had to dive out of the way etc. He seemed to know exactly what was coming or what was going to happen, like with Fawkes taking that green bolt of whatever it was.

I think he may die in the last book after he tells Harry almost all he needs to know.

[Phoenix_Fawkes]

Dumbledore isnt scared of death its but the next great adventure. Remember he said that. I think when the time comes h will be Happy and give Harry some like Tips ect but i dont think he will die till book 7 and that death will be worse than Sirius's :'(!!!!!

[Lady Artemis]

I had never considered the socks Dumbledore is holding to be a sign of him wanting to be free. Its a very interesting theory...I can see him wanting to be free of all the responsiblity he holds, and of course the only way for him to ever really be rid of it is to die. I'm not saying that he wants to die, but it appears he isnt at all afraid of death. I certainly dont want Dumbledore to die, but I believe he will, and I also believe he is ready. If it comes down to saving his own life or saving Harry's, he's definatly gonna choose Harry.

[Cat]

I wonder if wizards and witches have some idea if they're going to die soon. It would explain why Dumbledore talks about death the way he does. It would also explain Sirius' strange behaviour throughout OOTP.

Probably not.

I think that Dumbledore knows that it will soon be time to step down, and he knows he has to, but he's slightly saddened by the thought. It will require leaving a young boy to do all the dirty work without his help.

[TheFirebolt]

Hmm, I don't think he wants to die as such, but I guess he knows his days are numbered. I also think that he would be willing to die for Harry if it meant an end to the second war and the end of Voldemort.

[Joshman687]

Dumbldore knows that he is going to dye and i think accepts it. He doesnt think about himself nearly as much as he thinks about the bigger picture. He knows that protecting Harry is #1 priotity

[dallasmc]

Possibly dumbledoor's refeence to seeing himslef with socks in the mirror of eseilrod is a hint that he is tired of fighting a liftime of battles against the Dark side and solving everyones problems, therefore, what he most rruly desires is to have so simple a life that he gets a pairs of socks for xmas, and has no other concerns.

[McKinnon02]

It's possible Dumbledore's feet were cold at the moment he was looking into the mirror. :) It shows a person's greatest desire, true, but desires change.

[Evilrabbit]

I think Dumbledore does not want to die, but accepts the fact that he may soon. I mean he's 150 and JKR is always pointing out the fact that he looks very old. He knows he can never defeat Voldy, only Harry can do that. Now maybe he gave Harry all that info because he might not be around long enough to give it to him later. (Or maybe it was because Harry was about half way through demolishing his office. :D) I think for him it really will be like going to bed after a loooooooooooooong day. Let the next great adventure be his.

[HemHem]

Originally posted by The Golden Snitch (original post (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?postid=466107#post466107))
Has Harry ever given anybody besides Hermoine, Ron and Dobby presents? I dont think it mentions it but he could at least send the Weasely's something, how rude of him :( ;)


I think Harry gave Mr Weasly some muggle stuff like screws and wires for Christmas in OotP :D

[DarkRa]

Dumbledore have all the wisdom a 150-years-old can have. He knows he will die, he accept it and he don't want to escape it. But he don't look forward to it.
Many people were discusing the thing about Nicolas Flamel dying after have drunk the Elixir of Life. Flamel is a friend of DD isn't he? I bet he shared the same ideas with him, so he has drinking the Elixir to enlogate his life, but didn't do something more (an incantation maybe) that would garanty him Imortality, simply because he wanted to die at some point.
As for Dumbledore, he have so much responsibility, he fells so much tired (as he showed in GoF and OotP), but he knows that he can't rest until Voldemort is defeated for good.

[Rose Lupin]

I don't think Dumbledore wants to die, and i don't think he will, yet. But he may sacrifice himself for Harry, in the end. But not yet. I believe Dumbledore hasn't told Harry everything yet, so he's got to do that first. And DD is also secret keeper for the order, and i think there will be loads of trouble if dd died. And i think we'll learn something about DD's family first (aberforth??)
No, he wont just die yet.. but he will in the end i think, because he is just so old, as rowling keeps reminding us all through the books.

[jerb]

This answer might be confusing so bear with me please.

Dumbledore wants to die. He knows that to be immortal would be one of the worst things a human can be. This does not mean he is sucidial or that he has any desire to die now. That being said, he will accept death. The only way he wouldn't accept death would be if he could still see ways in which he can be of service. So, given the current chaotic situation, Dumbledore is not ready to die yet. However, most peple have no control over when they die.

[PrtVeela]

Jerb that made perfect sense.
Lady Artemis I agree with what you said.

I don't know if Dumbledore wants to die, (well not yet anyway) but I think he wants to be free, with all of the sock refreneces this is an easy inference to make.

DD keeps track of all that Harry does, and he is constantly busy watching everything else in the wizarding world, one wonders if has any time for himself. I think that he is tired, and right now he is aware of all the repsosibilties he has, much like Gandlaf in LOTR. Where Gandlaf had that one task, it could possibly be the same type of thing for Dumbledore, to ensure that Voldemort does not plague the wizarding world with fear, and to ensure Harry finishes his task (which are really two in the same).

[1Harry Potter]

If Dumbledore does die before Harry fights Voldemort, then maybe he could somehow posses Harry when he fights Voldemort, to ensure that Harry won't lose.

[SFHPW]

[quote][i]Originally posted by McKinnon02
Actually, after all the years that have passed since then, I'm amazed Harry hasn't given DD socks for Christmas. :)

That has always bugged me. Even if it isn't really what he sees he obviously would be very touched if Harry got some socks for him. Especially now since DD told Harry he loved him. Oh and I also think Harry should buy a new owl for the Weasleys.

Dumbledore does want to die...eventually. He certaintly does not want to live forever, but maybe just long enough to see that Harry gets through everything (heres hoping that he does).:scared:

[Hammi]

^ i have the exact feelings, when I first read SS/PS i was sure HArry was going to give dumbledore a pair of socks for christmas. Its kind of stupid when you think about it that we're pulling all this meaning from a pair of socks!

[A_Reck]

In one of the books (cant remember which) Dumbledore says that death is the next great adventure... hmmmm

[A_Reck]

Oops sorry, didnt realize dumbledore2905 said that earlier!

[McKinnon02]

That was in book 1, after Harry got the Sorceror's Stone away from Tom Riddle. :)

[crisc312]

I hadnt thought of the socks Dumbly said he was holding as a sign of him wanting to be free either... good catch! I think that Dumbledore has a lot of responsibilities that he is tired of having, and thus death, to him, would, indeed, be a welcome respite. But I don't think he wants to die. I think he simply wants to do what he needs to do and get it over with. I do believe, however, that as soon as Harry defeats Voldemort, Dumbledore will die. Or, Dumbledore will die helping Harry to defeat Voldemort.

[Tane]

I think Dumbledore just accepts that death is coming and I sometimes wonder whether his death was prophesized, which is why he finds it so welcoming and easy now to talk about it. He seems to know his fate already when you here the way he speaks throughout the books. I just think Dumbledore has accepted that there are worse fates than death out in the world.

[Dawn_Potter]

I didn't think that the socks in SS/PS meant something like being free.
Dumbledore said something like: If the happiest man on earth was looking in the mirror he would just see himself... so I thought the socks were jsut a sign that he wasn't completely happy. So he would just see himself, but with a pair of socks... I thought that the socks were representative for something he still had to do!

[rotsiepots]

I didn't think that the socks in SS/PS meant something like being free.
Dumbledore said something like: If the happiest man on earth was looking in the mirror he would just see himself... so I thought the socks were jsut a sign that he wasn't completely happy. So he would just see himself, but with a pair of socks... I thought that the socks were representative for something he still had to do!

I also don't think Dumbledore was being entirely honest with his reply to Harry in relation to what he saw in the Mirror of Erised. It was a rather personal question for Harry to have asked (as an 11-year-old, we'll excuse him), so I think he avoided giving an honest answer by making a humourous remark.

Although Dumbledore is a great believer in the truth, I think it's fair to say that not wanting to disclose something and deliberately misleading someone are two different things.

[LumosSoleil]

I think that if Dumbledore does want to die, he would want to see Voldemort dead and Harry at peace before he does so. To me, he is Harry's ultimate guardian. He cares for Harry so much the way his parents would have cared for him. A parent would want to see their children safe and stable before anything happens to them as parents.

[padfootgrim]

no i dont think dumbledore is on some suicide mission... i think he fights when he has to...

[Bloo]

I don't know if this has been mentioned but,......... maybe Dumbledore can control when and how he dies.

[Flee From Death]

I also don't think Dumbledore was being entirely honest with his reply to Harry in relation to what he saw in the Mirror of Erised. It was a rather personal question for Harry to have asked (as an 11-year-old, we'll excuse him), so I think he avoided giving an honest answer by making a humourous remark.

Although Dumbledore is a great believer in the truth, I think it's fair to say that not wanting to disclose something and deliberately misleading someone are two different things.

It's likely that he wasn't disclosing the full truth, I would say. However even Dumbledore's humorous/throw away remarks tend to come back into prominence later in another book.

Getting back to the topic at hand, I don't think that Dumbledore wants to die, exactly (i.e. he's not on a suicide mission) but I think he's definitely someone who would be prepares to die for the greater good. Look at how he fought Voldemort at the end of OotP. He didn't once flinch or show fear for his own life (though he did show fear for Harry's), even though he was fighting a battle he knew he couldn't possibly win; Harry, not Dumbledore has to defeat Voldemort. He's comfortable with his own mortality, but not looking to kill himself.

[Rowena Ravenclaw]

I think PrtVeela's on the right track. Socks are the sort of mundane gift you get for someone you don't really know or care enough about to get something they're interested in. Dumbledore, on the other hand, gets books because everyone expects him to continue expanding his vast knowledge and dispense wisdom. So the socks represent the freedom for Dumbledore to be a normal person, with normal responsibilities.

I don't think he's eager enough for an end to the burden to want death, though. After all, when he dies, that's one more source of protection Harry's lost, and we know how strong his desire to keep Harry safe is.

[pumpkin_queen]

Well Dumbledore is under no illusion- he knows he will eventually die, but he's not scared of it. Dumbledore is so mysterious its difficult to tell what his motives are, but in the fifth book he duelled with Voldemort to defend Harry, he wouldn't walk blindly into death, he's intelligent.

As for the socks thing, i've been thinking about it. In the series socks symbolise many things, including freedom.Harry gives Dobby a sock in order for him to become liberated- he is free. In PS harry pulls a spider off his sock in his cupboard, this is a symbol of the opression that he is subject to at the Dursleys. Maybe Dumbledore see's himself holding a pair of socks so he can ,maybe have the power to give people freedom? see how the socks can be seen as good (freedom) and bad (symbol of opression) just as freedom can be a bad thing if given out lightly and frivolously, but put the gift of granting freedom into responsible hands such as Dumbledore's....
Or maybe it's a symbol of Dumbledore's desire to be free, I mean he can make his own decisions but not really break away from all his responsibilities. I don't think it means he wants to die, but maybe deep down he just wants to not have to be burdened by so many things. Not to say this is likely to happen, Harry wishes to be re-united with his parents but that won't happen in his life-time.
Or maybe im reading too much into this, i mean its just socks lol it could be something really simple like maybe he gets cold feet....

[Achilles]

I dont think Albus wants to die, far from it. Maybe he just feels a buring desire to be just another wizard fighting the dark arts, rather than being the figurehead responisble for the resistance. that job must take its toll... :sad:

[Hermyownniny]

Like someone said above, i don't think Dumbledore is on a suicide mission! But I do think he will die quite soon. JK never fails to mention that he looks surprisingly old when he's not making little jokes and asserting order at Hogwarts. He's done his share of worrying and fighting in his lifetime, and his desire of wanting normal socks reflects that. Like mentioned above, it represents normality, where nothing is expected of him or his intelligence and wisdom. Its quite sad actually. I love dumbledore. :-(

I think though, that he will survive until the end of book 7, but after helping defeat Voldemort (hopefully and if), he would probably go retire somewhere and perhaps die peacefully with a house full of socks. :-) Maybe even on a beach somewhere with sunblock on his long crooked nose....

[jcuzo]

i don't know if DD wants to die, but i tihnk it is awfully coincedental that his pet is a phoenix which often dies and is reborn. that coupled with his work on the sorceror's stone definitley shows DD has some kind of fascination with death. he might have the same opinion that captain hook had in the movie hook: "death is the only adventure". as for the socks in the mirror... DD seems to be two steps ahead in complex issues and situations but normal, everyday things are the things that 'elude' him...

[Dottie]

While I don't think DD wants to die, I do feel that he certainly is not afraid of death and will accept it when it is his time.

[soccergoddess24]

is there any way dumbledore could aid harry in any way when harry and voldemort have thier duel? like could he paralyze voldemort and then harry just finish him off? i know that's too easy for JKR to write, but hey, it's a thought...

[Hogwarts Lake]

Intresting...hmm...I never thought Dumbledore actually must have seen socks, so he probably must have...But I don't think he wants to die and socks (or clothes) are given to house elves for setting them free so why would Dumbledore see himself with a pair of socks?

"I? I see myself holding a pair of thick, woolen socks."

Harry needs him but I am sure when it's time Dumbledore will not hesitate to sacrifice his life for him as he clearly does not fear death.

[Tane]

I think after the long life Dumbledore has had, he will probably welcome death with open arms, he will be glad of his freedom and to pass his teaching onto others.

[Layla]

I do think that there is a strong link between the socks and "freedom" theme and possibly DD is referring to the ultimate freedom, i.e. death. That does not necessarily mean he wants to die, but that he's anticipating his death (the next great adventure) with some degree of eagerness...

[red_fairy]

I don't think that he wishes he could die, but I'm sure that when it is his time, he will embrace it willingly.

[aggiefan1206]

Well me do know that Dumbledore believes that there are things worse then death. He seems to not be afraid of death. But does actually want to die probably not until he knows that harry has gotten rid of voldemort or is at least ready to defeat voldemort. I think Dumbledore kind knows that at this time he will need to help harry and untill harry is ready i think dumbledore will still be around at least for a little while.

[Da_Chinkster]

I agree, I dont think DD wants to die, but he accepts that at some point he will die be it tomorrow or in another fifty years. He isnt afraid of death and as he says in PS/SS it is just another adventure after life

[RemusLupinFan]

I also don't believe that Dumbledore wants to die, and I agree that he is not afraid to confront the possiblity of death. He accepts that death is a fact of life, and sees it as the end of a long journey.

About the seeing himself with a new pair of socks in the Mirror of Erised: I agree with rosiepots that Dumbledore was probably responded to Harry's rather personal question with an amusing remark, which Harry could interpret as he saw fit. I have a sneaking suspicion that Dumbledore's deepest desire involves Harry's safety and happiness.

[Lord Nicholai]

I dont think DD wants to die? If only for the fact that he has things to do.

I dont think socks are some great representation of DD's desires. hes just avoiding Harrys question.

[Steel_Neil]

I have a feeling Dumbledore to Harry is like Gandalf to Frodo in lord of the rings, someone who protects him and will see it through to the end i also believe that dumbledore is getting old and is ready to get on with his next great adventure....death

[ornjbreezy]

Actually, after all the years that have passed since then, I'm amazed Harry hasn't given DD socks for Christmas. I was thinking that same thing! It would seem so perfect, and it would be such a simple but meaningful thing to do. Maybe he will next year, or the year after. He better :evil:

As numerous people have already stated, I don't think Dumbledore necessarily wants to die, but isn't afraid of it either. Which is why I think he'll kick the bucket in Book Six or Seven. :sad: If he indeed had seen a sort of freedom for himself in the Mirror, it could be a different freedom than death. Perhaps he will witness the end of Voldemort. That, certainly, would be a very freeing (is that even a word? :p) experience for him.

[Gwenog Jones]

I do not think that Dumbledore wants to die at all. He still has so much to do, and so much to accomplish. I do think that he will die before the end of Book 7, while he is dueling with Voldemort. When Dumbledore fights with Voldemort, he knows he cannot defeat him, but he still has to do it to protect Harry and the others. Dumbledore is not going to let anyone take his life without a fight. When he dies, he will definitely accept death, as it is just another adventure for him.

As for the socks, I agree with what PrtVeela and Rowena Ravenclaw said. Socks represent a normal, average gift. Dumbledore is used to getting books, but he does not want to get books, he just wants a normal gift.

[Richie J]

Sorry for escaping from the discussion line for a second.

But as a part of the storyline.

Dumbledore losing his life at the end of book 6 would just make both book 6 and 7 great.

I Think that DD knows how to defeat V. He will have to put loads of things in place in Book 6 to ensure that someone can defeat V (there's some ancient magic there me thinks).

This will ensure that H has enough to go on to ensure that V is defeated in Book 7.

As storyline goes, losing your biggest advantage just before the end of the final battle, just makes it that little bit more exciting.

[Andos]

That's actually a great pickup that the socks DD refers to represents freedom ... this is a strong underlying theme. I also believe that flying and particular the golden snitch also represent freedom and this I believe is confirmed when Dobby gives Harry socks with a broom and a golden snitch embroidered on them.

So DD wishing for freedom as well! Hmmmm...

Well, as JK has been so closely following the traditional hero-myth structure, she's not going to deviate from it now. In all hero-myth stories the mentor character dies and comes back in a higher form. Think of Gandalf dying and coming back as Gandalf the White, think Merlin being trapped underground by Mab, Obi Wan ... you get the picture. The mentor has to be taken out of the picture before the hero can finally succeed.

I wonder how it will happen for DD....

[steph_HPfan]

I realy don't think the socks stood for anything because I don't think that's actualy what he saw. The whole "The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing and should therefore be treated with great caution. However, I shall answer your questions unless I have a very good reason not to, in which case I beg you'll forgive me. I shall not, of course, lie." I think was basically for that brief moment. Because he was talking about Harry's questions that Harry was about to ask him. So rewinding back to the point in the book where Harry asks what Dumbledore saw doesn't have the same principle as when they're in the hospital wing. Also Dumbledore, I think, wasn't sincere when he said he saw himself holding socks and was joking and figured Harry knew he was joking also (although it took Harry a while to get to that conclusion).

[idlescribbler]

Most likely, Dumbledore believes that he will not live to see how things turn out, for good or for bad. I don't think he longs for death, but I think he has accepted his fate. Should Voldemort learn the prophecy in it's entirety, I think he will not hesitate to take on Dumbledore, knowing full well that Dumbledore is not capable of killing him. I see no fear of death in Dumbledore, but I do see him as fearing for the safety of others when he is gone.

Loathe as I am to admit it, I do think Dumbledore will die soon, probably before the end of book 6.

[LadyJinx]

I think Dumbledore will die eventually and I think somehow Voldemort will be the one to kill him. I think he can see into the future, so perhaps he already knows when it's going to happen and how, but I don't think he's afraid of it necessarily. Maybe Dumbledore will sacrifice his life for Harry and Harry will become even more powerful, thus enabeling him to finally kill Voldemort.

[fubby]

I also don't think Dumbledore was being entirely honest with his reply to Harry in relation to what he saw in the Mirror of Erised. It was a rather personal question for Harry to have asked (as an 11-year-old, we'll excuse him), so I think he avoided giving an honest answer by making a humourous remark.

Although Dumbledore is a great believer in the truth, I think it's fair to say that not wanting to disclose something and deliberately misleading someone are two different things.

I don't think DD would lie, I mean even when Harry asks him that all important question why did DD come after me, he could've told him a small lie to make him feel better at the time or something, but he didn't. I don't think DD would ever lie about something even if it's that trivial, but I think you may be on to something about DD wanting to die. Maybe he should've died a long time ago, perhaps in his famous fight, but he knew a spell that could allow him to cheat death. He might have used it because he knew that him staying alive was the only way to assure that Harry would live long enough to rid the world of Voldemort. DD may be living a life similar to that of drinking Unicorns blood not as cursed but the spell he had to use to save himself may make him weary of life. Maybe he just wants to live long enough to see Voldy fall and then he can die in peace. It's unlikely but hey we all know that Divination is woolly.

[drifting.shadow]

i thinkl that dumbledore will die and pass on his powers to harry, like what voldy did, kind of and dumbledores powers will help harry defeat voldy.

[michaela]

I think that he would die towards the end of the 7th book, the last battle, but I don't think he is too bothered about dying. I think he would be happy to die as long as Voldermort has been vanquished.

[RINGO]

:eyebrows: Having read this post,I was rather interested in this idea...
Everybody seems to think that Dumbledore will die saving Harry,but why not saving someone else???
I have said this before on one of the forums,what if,while in battle,Dumbledore gave his life to save Snape??????
He treats Snape like a father treats a son,he cares for him,not always written as so in the books,but I get the feeling that he cares for him...
Of course,just a theory,but why not...I feel that Snape would die for Dumbledore and even(wait for it)Harry!!!!!!
Dumbledore knows the situations he has put Snape through,going on spy duty for him,putting his life in danger,YES,Snape could easily turn to be a double spy,BUT,if he is loyal,which I think he IS,and the time came in battle that Snape was about to be killed,I don't think that Dumbledore would think twice.... :eyebrows:

[Lord Nicholai]

a nice theory but theres nothing to suggest DD cares for Snape in a father/son way. or cares for him at all beyond the fact that hes an order member and member of his staff...

[CicadaInvasion]

First, I think Dumbledore is ready to die, he doesn't want to. There's a huge difference.

Second, I think there is some understanding between Snape and Dumbledore that goes a bit deeper than proffesional. Snape trusted Dumbledore...a lot. Dumbledore seems to be the one person Snape feels he can rely on.

[michaela]

First, I think Dumbledore is ready to die, he doesn't want to. There's a huge difference.

Second, I think there is some understanding between Snape and Dumbledore that goes a bit deeper than proffesional. Snape trusted Dumbledore...a lot. Dumbledore seems to be the one person Snape feels he can rely on.

I agree with you, I think we can trust Snape, and death does not bother Dumbledore.

[Polychrome]

About the mirror thing. My honest opinion was that Dumbledore's first thoughts were always for Harry. Notice how Dumbledore has done everything in his power to protect Harry, whether or not it was for the greater good.

Dumbledore admits to having avoided telling Harry the truth about the prophecy for some time. From the way he's acted the entire series, Dumbledore seems to wish for Harry to have the chance at a normal life more than anything else, even if his own life or many others are at stake.

Now, Dumbledore likely found the situation a bit awkward when Harry asked him. The socks, though, were probably somewhat truthful. After being Mr. Famous Wizard all his life, he may be wishing for the more mundane, ordinary things. He wishes them for himself, and for Harry, who he knows will someday be in his own shoes with the lives of millions on his hands. Make sense?

[Barbara Kennedy]

I don't think Dumbledore WANTS to die, but I do think he is prepared for its arrival.
He has had a long time to prepare for it. He doesn't fear it, as we've heard from his words of wisdom.

He is wise enough that to know that it is inevitable and fearing it will not change the fact that it will come.

[swirlctw]

Personally I do not think that Dumbledore wants to die. I think that what Dumbledore says to Harry is not a lie and that stands for something. I do not know if I am making any sense to you, but i think that if Dumbledore wants to die I think that he would have done it by now. If he wanted to tell someone about wanting to die then I think that he would have told Harry. I have a question though do you think that Dumbledore will die in the the other books? I do think that Dumbledore will die, I do not want him to, but I think that this would be the other death that everyone thinks will end up happening.

[hotharry]

If the guy wanted to die he would be already dead. He knows how do to and is smart enough to make it look like an accident if he was embarrased about suicide. In all reality and joking aside Dumbledore is not a character that wishes or wants to be dead. Honestly he has a lot more wisdom than to just want to die. So therefore, I think this question is null and void.

[Kevin]

Dumbledore still has a lot to do before he dies. But he is i think he is ready for the next great adventure when it comes. Though prehaps not ready for the actuall process of death and leaving the mortal plane behind, while he still has a lot to do, regarding Harry and LV. As for the socks, that probably does represent his desire to be treated like a normal person, not being held up as some kind of mythical wizard that LV fears above all others. Dumbledore knows full well he cannot defeat LV and probably wants to prepare Harry and the Wizarding world for the time when he is no longer around to fight off LV. As for Fawkes, i think Fawkes chose Dumbledore and not the other way around. There is still a lot more to be revelead about Fawkes. If Dumbeldore dies, where will Fawkes go ? Prehaps he'll choose Harry as his next pet human (bad pun there) and through Fawkes, Harry will feel some kind of connection to Dumbledore even if he is dead.

[McKinnon02]

Fawkes does seem to have a strange connection to both Harry AND Dumbledore. Fawkes has used his tears, his song, and his beak to protect Harry, who at the moment he really doesn't belong to. Either Fawkes has a pretty strong mind of his own (which may be entirely possible), or his connection to Harry goes far beyond anything we've seen from the books.

[Kevin]

Well Fawkes has always caught my attention. Fawkes does seem to appear just at the right moment. Which is probably why Dumbledore seemed to walk straight at LV, without a sign of fear on his face. Death has a very strange effect on people.
I have formed my own views on certain characters in the HPverse.
Dumbledore - He is not afraid of death (obvious), but the question is why is he not afraid of death ? The only theory i can formulate is that Dumbledore being older and lot wiser than LV, knows a lot more about death than LV. We don't really know a lot about Dumbledore's youth and his rise to power at Hogwarts. Dragons blood and the 1945 thing are all we know.
LV - Fears death. My theory is he knows a lot more about the aftermath of his birth and what lead him to his power quest and fear of death.
Harry - At the moment i don't think he really cares what happens. Sirius death needs to sink in, but he deep down he does indeed care.
This is all linked. The link being Dumbledores more profound answer than he gave to LV's comment about there being nothing worse than death. I think to understand Dumbledore's lack of fear towards death and if he wants to die. Then you have to look at the 3 main characters, those being DD,LV and HP. Fawkes is the clue to how they are linked if it all. I have a few theorys about Fawkes. None of which i shall share untill after i read the HBP. I'm guessing i'm completey wrong on all counts regarding this. But thats what makes the HP books fun to read. Working out the clues JK Rowling gives us.

[harry_be_mine]

i think dumbledore has been around for a very long time and seen many good things and many bad things. i think that he has been burdened (but perhaps he wouldn't use the term burdened) by the problems of others and the wizarding world. i think he wants release from responsibility so he can just be without others expecting him to pick up the pieces. so, does he want to die? perhaps, he wants his current persona to die so he can just be himself, liking sherbert lemons. but wanting to die, maybe wanting to die knowing that everything is right with the world, and that he has contributed to that. after all death is just the next great adventure

[tarachristwen]

i think he sometimes do think of dying,for he had lived for such a long time..
he had seen the good and bad times,i guess he had enough experiences..