If Dumbledore does end up alive in the 7th book, then I bow down to all of you who said that he was. However, I think that he is dead. I believe there is an important reason why he had to die; I mean, Dumbledore did seem to be preparing Harry throughout the 6th book to go on w/out him didn't he... he showed them all those memories... Also, I agree w/ those who say Snape is good. Does anyone really believe that Dumbledore would plead Snape to spare his life, much less anyone?? Especially when he trusted Snape so much (HOWEVER thats NOT evidence that Snape and Dumbledore planned to fake his death though) But I do think that Dumbledore told Snape that he would have to kill him, and that at the end of the book he was reminding him of what he ordered him to do...