honestly, he's dead. she said it. she's not pulling our legs. "DEFINATLY" dead. maybe he'll leave harry his pensieve or something, but still, he's not coming back. get over it.

and about the whole hermione snogging someone else thing... i can't believe that! :-0 obviously, it hermione and ron will end up together in the end. maybe she needs to be with someone else just to see that she loves ron... (uhh viktor krum anyone? he's coming back in the 7th book - THAT'S been confirmed, and there MUST be a reason that he's returning....... *hint hint*!) but not that i want krum and hermione together... ehhhh... but i trust Jo, and if she thinks it's best for hermione to get together with someone (possibly other than krum, that's a theory!) before ron, then so be it.

TRANSCRIPT??????? WHERE???? AAAHHH!!!!

I WAS THERE!!!!!!!!! AND I WAS ABOUT 15 ROWS FROM THE FRONT!!!!! YAY!!! I actually said "Yes!" when she said that Dumbledore was definately dead, just because I knew that there was no way he could have been alive and everyone thinking that he was was getting very annoying, though Dumbledoreisnotdead.com still seems to think he is. Those people just never give up...

another thing about that... it says that jo said hermione needs to be with another person...... that doesn't necissarily mean that the "another" is ron. she could mean viktory, since hermione has technically never been with ron before! and that this "another" IS indeed ron. :D hopefully...!

I expect to see dumbledore again. I hope Hagrid dies. I hope Snape is Evil. I hope Voldemort wins.

you DISCUST me. ew. sick. snape and voldy should die. harry should win. ron and hermione should go snogging. and we'll all have a very harry christmas!

Cool. Can we get a video please??

Personally i think that would be an amazing ending. Just think of it, an unhappy ending. Brilliance. Not everything is peachy. On the last word being scar. I would like it to end with. 'Voldemort stood over Harry's twitching body, pointed his wand down at harry's face, and with a look of violent pleasure screamed 'Avada Kedavra!'. A jet of fierce green light shot from his wand. Harry stopped breathing. Voldemort laughed demonically and stared down at his former enemy, gazing at his scar.

hi frens I was there yesterday. It was just awesome. I was very excited. People flew in from all over the US. The question about snape is really good. I was expecting that from someone. I wanted to come to the podcast also but I was at work at that time. Hope to see JKR soon again here. I think she will come soon after the 7th book is out.

some things that are seriously bugging me. Harry, IS NOT, i repeat NOT a horcrux. he could tell if he was one. and why would voldemort want to kill part of his own soul?! eh? eh? and another, the ron/hermione "closely entwined" thing shouldn't be on the confirmed info. the question was "what would hermione see if she looked into the mirror of erised?" and her response was somewhere along the lines of "to have voldemort fininshed... i think she would also see herself closely entwined with... another person" this obviously means ron. i don't think hermione would sink to ron's level and go snogging w/ some random person in public. no, she really does like ron. I don't know how the whole "my two best friends are going out, but we're on a death mission to go kill my arch enemy" thing is going to work out, but i'm sure jkr will make it work perfectly. also, i hope she doesn't leave us with loose ends! i will rip patches of my beautiful hair out! hehehe. ok- i think i'm done now.

It was so amazing, I cried when she came on stage. The LeakyMug was also amazing. It was the best day of my life.. ever.

Well, if that last word of the book, and the series for that matter is scar. Wouldn't it make sense that Harry lives. J.K. said herself that the last chapter is more of a follow up of the characters that survive err, everything the happens. And she wouldn't be cruel enough to keep Voldie alive and then leave us hanging on whatever happened. So she wouldn't end the book with something along the lines of 'Harry knew that in order to fully rid the World of Voldie, he'd have to take his own life, and get rid of his scar' (which we all know his scar isn't a horcrux. I just needed an example.)or anything like that. I'd be something good about the scar. And if Harry lives, it would be cruel to kill Hermione and Ron. It all goes back to how the last book ended about Harry telling them to turn back now or whatever. If they stuck with him through everything he went through, they better live.

YES! Videos! Thanks MN! :D

For those who havent been to dumbledoreisnotdead.com, i found it great. They had a bunch of theories that were pretty cool, but jo said that dumbledore IS dead, and what jo says, jo means.

Just because he is dead does not mean he can't come back. What i said above was how i would end it, i know jo has other ideas, i just prefer darker endings.

No, Dumbledore is dead and gone, finito. That's what Jo meant by the reference to Gandalf. He won't be returning in the next book.

Technically. Gandalf did not die. I'm taking it that she meant it in that sense. Otherwise i really cannot see the point in letting us know this information.

I would love it if we could see a transcript of what was said by Rushdie about Snape! I want to see every bit of info about Snape because I am on pins and needles over which side he was working for!

It was really funny how she said he was dead. This cute little 8 year old comes up to the mic and says something like "I really liked Dumbledoor. Is he weally dead?" Then Jo almost started crying and said something like "There goes my career! Dumbledoor is dead. (she made the thumb-accross-the-throat gesture) THen she's like there's 5 stages of grief. The first one's denile.

i have to say, if all three survive, i'd be a little dissapointed. its kind of like in cheesy movies when the hero goes into where ever the danger is and he comes out unscathed, and then everybodys like " well whada know, he's still alive!!!". That just makes the movie even more of a cheese fest. i really think, unless its done in a truly brilliant way, that if harry, ron and hermione all come out out alive, it will turn the book into the ever more dreaded cheeseapaloosa. what i really want is a good ending, and i'm afraid by writing it so all three survive, that critics will have a field day and start labeling the series as a joke or something.

Is it just me or is the sound very fuzzy on those videos? Transcript, please! I really want to know what that guy said about Snape. I'm kind of surprised that she said flat out 'Dumbledore is dead'. It seems like she normally doesn't disclose something that will end a lot of speculation. I personally thought he was dead, but I feel bad for Dumbledoreisnotdead.com.

wait- does this mean that harry, ron, and hermione all survive? well, can't wait until the book comes out!!

I dont think that because she listed both Hagrid and Dumbledore as her characters shed invite to dinner, necassarilly means that hagrid is going to die just because dumbledore is dead. If she didnt want to give away who lived.. then why would she want to give away who dies? Maybe people are just reading to far in to everything she says

Sounds like a wonderful time. I'm a fan of all three authors. I would've liked to have attended. Why wouldn't Dumbledore be dead? What's the point of even writing that he was if he really wasn't? Not that I didn't grieve over Dumbledore's demise as much as anybody, but I would be very disappointed if he did "pull a Gandalf". It would seem like a cheap trick to do such a thing.

Galvanise: Jo said Dumbledore was dead in response to a question. Whether or not Gandalf (who wasn't even human) actually died or not is not relevant to the issue. Gandalf came back in LotR. Dumbledore will NOT come back in HP.

Finally an end to the argument that Dumbledore is not dead! I agree with what Junigatsu said. And I don't think she really gave anything away. But she wouldn't invite Dobby to dinner? :( Well I guess he would be a problem if he start beating himself with a salt shaker...

HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! I have just been to dumbledoreisnotdead.com and they still aren't convinced! You should all go just to read the message the guy posted. It's really funny!

I also found this petition: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/dumbledorelives/ For those of you who remember the Harry and Hermione petition created by that idiot snowy, I think the same person did this one.

OH MY GOSH! I'm dying to hear his theory!!!!!!!! I cant watch the vids cuz they're zip files, and I cant change them!!!

Wait a second, she said 5 stages of LIFE, not death. I'm so over-analytical (sp??). I'm so heartbroken that hes dead, but I'm still stuck on 1. the missing text from the UK version of HBP that was in the US version && 2. She said LIFE! Well, even though we now know hes dead, we know it's not over. Could Dumbledore become a ghost? Or actually, I can't really see him as a ghost, but it would go along with the whole 'why some people become ghosts and others dont' thing to be revealed in Book 7.... It would be strange for him to be back as a ghost. But maybe he'll be back in some other way/shape/form, after all, Sirius will be (Though that doesnt work because I suspect that to go along with the two-way mirror... that I believe is more than 2-way....) oh my, I'm like debating with myself over too many things. wow lol I ramble a lot.... ahh she's ruined a bunch of my theories by doing that... however... this should be interesting! I have faith in Jo!

Any transcripts yet? Any? I'm desprate... I'd beg... On my knees and everything. The sound is so freaking fuzzy! *dies* Okay... I just need to find a transcript... *searches franticly*

well of course we all knew DD was dead... but the trio...it makes it sound as if they are going to live. God, I hope so!!

I am soo glad that she has finally confirmed that Dumbledore is dead. The forums have had so many threads on this topic. Finally the thread will be put to rest.

But what about the report from Reader Kate, when asked who she'd have to dinner, Jo says Harry -- to apologize to him ... apologize for what? For killing him off? If not that, then my bet is for killing of Ginny??

I doubt he'll die. He'll probably be hurt really bad or something, but won't die. And of course, I'm talking about Harry. Dumbledore won't come back as a ghost. Remember at the end of OotP, Nearly Headless Nick said that he became a ghost because he was to scared to go on to the other side ot whatever? Dumbledore said that death was nothing but the next great adventure or something. I can't remember. He would definately go on to, errr, wherever the people who die go when they don't become ghosts. But I'm sure J.K. will go more in depth and explain all that in the next book.

Here's some more descriptive versions of the news: One of the questions brought up on Wednesday night — surprisingly, from author and audience member Salman Rushdie — addressed a murder committed by Severus Snape at the end of "Half Blood Prince," and its true motivation: Could he have been acting as a double agent, or did he ultimately reveal where his allegiance lies? "Snape, unlikeable as he is, is essentially one of the good guys. Is Snape good or bad? In our opinion, everything follows from it," Rushdie said. "Your opinion was correct," Rowling responded vaguely, perhaps confirming that despite his actions, Snape is more Harry's ally than he realizes. (Or perhaps not.) "Hermione most likely wants to see the three of them alive, unscathed and Voldemort finished, but I think she also wants to see herself closely entwined with another person," Rowling teased. "I think you can probably guess." To cheers in the audience, she responded in disbelief, "There are people who wanted Harry and Hermione. They're still out there. Come on now." Though Rowling said she was amazed at the 'shipping wars — the "gang warfare" between fans who want certain relationships to happen between characters — she doesn't need any more feedback about "weird couplings." "Jane Austen probably got less feedback," she joked. Whoopi Goldberg, who emceed both shows, said Rowling, King, and Irving should have been brought together long before: "If just one boy from Hogwarts had asked that poor girl — you know, the one from the prom? — out on a date, it would have saved a lot of grief. I'm just saying." Then again, she attributed the screams in the audience to King fans whispering to Rowling fans, "Harry's going to bite it."

A possible theory about Petunia: Seven or so years ago, Jo was asked in a chat if anyone ever discovers their magical powers after becoming an adult, to which she responded that it was "rare," but DOES HAPPEN to one of her characters. Could that be Petunia? (Obviously, no one other than Jo knows, but since that interesting tidbit is so old and probably not quoted often, I thought I'd share it.)

There character that gains magical ability is NOT Petunia (this was confirmed by Jo, Petunia is a Muggle). It isn't Dudley either, if I remember correctly. The most likely candidate, for me, is Vernon. But it could be Filch, although I don't see how that would have any impact on the story.

yeah, i agree w/ Margaret. it is said that "someone will show magical powers much later in life" (or something along those lines) and "we will find something of much importance about aunt petunia" hmmm... is that adding two and two or is it just being delusional? i don't know... i read an editorial once that aunt petunia still had the note that the secret-keeper had written to her about the whereabouts of Godric's Hollow. And i thought it was pretty believeable.

wow, those two movies from the 2nd update were great...the kind of great as in the great love Harry has for Voldemort...what a waste of my time... :(

i changed my mind. performingmonkey, you're right. it says on jkr's website "Aunt Petunia has never performed magic, nor will she ever be able to do so." ahaha. but still... i don't think it's going to be vernon or anything. he's a muggle through and through.

OMG! I was there the night before, but the questions weren't nearly so juicy (although they were good, all the same). I can't believe she said flat out that Dumbledore is dead!! I have been debating that over and over again, though I definitely think she made the right decision. Congrats, Jo! And thanks for posting this, Mugglenet! This is big news!

I can't remember the exact words about the person showing magical power later in life, but I think it meant that they had already shown some powers but weren't very good. I think the person she's referring to in that statement is Neville.

well, this makes me really sad. JK wouldn't lie, but I still don't believe Dumbledore is dead. in fact, my ears burned when i heard this... after spending MONTHS trying to convince people he wasn't, he is. im depressed. but still, great news :)

THIS JUST IN! Late last night there was yet another mysterious Harry Potter sighting! He was spotted swerving across the sky above the Leaky Cauldren. He appeard to be intoxicated by perhaps some potion or some new "magic dust". I personally think it's a strange cannibis plant unknown to even professor sprout. When he landed he was not wearing anything under his school robes and he proceeded to urinate all over the side of Olivanders. Later he was restrained by a disgruntled Ginny Weasly. It appears the two have been on the rocks lately. If any of you have had any sightings I would like to know about it.

When I first heard it I thought it was just an attempt to continue the Harry/Hermione ship but now I know its true! J.K.ROWLING IS BEING CONTROLED BY VOLDEMORT! Fans unite to break the imperius curse!

apologize to Harry... she's already killed his parents off... and Dumbledore... if this confirms the Ron and Hermione live through book 7... and it ends up not being Hagrid that kicks the bucket... should we be worried about Ginny??????

I love the HP series with all my heart, but I dislike the fact that JK Rowling keeps killing off characters. First it was Sirius now its Dumbledore. Who's going to be next? Deep inside every fan wants to see these characters to come back, as if nothing happend. I wish that were possible. I don't want Dumbledore to be dead. I'm still in denial about Sirius's death. ;_; sad but true. I hope harry doesn't suffer so much anymore.

I was there and it was truly TRULY amazing. Not only was Jo brilliant, but John and Stephen were great too. I believe that Snape is evil, but have (sadly) had my mind changed by Jo's little nod when Rushdie said that Snape has always been unpleasant, but esentially good. The second night's questions were definitely more fan-driven :)