It's great to see how glad you all are (I mean you who were there)! I REALLY hope that JKR will make readings in France, I think she made readings in UK and US but if only she could come a little bit closer from where I live... I'm sure there would be a lot of people too :) But, well, I suppose it must be about the language :'( Stupid little french kids who don't speak english! (I'm joking eh!)

This shall be Salman Rushdie´s words. Rushdie: It has always been made plain that Snape might be an unlikable fellow, but he was essentially one of the good guys. (Massive cheering) Dumbledore himself has always vouched for him. Now (unintelligible) Snape is a villain and Dumbledore’s killed. We cannot, or don’t, want to believe this. (Cheering and laughter). Our theory is that Snape is in fact still a good guy. We propose that Dumbledore can’t really be dead. That this in fact is a ruse, cooked up between Dumbledore and Snape to put Voldemort off his guard. Harry then will have more friends than he knows when he and Voldemort do face. So, is Snape good or bad? (Massive cheering). It’s plain to see, everything follows from this. (Cheering) Jo: Your opinion, I would say, is right. However, I see I am going to have to be more explicit and say Dumbledore is definitely dead.

I'm glad dumbledoe is dead. He'll still have a massive part to play though. I want one of the trio to die aswel. Its too unrealistic if they all survive. I think Ron will die.

I have never WANTED to believe that our beloved Headmaster was dead as a result of Book 6, although I always thought he'd die before the end of Book 7. VERY RELUCTANTLY, since my first reading of Book 6, I've been trying to move through those aforementioned "five stages of grief" and accept the fact that he could be gone (although I still believe he'll continue to communicate with and guide Harry). After reading the various reports on JKR's reading and Q&A, it certainly seems final that Dumbledore is dead . . . BUT, as I read the reports, she didn't actually say "Albus Dumbledore" or "Professor Dumbledore" or "the Headmaster" did she? Isn't there still a very slim chance that Dumbledore IS dead, but she was referring to Aberforth? (Yes, I know I'm grasping at straws, but I'd like to remain happily delusional as long as possible).

Aberforth definitely has something to do with the next book. I'd quite like him ot be uber powerful and wise.

I couldn't understand the video. Could someone please please please please pleas make a transcript? Because I dought I'm the only one who couldn't understand what they were saying in that video! Thanks!

Well, that answers a lot of questions that were in my mind. But until now, the most important question for me is: Why do some people turn into ghosts when they die while others don't.

If I understand correctly Rushdie told JK that if Snape is in fact good then it must follow that Dumbledore is not really dead! To this she replied that he would be correct to think so but that she must declare that Dumbledore is dead. Doesn't that mean therefore that Snape is NOT good.

The ghost question is answered towards the end of Book 5. Harry discusses it with Sir Nicholas, who I'm sure gave a better explanation than I'm going to offer here, but as I recall from that excerpt, it's basically a choice people make (well, only wizards & witches have the option, muggles can't return as ghosts). Essentially, he said that those who don't fear death go on to the next realm (so Sirius would have gone on, and Dumbledore (sniff, sniff) will have gone on), but a witch or wizard who is afraid of what comes next, or is unwilling to let go of what was in the real world, can return as a ghost and never actually moves into the next realm. Rather, they leave an imprint of themselves behind (the ghostly form that we see in the films) that can move among the living and talk with them, but doesn't eat, drink, etc. What I'm not clear on is whether someone who has chosen to return as a ghost would have the option later of ceasing to be a ghost and moving into the next realm, or if the choice is permanent once it's made. Does anyone know about that?

I thought it very interesting how Jo worded what she said about Hermione and the mirrow.Sounded to me as if there is a forth person involved,hmmmmm. She is such a tease,I just love her!!!

I really wish I could have been there! It sounds like a lot of good questions came up. I don't know what that means fot the trio, Snape, or Hagrid, though. I wonder if she really did let her guard down after managing not to for so long when fans ask her questions she cant answer. Or maybe it's an elaborate scheme. I wonder if we'll get the title soon. I really hope so.

Carol - You pose a very good point here. I assumed that it was a permenant thing, if you decided to become a ghost, you could not go back on it, but i'm not sure... maybe it'll be bought up in 7?

Hey, I was there the second night - and I'm pretty sure Rushdie feels that Snape is actually a GOOD guy.

"There's more to Aunt Petunia than meets the eye, and we'll find out what's unique about her in Book 7." That's not a new fact.

I don't know...to me it sounds like "but I know who lives!" statement could be read either way: some of (or the whole) the trio won't/will make it.

It's not what Rushdie thinks that's important. He said that if Snape was good then Dumbledore is alive and JK said that he would be correct to think that but then said that Dumbledore is really dead - it must follow that Snape is NOT good.

Dumbledore's dead, eh? My dad thought for sure he wasn't. Ah, sad. :( Dumbleisnotdead.com is being a little silly by claiming her saying point blank dumbledore IS dead is just a red herring...sorry, but jo didn't seem like she was trying to throw people off. That's what sucks about being a big author that's known for mysteries and being tricky; people will never really believe anything that you say.

Not sure if this was posted yet...on Wednesday evening when Rowling came out, she had the cameras zoom in on her high heel shoes. The sides of the shoe were a silver snake. Everyone in the audience immediately knew this was a tribute to the Slytherins.

That, Jo has clearly shown that it she wants and able to discredit really unreasonable assumptions. My confidence that I shall see Harry and Hermione, admitting each other in love in a compartment of the train carrying them home in the end of the book became even stronger. :)

I haven't read the many responses, so I don't know if this has been brought up yet, but remember JKR's response to a fan letter posted here a few weeks back? The fan had submitted a few theories, among them that Dumbledore was not dead, Snape was good and Harry was a Horcrux. Jo said that she wasn't "laughing" at any of them, but we now know that at least one was completely wrong. I'm guessing it wasn't the only one....

yes!!! finally proof for my friend that dumbledore really IS dead

*Points and laughs immaturely* I remember telling people about the five stages of grief and to get over themselves back on the mugglenet comment boards last year. Only my name was "the researcher" or something. Not that anybody but me cares. But really you had to see it coming, the old guy who teaches the protagonist always dies. And JK said herself in an interview that the Voldemort killing thing was something Harry had to do without the help of Dumbledore, if he was to prove that he was really capable.

*sniff* i always felt that dumbledore was dead, but i always hoped that he wasnt. o well i wonder wats so big about aunt petunia...

I know all of yall "superior" (cough cough) fans an all who "knew" Dumbledore was dead from the beginning will be like "get over it, loser" but I'm sorry: when I read the news I started bawling. I actually had some hope that he was alive! It makes me mad that some people are so harsh on others like me who actually wanted him to be alive. It wasn't that bad of a theory...considering other random stuff other some come up with... And, as much as i desperately wanted that information, I'm acutally a bit dissapointed that Rowling gave us THAT much! Isn't half the fun of Harry Potter the anticipation of waiting? And now, the information I was so desperate to obtain has come a year in advance! And, it also stunned me how harsh she was about it. It seemed to me like she was pretty much saying "Get over it!" I love Jk Rowling. Her books are amazing, and I really can't imagine my life without them! But I have to admit: I am dissapointed (not to mention depressed! haha.) This is for all you Die Hard Dumbledore fans out there who didn't want to believe that he was dead like me!

maybe i was just in denial....

Ok, that is so not fair!!!! how can dumbledore be dead!? snape (the grasy, slimy, no good, git, i could say ALOT worse but i don't know if they'd allow me to post this if i put it down >>) is such a backstabber! he should have died instead of kill Dumbledore! i don't know if any of you agree with me, but i think if snape is gunna die -wills JKR to kill snape- that Lupin should kill him. and i want Lupin to get wormtail too. and Fenrir Greyback. I WANT ALL THE EVIL PEOPLE TO DIE! and if harry and/or Gnny die i will be supremely upset. THANK YOU FOR READING THOUGH I KNOW THAT THE ANNOYING RAMBLINGS OF A 14 YEAR OLD HAVE MOST LIKLY BORED YOU STUPID!

ok. sorry jk rowling. i can't be mad at her or any other harry potter fans for more than twenty minutes....haha. im just in denial. i loveee dumbledore too much. haha

Actually I have a lot of respect for what 14-year-olds have to say! My son is 14 and most of the students I teach are that too. I love having conversations with people that age. Ofcourse, they lack the experience to sound plausible most of the time but you really get the feeling of what mankind dreams about before becoming all cynical and embittered by all the influences they're bombarded with all the time. Anyway, I agree with you, HarrylurvesGinny, evil people are the ones who should be killed off, not Sirius, Dumbledore etc. But that's not what happens in real life! Take a look at the world's history. How many dictators just lived on and on and on ..... and then people who leave all the comforts of home to go and help others in some god-forsaken area in the world are killed like flies. The world is just not a very fair place to live in most of the time. The question is: should literature reflect this truth or should it be a place where you can escape to and have a soft cushion to land on?

Dumbledore is dead???? OMG I'M CRYING!!! NOOOOO!!! I was SURE he was alive. Errrrg I want to sue. Lol jk. JK Rowling's to awesome to sue.

i think you guys are on something...b/c who cares if dumbledore is dead...that is it...he died...but dumbledoreisnotdead.com has many good points...wonder what will happen to the site...when jkr said that she would invite harry ron and hermione and then paused she might have slipped by the pause and that would mean that they would die...but then she said dumbledore and hagrid...which would could imply that hagrid is dead too..but just b/c he is paired with dumbledore doens't mean that he is in fact dead...nothing is for certain until it is written in ink and paper...and i believe that about the whole dumbledore thing too...i'm not saying jkr is a liar...i am merely suggesting that she is doing a really good idea protecting the secrets to book seven...and by the way...you guys ought not to want to know too much information on book 7 b/c then there would be no point in reading the book...

Belsito, you. are. so. AWSOME!

yeah im 14 too. and yes i cried....alot. haha

well at least the whole Dumbeldore thing is done n he can rest in peace *sigh* i had a theory too, lol :(( i miss dumbledore.. lol ima loser. but i think that this (inviting the trio to dinner) could be a mixed bag of sorts, .. that could mean that she is inviting them to dinner cuz they arent alive anymore OR that that they will live.. you never know, gosh she is soo confusing. i hate psyhcology.. :P poop.. R.I.P Dumbledore

THE TRIO LIVES?! I sure hope so *Crosses fingers*

YAY FOR 14 YEAR OLDS!!!!!

FINALLY. News from JKR herself. That thing about Gandalf the Grey dying and returning as Gandalf the White was a quite unique thing about Tolkien's story. I was worried JK Rowling would repeat something similar. But now I can rest easy that she will not. Not that I don't love Dumbledore, of course. I'd just prefer him to be equally unique and not pull a Gandalf.< 3 ...Of course, WHY Tolkien chose to kill Boromir off completely and bring back GANDALF....O: ...Anyhoo. Wonderful to hear this news from the author.(: I find it hilarious that STEPHEN KING was afraid of the Death Eaters.

nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!dumbledores reely dead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

alas, albus is dead for sure. now what is everyone gonna talk about till book 7 ....

ok. i am so excited now, and i am so glad that she told everyone that dumbledore is dead...even though it was perfectly clear that he was.. but really, this makes my day and i love all of this anticipation and everything!! my stomach leaps whenever she answers questions like this..oh i love her! she's so amazing! i wonder when she'll announce the title of book 7. hmm..

If Harry dies, which I really hope hope he doesn't, maybe J.K Rowling will do it to reunite him with his parents. That would be a big event and would be a happy ending for Harry. After all, I think he would really like to be reunited with his parents since he spent so little time with them. If Harry does die, though, he just HAS to kill Voldemort first.

Maybe Rowling is just apologizing for making Harry suffer for so long......

Books_4_eva? Hey you typed that one paragraph twice. Just wanted to let you Know. not trying to make fun of you

So, does this mean the trio lives 'till the end?

Nah, it only means that Dumbledore is dead.

obviously, it is hagrid that dies. If you look at the transcript stephen king suggests hagrid coming to dinner and instead of agreeing, jk said she was the only on that knows who lives. If hagrid lives, jk would have agreed that she wanted to invite hagrid instead of catching herself.

Actually, Jo's comment about "knowing who lives" was in response to names being called by the audience. She had been asked what 5 characters she would invite, and after naming the trio, paused as the people in the audience cried out various names. She then added Dumbledore and Hagrid to complete the list of 5. So I really don't think her comment about "knowing who lives" had anything to do with who she named.