Oh Potter!

Lovers of Harry Potter: Did we ever entertain the notion that R.A.B. could be Dumbledore himself, and that the message he left with the locket is meant for Harry Potter to find, as a lead to why Dumbledore let Snape kill him (Yes, Snape did it not because he's evil but because he was forced to do it by Dumbledore. Remember them arguing in the forest and Hagrid hearing bits and pieces of their conversation. Snape seemed reluctant to do something that Dumbledore was urging him to). Anyway, we know that Dumbldore knew the place where they found the last horcrux in HP n' HBP, so he obviously was there before and being an alchemist he recognized the potion that he later drank when Harry was with him. Initially, when he discovered this horcrux, he knew that he had to have someone with him. And Snape had to stay put in Hogwarts. So HP, who will fight Vold, is the obvious choice. Dumbledore sacrificed his life to destroy the horcrux. Perhaps his hand was burned during the first trip to the cave. Perhaps Joe was giving us a clue. Remember when Harry was wondering about Dumbledore's burned hand and Hermoine said: "But there are some injuries you can't cure...old curses...and there are poisons without antidotes." Why did she say "poisons without antidotes?" Hermoine doesn't know but I believe it's a clue from Joanne herself. So it makes sense that Dumbledore would know that he would die, he's a legilimens and occlumens (spelling is so wrong, I know!) so he might have communicated this to Snape at the last moment. Perhaps that's why Snape was almost angry and spiteful as he performed the killing curse on the only man who ever trusted him, and gave him a second chance. The person who also wrote the message must be aware of the prophecy, and although people are vaguely aware that Harry is Vold's nemesis, they're not 100 percent certain that he could stand up to him like Dumbledore would know. Besides, when Dumbledore fell, the amulet/the locket was thrown by Dumbledore's side as if it was meant to be found. Perhaps Dumbledore placed it in the potion during his first visit to the cave in order to make it seem to Harry that this is the horcrux and not the potion. Maybe that's why Dumbledore was suffering (because this part of Voldemort's spirit showed Dumbledore the horrors that this evil wizard had committed). Perhaps Dumbledore drank it and became the Horcrux, and that's why he asked Snape mind-to-mind to kill him (verbally urging him by saying Please Severus). He knew this is the only way that it could be destroyed, and he could only sacrfice himself (which is so Dumbledore). Maybe Snape did not perform the killing curse alone, but a nonverbal curse that would throw the almost-dead dumbledore away and give the present death eaters the impression that he actually killed Dumbledore - further gaining their trust and the trust of the Dark Lord.So in sequence:- Dumbledore goes to the cave to destroy this horcrux- Finds the potion and as an alchemist realizes that it is the horcrux, and that it has to be drank and the drinker has to be killed for it to be destroyed- Goes back and tells Snape about it, and makes Snape promise to kill him, which burdens Snape (the conversation in the forest whose closure Hagrid overhears).- He goes back to the cave, places the locket inside the potion –with the message to Voldemort. It could very well be for Harry. Or for both. The message is clearly written by someone who knows he will sacrifice his life in order to make it possible for Voldemort's equal to finally meet him and destroy him once and for all.- Dumbledore takes Harry to the cave, because he needed him on the journey (perhaps it’s essential that Harry and not Snape is there). - They go back to Hogwarts. When Dumbledore sees the dark mark over the castle, he realizes it has been breached.- You know what happens. There are two possibilities: Snape killed Dumbledore knowing that this is the only way he could destroy the horcrux. Or the inner battle between the good inside Dumbledore and the evil of the horcrux he drank has weakened Dumbledore to the verge of death. He knew he was dying so he urged mind-to-mind Snape to kill him/appear to kill him. Snape performs a non-verbal spell that casts Dumbledore away (make it appear that he’s struck by a spell) and merely pronouncing the killing curse (without meaning it, you have to mean a spell in order for it to be effective). - Dumbledore had a few moments before he succumbed to death to make the locket visible, knowing that there is a good chance that Harry, Hagrid, or any of the good ones would find it. - If it’s Dumbledore, then I have no clue what RAB stands for :) :) Maybe it’s a clue that Harry has to research in order to understand. He might not have spelled it out, just in case that any of the death eaters or the bad guys find the locket and not Harry.- Read the message again: "To the Dark Lord I know I will be dead long before you read this but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more. R. A. B."Or may be it's just Regulus Black ... Arghhhh ... GOD! I can make flawed theories forever. But I'll guess I'll never know until next July - enshaallah. I wish I'd be alive till then. I really need to know what happens!!