When I heard about Malfoy's task in chapter 2, I naturally assumed he was supposed to be killing Harry, so when Snape took the vow, I assumed it was his backhanded agreement to die for the Order...

Then of course, Snape does the Avada Kedavra on Prof. D., appearing to ultimately turn his back on the Order and to cement his position with L.V.

Did D. already know he was dying and therefore by Occlumancy tell S. to go ahead and do it...already knowing what Snape had committed to doing? This possibly fits with R.A.B. being Sirius' brother who died shortly after betraying the Death Eaters...perhaps dying because he had tasted death down in the cavern?

Is D. with Fawkes in some other form of existence...does his disppearing in flame and smoke insinuate that?

Snape stopped the others from killing Potter...does that mean he really is still in the Order, following orders from D.? Even if from the grave?

Or is all as it appears to be?

And who the hell is the mysterious R.A.B.? Sirius' brother?

Does R.A.B. stand for one person or, like D and H, did it take two to steal the locket? Is R.A.B. that last shred of decency in some Death Eater?

My guess? D is really dead....but Snape isn't totally in L.V.'s pocket....and Harry's test will be to see that Snape is capable of love...I think we will learn that Snape was actually madly in love with Harry's mother....isn't that insinuated in book 4 or 5?

Who dies in book 7?
Prediction: Percy....Snape....Bellatrix....Tonk snd Lupin....Hagrid....and Lord V, but perhaps not Tom Riddle.