death to capslock

That timing certainly would have eliminated the need to stop the story for Dumbledore's coy attempt to self-efface, then pick up the action after the lull. The problem is that we would still end up with Dumbledore ignoring Tom Pitiful while explaining everything (and failing for this reader -- the whole superior, sacrificial blood thing seemed pastede on yay and offensive upon reflection, and Potter's mastery of death was empty calories).

I agree with those who say that this scene would have been better without Dumbledore. Where were the more-conflicted and therefore more-interesting Slytherin characters?