I just thought of something while reading an older topic that was out before the book.
Why if Dumbledore planned his death, if he knew he was going to die and the Head Quarters of the Ootp would be less secure. Why didn't he change the secret keeper before he died. Any Ideas?

Well, I think deciding to changed the Secret Keeper would have looked kind of suspicious. The other Order members would have wondered about the switch, and I don't think he could really tell them "I'm planning on dying this June, anyone want to take me job?" Yes, he probably could have made up some other excuse, but maybe he just thought they didn't need Grimmald Place. I think the Weasley home worked just as well for them, and the Death Eaters don't seem to have found out anything important from Snape's search of it.

But don't forget that there also appears to be no need to change the secret keeper because when the original one dies, then the people who were entrusted with the original secret each become secret keepers in turn. That was the danger of returning to #12, that the 20-odd members of the Order becoming secret keepers diluted the power of the charms and enchantments put upon the house.

I wonder if Harry and Ginny went to live at #12 after they got married...

Solitaire wrote:

But don't forget that there also appears to be no need to change the secret keeper because when the original one dies, then the people who were entrusted with the original secret each become secret keepers in turn.

I think that was the reason for the question, actually. Why, if Dumbledore knew he was dying, did he not change the power of the secret keeper to someone else so that there was no danger of the power being diluted so much? Of course there wasn't much need for Number 12 after he died, and though the Trio did get good use out of it, had they not left, they might not have had the opportunity to save Luna and Ollivander. And don't forget, had that not happened, what chance was there for Harry to become the owner of the Elder Wand?

(and sorry for it)

Oh, Soli, I had wondered, too, if Harry had used Sirius's old house. My conclusion is probabily not, since little James ask if he can borrow his room to Teddy and sleep with Albus... in Grimmauld Place there would be plenty of space. So, what happened to the house?
Giulia

This strays off topic a bit, but knowing now that the fate of The Secret scatters among those who knew it answers a nagging question for me since POA. It never seemed plausable to me that Sirius would have changed secret keepers, since it seemed unlikly that he feared torture or death by enemies who would want to know where the Potters hid. But, if he knew there was a spy in the Order, and he were killed, and that spy would have the power to tell...now it all comes togther.

Lovethedrama, that is a good point- if 12 Grimmauld place was an indefinately secure refuge, the incentive for the Trio to forge ahead and take action deteriorated.

Dumbledore couldn't let anyone know that his death was planned, though. If he'd set up to change the Secret Keeper there would've been too many questions and he most likely didn't want anyone finding out his plan.