Re: Oh Yeah, it’s the Dementors-Veiled-Gateway-Connection-Theory !

[Steve]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "Someone"
<someoneofsomeplace at y...> wrote:
> 
> ...edited...
> 
> The question is, who created the archway, and was this its original, 
> fiendish, intention? If so, how would this benifit the architect? 
> Indeed, having accepted this connection, what other implications can 
> we draw from it, relevant to the plot of HP?
> 
> John.

bboyminn:

I thought you would never ask. Here is my take on the backstory of The
Archway & Veil. This is from a post in the main group. I'll give you a
link in case you want to read other people's ideas on the subject.
Remember to move up and down the thread to see what others said.


Date: Wed Apr 20, 2005  2:40 am
Subject: Re: Ruminations on "THE" Veil - a Speculative History
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/127830

I picture the archway as very old, weathered, and worn, and much like
a grand stone arch over the doorway into a mansion, castle, or
catherderal.

Here is my speculative backstory on the arch and veil.

In the beginning of time, when powerful natural forces were forging
the universe, a great psychic rip in the space time continuum occurred
on earth. In the beginning of earth time, this wasn't signficant, but
as humans came to dominate the earthscape, and wandered across it's
face exploring, they soon discovered this psychic breach between the
realm of the living and the dead.

At first, it was considered a dangerous taboo place, as man intellect
developed and further he developed a spiritual sense, it became a holy
place. Soon a stone arch shrine was erected around the life/death
breach. The arch was then covered with a veil to protect people from
the temptations and horrors that lie beyond.

Exploring European wizards eventually discovered the ancient Veiled
Archway, and in time found a magical way to bind the breach to the
Arch itself. That allowed them to transport the Arch to a new
location. Of course, currently it resides in the United Kingdom's Dept
of Mysteries/Death Chamber.

One further point, I'm not an expert on mythology, but there is an old
mythilogical story when someone (Hercules or whoever) travel into the
underworld. In other words, they travel beyond the veil, to the other
side, on a dark and desperate journey, in their case, through the
gates of hell to learn some secret or to rescue some friend or fair
maiden, then return to the land of the living.

I have to believe something as bold and significant as the Veiled
Archway has to have some larger role in the greater story. Many of us
in discussion have speculated that in someway perhaps Harry will make
a short trip beyond the veil to perform some act or learn some secret
that will help him fulfill his hero's journey.

Perhaps, in the final battle Harry will drag Voldemort through the
Veil where he will be dragged down to the depths of hell. Whereas
Harry will meet his parents and Sirius who will tell him that it is
not his time, and that he must return to the land of the living,
which, though reluctant, Harry will do. This would tie in the many
modern day references associating near-death experiences and the
expression 'beyond the veil".

Just making it up as I go a long.

Unfortunately, I can't see the connection between the Arch/Veil and
the Dementors; other than a person's soul being tied to both. Not
saying the connection isn't there, just saying I don't see it. I
believe Dementors are naturally occuring dark creatures. Though, I
have seem other opinions that make them out to be creatures created
for some evil purpose by a wizard using Dark Magic. 

Although, I do admit you idea of souls 'becoming ensnared "within" the
gateway' is an interesting thought. Perhaps the Archway/Veil in sort
of like a purgatory; a place that is neither here nor there, but place
where lost soul must remain until something occurs to move them on to
true and final death or brings them back to the land of the living.
It's definitely a concept I hadn't considered before.

Just a few thoughts.

STeve/bboyminn