The Diary (just where did V get it & what is really going on ?)

[a_reader2003]

No: HPFGUIDX 86628

 --- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "a_reader2003" <
> carolynwhite2 at a...> wrote:
> > One question about the diary that does not seem to have been 
> > discussed, is just how did Tom get hold of it in the first 
place ? Firstly, what was Tom doing shopping in Vauxhall Rd ? 
Vauxhall Rd is a long, boring main road ...

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "linocow2000" <caroline at i...> 
wrote:
> <<huge huge snip of fascinating theory>>
> 
> And those large, dull office buildings (well, a relatively OK 
building actually) 
> happen to include the HQ of publishing giant Random House, who 
> presumably sent JK a rejection slip all those years ago... JK 
repeatedly takes 
> swipes at the media, could this be nothing more complicated than a 
similar 
> swipe? Could make sense, considering the item in question is a form 
of book.
> Linocow

Carolyn:

Its a nice idea Linocow, and I certainly wouldn't put it past her to 
have Voldie offering some jinxed schoolday memoirs to Random House, 
but on this occasion, I really think there is more to it. Apart from 
anything else, the item is not a book but just a cheap little pre-
printed diary which he wouldn't have picked up from a publisher's 
office. Also, when did Random House move to Vauxhall Rd ? My 
recollection is that it was within the last 10-15 years. 

After I had written my last post, I realised a more important 
objection was that Tom would not have been visiting Vauxhall Rd in 
its present form. I did some more thinking and researching last night 
(1), and present a further bit of the developing theory:

1. The dating of the series all hangs from one particular canon fact -
 Sir Nick's deathday party, which celebrates the 500th anniversary of 
his death on 31 Oct 1492. This sets CoS in 1992/1993.

2. Elsewhere in CoS we find out about Tom Riddle's 16 year old self 
opening the Chamber of Secrets and framing Hagrid for killing Myrtle. 
This is definitely stated to be on June 13, 50 years prior to the 
events in CoS, making it the summer of 1943.

3. Well, this makes it even more strange that Tom Riddle was in 
Vauxhall Rd buying a diary. Assuming he could have bought it anytime 
between autumn 1942 and June 1943, one wonders whether he was aware 
whilst he was shopping that there was, erm, a war on ? Quite a big 
one that even wizards might notice.

4. WW2 started in 1939, but as far as London was concerned, there was 
a considerable period of what was known as 'the phoney war' before 
bombs started dropping on the city. The serious air raids did not 
begin until 7th September 1940, and were then very intense for a 
period of about 7-8 months, destroying large areas of London in what 
is known as the Blitz. They then lessened somewhat in intensity 
(although they were still continuous) until June 1944, when the 
flying bombs and V2s started to be used up until the end of the war 
in Europe in May 1945. Vauxhall Rd is in an area of London which was 
a repeated target for the bombers, and would have been badly damaged 
by 1942/1943 (which is why the road is so bland today; most of the 
buildings are post-war office blocks). It would scarcely have been a 
great area for a casual shopping visit, even for trainee evil 
overlords. He was definitely there for some other reason.

5. I also discovered that there was a thriving pre-war printing 
industry in London, with over a 100 000 printers recorded in 1937. 
However, the war obviously had a huge effect on these businesses, and 
a large number moved out permanently to other areas. Together with 
the bombing raids, and paper and ink shortages, this casts further 
doubt on whether any newsagent would (a)still be standing, and (b)
commissioning and printing its own diaries specifically in Vauxhall 
Rd at this point in time. No, I think she wanted to get Voldie's 
visit to the road mentioned for some plot reason, and has given us a 
clue in the process.

Carolyn
And sorry if this gets posted twice, Yahoo ate my first attempt !

(1)The book I used was 'A History of London' by Stephen Inwood, 
Macmillan 1998.