The Philospher's Stone (was: Harry's Protection (was Re: Questions))

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 119503


> Eloise:
<snipping>
> In fact, why did Voldemort go through all those dangerous, 
> disfiguring experiments in his own search for immortality when the
> answer, in the form of the Philosopher's Stone and the Elixir of 
Life
> was there all the time? Are we really to believe that Voldemort, 
pre 
> his downfall wasn't powerful enough to have gained control of the 
> Stone then? Did he really have to wait until he was himself 
powerless
> in order to try to win it? Something doesn't add up there.
>  
> But you ask an interesting question regarding why Voldemort is 
> censured for his search for immortality whilst Flamel isn't. 

Jen: In alchemy, the process is equally important (or more 
important?) than the end result. As the base metals are purified 
into gold, so the apprentice is purified and transformed.  It's a 
life's work and requires a devoted servant to perfect the process 
and move through each level on the way to immortality. 

Presumably Flamel's work would be considered a spiritual 
transformation and Voldemort's work was the antithesis of this. But 
then, Dumbledore seems a little dismissive about immortality in 
general, when he equates it with gaining "as much money and life as 
you could want!" (SS, chap. 17, p. 297) So I'm not certain JKR wants 
us to revere immortality in whatever form a person comes by it.

Kneasy:  
> Try another - DD  is Nicholas Flamel, reborn/revitalised every 
> couple of centuries - just like Fawkes. In which  case, if we 
accept
> JKR's premises on the need for a top-up  of elixir every so  
often, 
> and if the Stone has really been destroyed, then DD is  on his 
last 
> legs. No wonder he's described as tired and old.

Jen: Immortal!Dumbledore could explain a few things. But as someone 
pointed out to me when reasoning along those lines, this would 
pretty much render useless, not to mention hypocritical, all of 
Dumbledore's speeches about death. Now that doesn't bother you, 
Kneasy, but it makes me uncomfortable. Those big endings, where 
Dumbledore explains the world, seem to be the crux of JKR's story. 

Kneasy: 
> When it  comes to the crunch an immortal Voldy is not a problem.
> A powerful immortal Voldy - that's a problem. 
> So with what we know or surmise already, Voldy could be controlled
> by separating his mind from his body and locking that mind/essence
> back in the Chamber where Tom found it. 
> 
> Problem solved - until in another 1000 years somebody else 
> decides to enter the Chamber.

Jen: I'm intrigued. There does seem to be a theme that evil can't be 
defeated, only pushed back again and again. But how would Harry be 
involved? Would he need to channel GG in order to coerce Slytherin 
back into the chamber?

Now I'm being reminded of the "Yu-gi-oh" TV show. 1000 years ago an 
ancient Egyptian pharaoh locked away the "shadow games," i.e., the 
force of destructive evil/world domination, in a series of 
artifacts. A young boy innocently unleashes the spirits by unlocking 
an ancient puzzle and then shares his body with the powerful spirit 
of the pharaoh. They have to save the world together. It's a very 
similar theme, albeit poorly done sometimes. 

Jen