The matter of horcruxes

[hekatesheadband]

No: HPFGUIDX 135852

So much to be said about Horcruxes - probably more than about Snape, 
actually! (I realise I'm in the minority on that one.) First, I'd 
like to propose an etymological possibility I've not seen yet. I 
wouldn't suggest it's definitive or even correct - knowing Rowling, 
there are probably multiple sources. A few more for the mix: "hor-" 
from the old English "heort," meaning "heart" or "soul." The 
particular spelling of this derivation seems to refer, subtly, to 
the man who told Riddle about them: Horace. "-Crux" as chosen for 
reasons of allusion as well as etymology, referring primarily to the 
process of crucifixion, which effectively ripped the torso apart 
interally (with death ensuing from lung collapse). So perhaps a 
Horcrux may be, among other things, a soul-ripper in the literal as 
well as metaphysical sense.

As for the matter of what some of the other Horcruxes may be: 
> Morgan: We don't know the process of creating a horcrux, so we 
don't know if a few minutes alone would have been enough. I am of 
the theory that the horcrux has to be created during the murder - 
that LV can't just go around throwing parts of his soul into 
whatever he wants. In that case he would need considerable planning 
to use the Sorting Hat, Gryffindor's sword, or any other object not 
in his possession as a horcrux.<

I agree that the lack of information is crucial to the mystery as it 
stands. The text hasn't yet told us much about the magic involved in 
Horcrux creation - can the spells, etc. be done in advance? Does the 
murder activate existing spells, or must it precede the spells? Must 
the object be present at the murder scene, or merely in the 
murderer's or victim's possession, or neither? Given that a 
conscious decision to split the soul seems necessary, I'm inclined 
to think that the spellwork must be done in advance, with the murder 
being the final step in the process.

Morgan: > If an accidental horcrux had been created when Harry was 
attacked as a baby it could be any item (or person) at the scene.

I'm of the camp that Harry may be a Horcrux, although not one that 
Voldemort intended to create. Dumbledore did speculate that Nagini 
might be one, but that was speculation only, and possibly clever 
misdirection on Rowling's part, included to serve as a red herring 
and to establish that living things may become Horcruxes. Dumbledore 
may well be right that Harry's murder was supposed to create the 
final Horcrux. Given the Godric's Hollow/Gryffindor connections, I'm 
inclined to think some relevant inanimate object was the intended 
soul receptacle. Harry was never supposed to be it - but James was 
never supposed to put up a fight, Lily was never supposed to refuse 
the chance to survive, the death curse was never supposed to 
rebound. Make no mistake: Harry, by all indications, has a fully 
functional soul of his own. But I think a piece of Riddle's may 
be "piggy-backing" without anyone's realising it. (For an excellent 
analysis of this, pre-HBP but still relevant in many ways, see 
http://www.redhen-publications.com/Changeling.html.)

Jen Reese:  I'm torn on this one. If Tom truly did make his 
Horcruxes 
> after 'significant' deaths, I'm wondering whether he would 
consider 
> his grandparents significant? They always seemed like an 
> afterthought. I doubt he would have considered them important 
enough 
> to come back later and murder, if they'd happened to be out the 
> night Riddle Sr. got AK'd. 
> 
> I agree the ring was definitely made into a Horcrux following his 
> father's murder, some time shortly after that party at Slughorns 
> when Tom has the ring on and asks about making Horcruxes. It makes 
> sense he would use the ring, an artifact of his Slytherin 
heritage, 
> after the death of the last Riddle, the lineage he completely 
> rejects.
> 
> But I'm still wondering about the diary. I do think Myrtle's 
death, 
> although indirect and unplanned, would have been significant to 
> Riddle. She's killed by the basilisk he's controlling with 
> Parseltoungue, so I do think it was a murder, even if unintended.

Excellent observations about Riddle's psychology! I, too, am 
uncertain the connection between the murders, the related objects 
and the Horcruxes. I would guess it to be perhaps less causal as we 
might believe. 

hermionegallo: The three Riddles he killed made three Horcruxes, and 
I find 
> it unlikely that he killed three people and made only two 
Horcruxes, 
> saving one murder to use on something "really special." >

My impression is actually that Riddle may have chosen the ring and 
the diary as receptacles because of their psychological and personal 
significance, but that other murders may have made them Horcruxes. 
That is to say: it's possible that Riddle chose to make the diary a 
Horcrux because he associated it with the first murder he ever 
committed, but the murder he used to split his soul for it might 
have been Myrtle's. That's speculation on my part - until we have 
more information about Horcruxes, nothing is certain.

As to where the remaining Horcruxes may be hiding: I agree the 
locket at 12 Grimmauld (or in Kreacher's or Fletcher's possession), 
Godric's Hollow, Gringott's and the Chamber of Secrets are all 
strong possibilities. Harry's got quite a lot of travelling before 
him - good thing Sirius gave him such a good broom!

-hekatesheadband