Finding the Cave

[M.Clifford]

No: HPFGUIDX 136718

Jen and Saraquel discussed the strangeness of the goings on a the Cave
in HBP.

Saraquel said:
So how about we just say the cave smells particularly fishy, but we
just can't work out what species?

Valky now:

I too have considered the cave to be rather a bit fishy. I read the
lists that Jen and Saraquel came up with for explanations of the
unexplained matters about the locket, none of them felt quite right
for me either so I thought I might offer up another one.

Dumbledore had deduced he *might* be going to a place where a Horcrux
had been already found.

The reasons for this hypothesis are.
1. Most importantly - He took Harry. Now perhaps if at sometime DD had
come across by some stroke of luck, something that tipped him off
regarding a Horcrux having already been found. Say for example
Mundungus sold the Locket to Aberforth and during one of DD's short
drinks at Hogsmeade he recognised it.. Voila!! another Horcrux. So
Dumbledore dedeuces the most liley place it is hidden and decides to
*take Harry there* because at this moment. 

2. He's not sending Harry on his crusade, yet. He's trying to teach
him and inform him about the task at hand.

3. Aberforth presenting the Locket to him (or other such means of DD
gathering the right information) presents a golden opportunity.. DD
can now instruct Harry on Voldemorts "lesser protections", the cave
defenses. Harry hasn't come across these before, he has experienced
first hand what an actual horcrux is willing to use to defend itself,
and proven himself up to the task, but actually acquiring the Horcrux
from its hiding place presents a learning opportunity for Harry. So
armed with an exceptional guess as to which Horcrux he is getting
(Though he says "of course I may be entirely wrong about it..") DD
takes Harry along for the ride. With a little luck Harry won't have to
take on the full banana yet but it will be a measured taste of what
lengths Voldemort will force his would be conquerer to go in order to
vanquish him. 

4. The fake locket may hold clues to the beginning of the trail of
Horcruxes. Now I am not presuming that DD knew the locket contained a
note addressed to Voldie with Reg's signature on it. But I am
supposing that DD, somewhat aware that his time was running out,
wanted to give Harry one last push in the right direction. So allowing
for the chance that the fake locket might or might not bear a clue as
to the location of the real locket, DD takes the opportunity to help
Harry understand a new (hopefully the last) angle of Voldemorts magic,
and, with luck, leave him with his instructions to his next step in
the journey already in his hands. And clearly I am supposing that DD
snatched the locket up so quickly at the cave because he always
intended to keep from Harry that it was a fake until Harry was in a
position to benefit from the clue. 

Naturally this whole theory hinges on all other things about the
locket being as they seemed. Such as R.A.B being Reg, the fake locket
being the one that they found etc.

It also meshes nicely with the theory that DD knew something of the
UV, and plenty about what Draco was up to, enough at least to imagine
that he *might* be faced with his death when he returned to the
castle. But, as revealed by the effects of the potion, DD would rather
put himself in the line of fire than see suffering. So it also meshes
very nicely with canon.
 

Saraquel:
I'm wondering if working on what's in the potion and what happens to
DD when he takes it will help resolve some of the questions. But
there are so many ifs and buts about that, it's going to take a
while to put something together. Perhaps I'll become a shipper, it
seems the grass over there is a lot more fertile.

Valky :
LOL but shipping is so limited. Dontcha just love all the wild
reckless creative mayhem there is involved in plot prediction. I know
I do. Cheers to you both for introducing a great discussion.