Finding the Cave

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 136795

Just saw your post before sending this Seraquel--we might be going 
in different directions, but all of it will lead somewhere, right?!?

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

Jen: You know, most of our theories for how someone found the cave, 
as well as how the person managed to take the real locket and/or 
place the fake one, rely on subterfuge of some kind. Either by 
Voldemort, DD or RAB.

But the potion, to me the potion sealed the deal for the cave scene 
being exactly what we see--a Voldemort creation, located by someone 
prior to DD & Harry, and meant to kill and forever conceal any 
persons skilled (and lucky***) enough to find the cave.

That scene with DD demanding Harry promise to do whatever it takes 
to get the locket, including tipping the potion into his 'protesting 
mouth', then watching Harry have to do so---that scene was 
excruciating for me. I feel 100% certain DD did not plan that as a 
training exercise or that he knew to expect the potion.

So let's go with that, the potion is real, the climax of the 
obstacle course. Only an extremely skilled person, and one who 
*knows Voldemort* would make it that far. But really the magic in 
the cave starts with the potion and moves outward. The locket was 
placed and the potion made at the same time, then whoever did this 
went by boat back to the side of the lake, charmed the boat, added 
the Inferi, and finally, placed the blood seal.

Looking at it that way, there really is a possibility the locket was 
switched from the start. Voldemort had someone with him to assist 
making the potion, perhaps, and whether or not that person was RAB, 
the Fake!Locket with the note was the one making it into the basin 
(although I still have a very hard time thinking 1) Voldemort would 
allow anyone to help him and 2) He wouldn't see the locket being 
replaced).

The potion itself. Bleh. I've looked through every section I can 
think of for an ingredient, a creature, *something* to explain the 
potion. The only logical thing we can tie the effects of the potion 
to are dementors. Dumbledore is definitely, IMO, experiencing either 
the darkest moments of his life or his greatest fears. 

Or Merrylinks had a good idea in post #135371, that the potion makes 
you see the future, specifically your own death. That's a very 
Voldemortian idea, isn't it? He expects everyone should fear death 
as much as he does.

I do expect a twist to this story. I don't believe RAB found the 
locket exactly as Dumbeldore did--it's just not possible. No one 
else knows Voldemort's entire history. Either RAB was a DE privy to 
the cave location, a person from Voldemort's past who knows about 
the cave or an assistant taken to the cave with Voldemort. At least 
those are my thoughts at the moment <g>.

Jen

***From paragraph above using the term lucky: I *might* think RAB 
was really Regulus if he took Felix while attempting to steal the 
Horcrux or placing it prior to the other protections. That would 
certainly indicate Mr. Slughorn might be involved somehow, and 
perhaps explain Slughorns complete terror at the idea Voldemort 
might find him. Not only does he know about the Horcrux plan, he was 
actually involved in stealing one. Hmmmm. Except he's a big coward. 
Maybe all he provided was the Felix and has no clue about the rest. 
Yet another theory to disprove, no doubt <g>.