Finding the Cave and let's start on the potion!

[saraquel_omphale]

No: HPFGUIDX 136898

Valky wrote:
> The crucial question is: Just how long has Mung been selling goods 
to
> Aberforth *really*?
> What if some time ago, even as long as since OOtP, Mung didn't 
>*show*
> Aberforth or DD this gold locket he'd found at Grimmauld place, but
> instead in all his bragging he had boasted of the wares that he 
>could
> get his hands on *including* a Gold Locket with the Slytherin 
>Emblem
> on it. This may be why Aberforth has been buying goods from Mung, 
>and
> getting friendly with him. Because he *wants* that locket, but so 
>far
> for all the boasting Mung has done he still hasn't come up with the
> goods. At this point the Dumbledore Brothers don't know exactly 
>where
> Mung has seen this object. Albus probably not even knowing that 
>it's
> at Grimmauld Place because Mung steals from everywhere and is
> constantly acquiring fresh stock for his seedy sales business from
> anywhere he can get it. So The DD Brothers sit back and wait for 
Mung
> to bring the locket to Aberforth, but he never does. 

Saraquel:
It's a possible scenario and works as an explanation why Aberforth 
is meeting Mung in the first place.  But, sorry Valky, it just 
doesn't quite grab me, but that doesn't mean it's not right - I sat 
at home and thought, 'no, I don't think so', when some people on the 
list started talking about hiding part of you soul in a box, just 
before HBP came out :-) I suppose part of my problem is about having 
to construct elaborate reasons for Aberforth to have the locket at 
all, when Mung having it would work just as well for Harry acquiring 
it, as long as Aberforth is ESG! Only if he was ESE! would it make a 
difference. I'm quite possibly contradicting something I said 
earlier here.  The fact is that I'm really feeling very lost about 
the whole locket/cave scenario still.

Valky:
However, *just quickly explaining to
> Harry* what that Locket fiasco was all about is not a real good
> option. The reason is because sponfeeding Harry the answers won't
> prepare him for the hardest task that he ulitimately *must* face
> alone. So it's either give Harry the opportunity to figure them out
> while DD's alive, or leave it to Harry after DD's death. I know 
that's
> thin, but the notion that Harry really does need to work through 
the
> clue himself to prepare him for facing Voldemort is a strong canon
> point so it may hold out over the discrepancy of those few minutes
> when DD might have been able to tell Harry everything all over 
again.

Saraquel: Yes Valky, but I think it's just too thin.  I've always 
felt that if DD knew or suspected in any way that he was about to 
die, and didn't at least tell Harry more about how Love Saves the 
Day, or how he managed to destroy the Horcrux in the Ring, then DD 
would be culpable of (or should that be - for?) both cruelty and 
stupidity. And I'm afraid I do think DD has held information too 
close to his chest and unless he's left Harry some help in another 
form (written or through his penseive) I shall not forgive him!! Yes 
I do think that DD has been training Harry throughout this book in 
the skills he thinks Harry needs to develop - especially how to get 
information out of people. I also think DD agreed that Harry could 
come with him to the cave as part of training him for the future, 
which DD knew, might or might not contain a DD. And that DD would 
have taken Harry along whatever the circumstances surronding the 
locket - i.e. he suspected it was a fake Horcrux or h thought it 
s=was a real one. But I really can't forgive DD for withholding such 
vital information from Harry when he did have an opportunity to tell 
him at least something before he died.

> Valky:
 I believe
> that DD at least hoped the Fake Locket would lead Harry to 
hypothesise
> that it migt have come from Grimmauld place somehow. Perhaps hoping
> that it would have the Black Family Cest or some mark of ownership
> that would lead Harry to search his house for further clues. And
> moreover and most importantly he hoped that this mark of the Black
> family that he hoped would be somewhere hidden on or within the
> locket, would prompt Harry to search his memory for the biggest 
clue
> of all... Aberforth. 
>

Saraquel:
That does fit nicely with your hypothesis that it was a training 
exercise in treasure hunting.

I think I'm optioned out on this thread now.  Maybe we'll be able to 
come back to it from a completely different angle later.  Or maybe 
the answer has already been stated, but I haven't recognised it.

Saraquel
who has posted some thoughts on the potion if you're interested - 
message 136802