Why would RAB put poison back into the bucket? - He didn't...

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 137745

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, Echa <vsmoothe at g...> wrote:
> I simply assumed that the bucket had some charm placed on it that
> caused it to refill itself with the same poison after it had been
> emptied.
> 
> v


bboyminn:

Sadly, all I can say is 'I agree', although, I plan to tack a lot more
on to it.

What we are seeing is a classic wizardly protection. Look at the
protections around the Stone in the first book, instead of making them
impossible to by-pass, each obstical was a deadly puzzle, and could be
by-passed if the wizard was smart and quick witted enough. 

Again, we have the enchantments and creatures in the Tri-Wizard's
Maze. The Sphinx is a classic example. The purpose of a Sphinx was to
protect a treasure, but they protected it with a riddle; a riddle that
only the sharpest minds could solve. Let's not forget the upside-down
enchantment (golden fog). Many wizards would have been trapped in that
 upside-down fog until they rotted away, but the brave, or perhaps the
foolhardy, would attempt to walk out and thereby succeed. 

That's how wizards protect things, with traps, puzzles, magical
creatures, and enchantments. All of which are difficult and deadly,
but to one who is wise enough and patient enough, they can all be
by-passed. It's a challenge; who is smarter, the enchanter or the seeker?

The protection on the Horcrux Locket is in the same vein. Most wizards
would never get past the initial 'doorway' because they would never
figure out how to open it with a sacrific of their own blood. So they
would either stand there forever, or get bored and go away. Each new
stage of protection, the boat, the interferi, the 'birdbath'
containing the Locket, is a challenge of wits, skill, knowledge,
power, and wisdom. 

Further, these can't just be 'one shot' enchantments. Voldemort plans
to live for a LONG LONG time, forever, if possible; that means the
protective enchantments have to be self-sustaining. They must present
the same challenges to each new wizard who comes over the centuries.
So, I conclude that each challenge, each protection resets itself at
some point after the events have been resolved; resolved either by the
challenging wizard defeating everything, or the protections defeating
the challenging wizard. 

Note that the 'birdbath' potion was likely poison, so even if you win,
you lose, unless you can get yourself to some competent help very very
quickly. 

So, I agree, the potion refilled itself making the challenge and the
protections ready and waiting for the next wizard to come. Again,
remember that these protections must guard the object for centuries.

Just a thought.

Steve/bboyminn