In the cave...

[Richard]

No: HPFGUIDX 138109

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "twobeaglegirl" <cquinn at m...> 
wrote:
> 
> I'm sorry if this theory has been explored before, but has anyone 
> considered the possibility that the horcrux in the cave could have 
> possibly been the liquid in which the locket was immersed, and not 
> the locket itself?
> 
> It might explain why drinking it caused DD so much anguish, and it 
> could also tie into the necessity of "notESE!Snape" having to AK 
> him, so that the horcrux (now inside DD) would be destroyed.
> 
> Just a thought.
> 
> --2 beagles

Richard here:
I think this is a very interesting theory, but see one major problem 
with it.  JKR has stated that when she wants to present information 
to the reader, she generally uses Dumbldore or Hermione to do so.  
Dumbledore had said that Voldemort seemed to be fascinated with 
historically significant objects, particularly those associated with 
Hogwarts' founders, such as the locket, the ring and such, and had 
in fact used the ring as a horcrux.  The potion would not be in any 
sense that I can think of "historically signficant."

A second problem, a bit on the physiological side, is that if the 
liquid is the horcrux, and a person drinks it, what is there to keep 
the drinker from urinating it away?  Sure, if it is a potion, JKR 
can make such a thing work as such, but you still run into the 
problem of the person being mortal, and the fragment of Voldemort's 
soul bourn by that person now being possibly effectively mortal 
right along with that person ... and I can't see Voldemort doing 
such a thing except as a temporary expedient.

Much though I like this theory, I think it opens a lot of different 
cans of worms when it comes to explaining how and why.

Richard, who isn't always all that imaginative