Elements

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 144942

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Ceridwen" <ceridwennight at h...>
wrote:
>
> Bruce:
> > The relics don't add up, though.  The Cup should go with
> > Slytherin, not Hufflepuff; similarly, Slytherin shouldn't 
> > have a Ring (a gem), but a Cup. And a Sword is for Air, 
> > which would give a sword to Ravenclaw, not Griffindor. ...
> 
> Ceridwen:
> I'm a little confused. JKR said the houses match up - 
> Gryffindor - Fire, 
> Hufflepuff - Earth, 
> Ravenclaw - Air, 
> Slytherin - Water.  
> So, are we just doing this for exercise?  
> http://www.mugglenet.com/jkrinterview3.shtml
> 
> If it's exercise, it looks like fun, so I'll play. ...
> 
> But I think JKR made her own correspondences here.  A cup for 
> Hufflepuff -..., evidence of bounty.  ... Godrick Gryffindor...
> a sword ...his house is noted for bravery. Slytherin, as the 
> house of old families, would be aristocratic and have a ring. 
> ... I can't make a real guess for Ravenclaw, ... ... maybe ...
> a book, or a quill, a dictionary or ... Hogwarts: A History, 
> since Ravenclaw is the intellectual house. Or, maybe one of 
> those instruments in DD's office.
> 
> ...
>
> Ceridwen.
>


bboyminn:

Excellent thoughts Ceridew, I will expand on your original question of
 who, what, how, when, where, or why have we concluded that these
oejects have to in any way correspond to the House Elements? 

A thousand years ago, I suspect every wizard had a sword, so the fact
that Gryffindor had a very fine bejeweled cerimonial sword doesn't
seem at all odd. Nor does it seem odd to speculate that every wizard
had a favorite cup; most likely many favorite cups. 

Extending this futher, it is obvious that the four greatest wizards
and witches of the age were very rich. It must have cost a large
fortune to build and equip Hogwarts even if you take into
consideration magic. Though, I suspect that in the beginning, it was a
bit Spartan. Many of the suits of armor, tapestries, portraits, and
other artifacts were accumulated over its long history. So, the
central point regarding wealth is that it is not inconceivable that
they all had a nice selection of fancy rings in their wardrobes. In
fact, in that age it was quit common for all well-to-do wizards and
witches to have an insignia ring which they used with sealing wax to
secure letters and assure the receiver that the source was genuine. 

My point is that I see no connection between the House Elements and
these artifacts. I suspect every House founder had many of the said
artifacts, and it is simply these specific ones that remain accounted
for after all these years. Logic would say that many many of the
Founder's artifacts do remain, but they are, in a sense, unaccounted
for; laying hidden for generations is dusty attics and musty cellars.
 Their significants unknown or at least unrealized.

Notice how readily and easily Sirius uncerimoniously tossed out 700
years of Black Family history. Those are all very precious artifacts
that are now seemingly lost forever. Just as many of the Founder's
artifacts have been lost forever. It really broke my heart when he did
that. He was so wrapped up in his emotions of the moment, that he
forgot that those artifacts, for good or for bad, represented 700
years of his families history. History should never be forgotten or
disgarded, we have too much to learn, both good and bad, from it.

As to the Ravenclaw relic, I really like the idea that the remaining
and significant Ravenclaw relic is the ancient wand sitting on the
purple cushion in Ollivander's window. Sort of hiding in plain site.
It's conceivable that Ollivander fled when it was confirmed that
Voldemort was back because at some point in the past, Voldemort had
tried to steal Ollivander's wand-in-the-window which I'm assuming is a
Ravenclaw relic. Ollivander, fearing a renewed interest in the wand,
fled for his own safety. 

As a side note: I can't tell you how crushed and disheartened I will
be if anything has happened to Ollivander or Fortescue. I have big
plans for them in the future, and would hate for anything to have
happened to them. 

Don't know what it's worth, but there it is.

Steve/bboyminn