How do the horcruxes work

[phoenixmum]

No: HPFGUIDX 135334

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "maidne" <maidne at y...> wrote:
> I was just wondering -- does LV have any awareness of the state of 
> his horcruxes once he has created them?  Does he know when one is 
> destroyed? 

Answer:  DD tells Harry that LV was not aware that the diary horcurx 
was destroyed, and had to "force the truth out of Lucius..." (HBP p. 
508, US ed.), explaining that DD believes LV has been detached so
long from these parts of his soul, that "he does not feel as we do." 
(p.507)


> I'm also wondering how the horcruxes really work.  When you get 
> killed (like LV should have done when the AK hit him) do you have
to > somehow get the piece of your soul out of the horcrux? 

Answer:  Given that LV was not anticipating the rebound of the AK 
curse he used against Harry, I suspect LV did not have a horcrux
close at hand, yet his spirit or soul was saved from death. 
Slughorn's description to Riddle of how horcruxes work doesn't 
include anything about a need for proximity (p. 497), but merely 
states "even if one's body is attacked or destroyed, one cannot die, 
for part of the soul remains earthbound and undamaged."

Phoenix (who prefers to go by the shortened version of her name)