"Magic always leaves traces..."

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 135818

Jen:
> Did anyone else find Dumbledore's magical deconstructions one of 
> the most interesting parts of the cave scene? I'll miss his 
> insights into the mysteries of magic. No one else seems to 
> understand magical ability in quite the same way. 


SSSusan:
YES, I'll miss his insights... and I'll miss him!  Just this morning 
I was talking with another fan and shaking my head, not really 
certain I'm ready for an entire HP book without DD in it.  I know 
I'll adjust (what choice do I have? ;-)), but just now the thought 
is not especially pleasant... particularly after HBP, in which DD 
featured so prominently and in a way which I enjoyed greatly.


Jen: 
> It also struck me that he refers to the cave as Riddle's style, 
> not Voldemort's. Either Dumbledore is once again refusing to 
> acknowledge who Riddle has become, or he literally means Riddle 
> placed the locket in the cave as far back as the murder of 
> Hepzibah Smith. 

SSSusan:
A very interesting catch.  Given that DD *does* call him Voldemort 
other times while they're in the cave, I would think this may be a 
very important point.  Does that also mean that DD could truly sense 
the difference between "Riddle style" and "Voldemort style," I 
wonder?  If there is a difference, could this be bad news for 
Harry?  For surely as Riddle matured & deepened his talents, his 
schemes & protections would have increased in complexity?  And I 
thought *this* particular set-up was pretty elaborate and complex.

Jen:
> I think Dumbledore is saying that like any creative art, a magical 
> style is recognizable across time and skill levels. So even 
> Voldemort's advanced magic would presumably have undercurrents of 
> Riddle's preoccupation with darkness, death, dismemberment, etc. 

SSSusan:
There is hope in this possibility, then, if true.  The things which 
mattered, the things upon which he would have focused, would be 
similar.  Patterns might be discernable.  That kind of thing.  But...

Jen:
> The big question is, did Harry learn enough in the cave to 
> recognize and defeat Voldemort's obstacles surrounding the 
> remaining Horcruxes?

SSSusan:
This is where I don't feel good about things at all.  I'm sure Harry 
learned a lot from the pensieve episodes with DD.  I'm sure he 
learned important things from DD in the cave.  But HOW DID DD *DO* 
ALL THAT in the cave?  He just... felt things... sensed things... 
just "knew."  That is stuff one cannot teach, really, and I suspect 
Harry was stunned & bewildered by DD's ability to do that just as we 
were.  

And Harry's not even 17!  I'm one who does believe he's a right 
talented wizard -- powerful, brave, intuitive, giften even -- but DD 
had 130+ years on him in terms of learning & experience.  I'm just 
not sure that what Harry learned in this one school year could 
possibly equip him with the insight & skills to do anything like 
what DD did with the ring and the cave & locket.  

It's JKR's story, and so if she wants Harry to be able to do all 
this, she'll manage to do it.  But it seems pretty unlikely that he 
*could* as things stand right now.  And yet who else besides DD 
could help Harry in this??  Who else is so talented??  

Siriusly Snapey Susan