Horcrux Hunting - Time, Skill, Knowledge, and Harry

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 141583

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "M.Clifford" <Aisbelmon at h...> wrote:
>
> > bboyminn wrote:
> > On the Horcruxes in general, the whole process of tracking
> > them down seems too complex and time consuming using normal 
> > methods. 
> 
> > ...edited..
> > 
> > While the known Horcruxes seem a near impossible task, the 
> > 'Founder's Horcrux' really is an impossible task. ...
> >
> > Somehow some 'shortcuts' have to enter the picture. Somehow some 
> > new mysterious source of knowledge has to come into the picture; 
> 
> 
> Valky now:
> ...edited...
> 
> The first is the Hufflepuff cup, it is identified, but not located.
> Now it seems pretty strange, ... *Dumbledore clearly identified* 
> exists but that Dumbledore gives no open clues to it's whereabouts 
> while he teaches Harry. 
> 
> The second is the Founders object that is unidentified, Dumbledore
> gives Harry a strong hint toward suspecting it is Ravenclaw's ...
> 
> ...edited...
>   
> 
> So here's how I construe that into the clues I wrote above:
> 
> The Unknown Object-
> There is just *not* enough information given about this one. So I am
> almost 100% sure that this is the one where the clue to its location
> needs to be pulled out of the memories. Incedentally, that leads
> directly to London, ...
>
> The Hufflepuff Cup -
> ... Why didn't Dumbledore find this one for Harry. ... this is the 
> one that needs a slightly *huge*  shortcut. And that .. needs,...,
> to have been ... preventing Dumbledore from retrieving it. I have 
> two scenarios there. One may be that it is in the possession of a 
> Death Eater .... But ... it seems more logical for the DE's to turn 
> up in London .... The other explanation which I like better is that 
> this Horcrux has already *been found*, like the Locket. Someone has 
> already had a fair swipe at destroying it too, so all Harry has to 
> do is turn up and finish the job. ... <g>
> 
> As for the Locket. Well a BIG shortcut on the Hufflepuff Chalice 
> and the unknown object being found nice an close to home in London 
> should scale the timeframe down enough to fit in a trip to Number 12
> and Azkaban, yes?
> 
> Valky

bboyminn:

First, I apologies because there is no way I can say what I have to
say without sounding rude. I know you are just speculating on the
possibilities but what I hear you saying is like asking why didn't
Dumbledore give Harry the winning lottery numbers. I mean it can't be
that hard, we all know the numbers will be between 1 and 50 (or
whatever). 

It's easy to say a Death Eater has /it/ or that /it/ is in London, but
that doesn't really matter because the hard part is for Harry to
DISCOVER which Death Eater has it and WHERE in London it is located.
And that discovery process completely ignores the knowledge need to
overcome the protections. So, it could be in London, but for all Harry
knows it could be in Paris, Frankfurt, Berlin, Amsterdam, or anyone of
a hundred other cities. Saying it's in London is easy, but Harry
discovering that is hard.

You ask why Dumbledore didn't find the Hufflepuff Cup for Harry.
That's an easy question to ask, but HOW? How can Dumbledore possibly
know where it's at? He exhausted himself and nearly all his resources
finding the location of the Ring and the Locket. How could he even
begin to guess the location of the Cup; and he, in fact, can't even
guess what the /Founder's/ object is?

You suggest Harry use the /memories/ but what memories? We have seen
all the memories Dumbledore had on the subject. True there may be a
few more memories available but what are the odds that they are
related to this specific subject. 

So again, I comment with my apologies. I realize you are speculating
on outcomes, but outcomes are the easy part. The PROCESS of reaching
those outcomes is the hard part; that's what takes up all the time.
Find a Horcrux in London is easy once you've gone through the long
impossible task of /discovering/ that it is in London. 

In a way, that's what scares me about the final book. JKR has set up
what seems to be an insurmountable task for Harry. In addition to this
insurmountable task, there are MANY unresolved plot issues. Many plot
issue that MUST be resolved, and many more that I WANT resolved. So, I
see a task that is not only insuperable* for the characters, but for
the author too. 

As I said before, this will either be the most stunningly spectacular
book ever written, or it will be a total dud. ... and only two short
years left before we know. ;)

Sorry if I came off with a bit of an attitude, I really am not trying
to offend anyone. Just overwhelmed by the apparent magnitude of the
task at hand. I do agree with your basic premise, it's just a few of
the details that are bothering me.

Steve/bboyminn

* insuperable - means insurmountable, but I already used that word too
many times.