The Opposite of a Horcrux

[delwynmarch]

No: HPFGUIDX 139288

Chys wrote:
"Well, anyway, a horcrux is where you kill someone to extend your own
life. The opposite, couldn't it be, to give yourself up to extend the
life of another? "

Christina replied:
"This is a really interesting idea, and I *know* someone has posted
here before on it, but for the life of me, I just can't find it.
Someone earlier brought up an idea that was a little looser than
yours, but that suggested that when someone you love dies (I'm not
sure if they stipulated that they die for you), part of their soul
kind of goes to you so your is built up.  "

Jen answered:
"You're thinking about Del's post, who had a similar theory in
mid-August. Here it is in case anyone wants to re-read it:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/137502"

Del replies:
Thanks Jen :-)

And, huh, I don't like to throw flowers at myself usually, but I have
to say that IMO my own theory was not "looser". I worked quite a bit
on that one :-). I encourage anyone who is interested in the "Opposite
of a Horcrux" theory to go and read my post too.

As for a couple of objections that have been raised in this present
thread:

* The magic behind the creation of a Opposite of a Horcrux wouldn't be
taboo at all. Horcruxes are taboo because they are Dark Magic at its
worst, they necessarily include murder. The Opposite of a Horcrux
would be based on extremely good magic (I posited that it would be
based on Love Magic), there's nothing taboo about that, quite the
opposite. As for the fear that knowing about the Opposite would make
students wonder about the Horcrux, I don't think that's really a
concern at Hogwarts, where they couldn't find the information even if
they wanted to.

* I think the real reason the Opposite of a Horcrux isn't taught at
Hogwarts is that Lily is the first one who ever created one.

* The reason why Opposites of Horcruxes aren't created more often by
people sacrificing themselves is that it necessitates a spell. A
Horcrux is not created everytime a wizard kills another wizard. The
murder is not the way, it is only the main ingredient. It's a specific
spell that creates the Horcrux. Similarly, the self-sacrifice would
only be the main ingredient in the creation of an Opposite of a
Horcrux, but a spell would be necessary to make it happen.

* And finally, about Sirius not mentioning the change in Harry's eyes:
we don't know how often Sirius saw Baby!Harry. If Harry is like many
babies, he might have had blue eyes at first, and then the colour
changed after a few months. It is possible that Harry had bright blue
eyes when Sirius saw him at the christening, and it is also possible
that Sirius *never* saw Harry again after that, up until the events at
Godric's Hollow, when Sirius saw Harry at night, and may not have
noticed that his eyes were green and not blue.

Del