The Vanishing Cabinets (2)

[Susan O'Bones]

No: HPFGUIDX 139695

Things I'm wondering about those Vanishing Cabinets.  Probably a bunch of
unanswerable questions, but here goes:

The broken Vanishing Cabinet, that Malfoy repaired in HBP, the same one that
Fred & George stuffed Montague into the year before -- is that the same one
that Peeves wrecked in CoS?  He smashed a "vanishing cabinet" in the room
directly above Filch's office while Harry was in there, about to be
disciplined for some evil deed (tracking mud I think).  Peeves was egged
into it by Nearly Headless Nick, who was trying to get Harry off by
diverting Filch.  The diversion worked.

If it is the same one, then was it still functional at the beginning of that
school year?  When Harry jumped into the one in Borgin & Burkes to hide from
the Malfoys, could he have been transported into Hogwarts?  Why wasn't he?

If the B&B partner cabinet at Hogwarts is not the same one broken by Peeves,
but was another one & was already broken, then what about the one that
Peeves broke -- does that one also have a partner somewhere else?

Up until the vanishing cabinet at Hogwarts got broken, it and its partner in
B&B would have been what they became again in HBP -- a direct route into the
school from B&B, a very Dark and nasty place.  For all the magical charms
and enchantments that have always been protecting Hogwarts, here is a HUGE
security hole.  What in the name of Merlin was that thing doing in the
school?  How long has it been there?  How did it get there?  Who brought it
in?  Dark and nasty wizards, no doubt.  Lucius Malfoy and his ilk.  Tom
Riddle, maybe even.  Did they ever -- or were they ever going to -- use it
for anything?  Did Dumbledore know about it?  How about the house elves?
And what else do the house elves know?  Has anybody ever chummed up to them
enough to learn more Hogwarts secrets?

Now that the Good Guys know about these cabinets, can they snag the one out
of B&B and move it somewhere nicer/safer?  Arthur Weasley could go in there
on a raid and grab it.  Bring it to Grimmauld Place maybe?  The Burrow?
That would give Our Team a quick way in & out of the school, so they don't
have to resort to thestrals, flying cars, etc. any longer.
 
And finally, is there any other such interesting furniture lurking about?
Constant vigilance!!

Susan O'Bones

PS: Could somebody please tell me what ACID POPS stands for?  Thanks!