Horcrux predictions (Was: JKR's Ambiguities)

[amiabledorsai]

No: HPFGUIDX 139782


 Susan O'Bones wrote:
 I think one of the Horcruces is Gryffindor's sword, known to be 
 the only remaining relic of Godric Gryffindor.  Supposedly it's 
 been "safe" in the Headmaster's office all this time.
 SNIP
 
 dan_blakey:
 My reservation about this idea is that Dumbledore realised that the 
 idea of using the four founders' artefacts would be extremely 
 attractive to Voldy. The sword is the only known remaining 
 possession of Griffindor (to us and Harry), so one would have 
 imagine Dumbledore *must* have thought to give it a once over, check 
 for enchantments etc indicative of it being a horcrux, "magic always 
 leaves a trace"!

Amiable Dorsai:
But you know, the sword *isn't* the only known relic of Godric
Gryffindor--there's also the Sorting Hat.

Isn't it interesting that Dumbledore overlooked that?  

A couple of things:  1)Armando Dippet liked and trusted Tom Riddle.  I
can easily imagine Riddle spending unsupervised time in the
Headmaster's office, as Harry has done.  2) Magical artifacts, like
the Goblet of Fire, and, presumably, the Sorting Hat, can be
confunded. So If Riddle managed to make the Hat a Horcrux, the Hat
wouldn't necessarily know.  3) The trace of magic left be the
Horcrux-making process would be masked by the Hat's own magic, so it
would be difficult to detect.  4)The Hat is a treasured artifact in a
very secure place.  Imagine the irony of one of the Horcruxes being
guarded by the Hogwarts Headmaster--if Riddle has any sort of a sense
of humor, that had to appeal to him. 

Amiable Dorsai