Accidental Harrycrux : a theory

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 155294

Carol earlier:
> > I understand what you're saying. However, it is impossible to
encase something that does not yet exist. The soul piece must be torn
off *before* it is encased (enclosed) in the object that will become a
Horcrux.
> > 
> > I hate to use argument by analogy because it proves nothing, but
perhaps it will clarify what I'm saying. (Forgive the gruesome
imagery; I was going to use pieces of fruitcake, but I thought this
idea would come closer.)
> > 
> > Suppose that an axe murderer wants to prove that he's killed
someone by "encasing" a body part, let's say the head, in a suitcase
and mailing it to the victim's wife. He must first commit the murder
and "split" the body before he can "encase" the part in the suitcase.
If he locks the suitcase (performs the encasement spell) before he
cuts off the head, he can't "encase" the head.
>
> AmanitaMuscaria now: I understood Mike to be saying that the horcrux 
> spell is a two-parter. You prepare the object to be used, (by your 
> analogy, you open the suitcase) before committing the murder. Perhaps 
> even stick the address labels on? Then Voldemort (or your axe 
> murderer) commits the deed, splitting his soul. Then, the soul piece 
> is encased, the Horcrux is closed, the suitcase is shut, 
>
Carol responds:
But the actual *encasing* (closing and locking the suitcase/Horcrux),
*must* be done *after* the body part/soul bit has been split off. The
events must occur in this sequence:
1) Commit the act of murder, which splits off the soul bit
2) Remove the soul bit from the main soul (rather like removing a
memory to put it in a Pensieve)
3) Perform the spell to open the object, put the soul bit inside it,
and seal up the object (all in one motion)
4) (Optional) Add curses and other protections to keep the Horcrux safe

If the Horcrux isn't "sealed" (cf. the unopenable locket in 12 GP and
the ring that had to be cracked to release the soul bit), anyone can
release the soul bit and you won't be immortal--unless there are
back-up Horcruxes. (And even then, you don't want to risk of having
the soul bit escape from the Horcrux, so unless the Horcrux is also an
interactive magical object like the diary, you add curses or other
magical protections like Inferi and poisonous potions which are not
part of the encasement spell.)

*Encase* means "enclose as if in a case." *That's* what the encasement
spell does. And you can't encase the soul bit before the murder
because the soul bit doesn't yet exist.
 
So a hypothetical preliminary spell, of which there is no suggestion
in canon, would not in itself *encase* the soul bit in the Horcrux. At
most it would open the Horcrux, but it would not place the soul bit
inside or seal it up. If *encasing* requires a spell, an accidental
Horcrux is impossible.

Carol, feeling as if she's explaining the obvious and hoping she
doesn't sound condescending or impatient