CHAPDISC: HBP 23, Horcruxes

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 160194

Thank you, Goodlefrood, you really captured the essence of this 
chapter.

Goodlefrood:
> 4. However insignificant the distinction, is the difference in the 
> description of Slughorn's wagging finger between the two versions 
> perhaps a clue to something?

Jen: Hmmm, I didn't notice this. I'm leaning toward the very banal 
explanation of editorial error, though. ;)

> 5. This segment of his memory, although perhaps embarrassing and
> no longer a view that Slughorn holds, does not appear to do any
> harm to Slughorn, unlike the later part regarding Horcruxes, so
> why do you think he covered up this portion from his fogged memory?

Jen: Pride? Slughorn seems to take great pride in his ability to 
correctly identify students with promise who move on to bigger 
things. He was right to sense Riddle's power and influence but oh-so-
wrong in his estimation of how he'd use his gifts. Plus, Slughorn 
was probably embarassed for Dumbledore to see how wrong he was! Or 
perhaps he didn't want DD to see how much he catered to Riddle in 
the hopes that Riddle would shower him with freebies when he became 
Minister <g>. Course Slughorn doesn't hide his favoritism so that's 
not the greatest explanation.

> 6. Why would Uncle Horace become excited when describing
> Horcruxes? 

Jen: Riddle is described as excited, not Slughorn. Harry senses 
Riddle's excitement after he asks for more information about the 
workings of a Horcrux. Unless I missed the word 'excited' somewhere 
else in the conversation?

>7. Was Tom Riddle initially listening to information he already 
> possessed, or did he have no knowledge of Horcruxes at all prior
> to this conversation?

Jen: I think he knew *of* Horcruxes, but not particular details. 
Harry discerns Riddle has been planning for this moment for weeks 
and wants the information 'very, very much'. If true, then Tom 
doesn't know where else to find the information about splitting the 
soul numerous times. Not yet, anyway. 

> 8. What compelled Horace to continue answering Tom's questions
> when he was clearly described as being uneasy about the subject,
> was it more than just a natural conversation in other words?

Jen: Anytime you see a side of someone you didn't know existed 
there's always the impulse to normalize the situation to the 
familiar and comfortable. It's almost like shock, you keep going 
thinking surely what you're suspecting can't possibly be true and 
the person will 'snap out of it'. Slughorn keeps going on the 
premise that Riddle is an exceptional student with a great mind who 
simply wants to understand all parts of the magical world and yet, 
as doubt creeps in, he seems unable to accept how much he may have 
misjudged Tom and terminate the conversation with authority. (That's 
not really his style, either.)
 
> 10. How had Dumbledore acquired his knowledge of Horcruxes and why 
> was it such thorough knowledge?

Jen: It's got to be the mystery surrounding Grindelwald. Dumbledore 
says, "As far as I know--as far, I am sure, as Voldemort knew--no 
wizard has ever done more than tear his soul in two." I just don't 
see any other explanation other than Grindelwald having a Horcrux 
and that being the key to Dumbledore's defeat of him. On the bright 
side, when Harry learns how DD defeated GV maybe that it will help 
Harry defeat Voldemort.
 
> 13. As far as I recall the Sorting Hat was whipped from the head
> of Godric Gryffindor (with the implication nthat it was his), so
> why would Dumbledore not at least make a mention of this?

Jen: LOL. I got the impression once the 'brains' of the Founders 
were put in that the hat was an object belonging to all the houses 
and was not exclusively Gryffindor anymore. Or not enough for Riddle 
to consider it a 'pure' object like the sword.

> 14. Do you agree with Dumbledore that Nagini is a Horcrux and if
> so did he conclude this when consulting his machine in OotP or 
> from some other source?

Jen: I do agree. I think consulting the machine had more to do with 
determining the nature of Voldemort's and Harry's connection, but 
it's possible the incident was also another piece of the puzzle in 
his Horcrux search, an 'aha' moment.

 > 15. At this advanced stage of the series do you think that the 
> summary of the remaining Horcruxes is correct or think that 
> Dumbledore is wrong, as he himself professes to be on occasion?

No, he's right. I don't think there's time to go back on this one. 
The surpise will be the final Horcrux.


> 16. Do you agree that Lord Voldemort is unaware when a Horcrux is 
> destroyed and if so, and given that he knows of the loss of the
> Diary Horcrux, do you think he would create another?

My speculation is he would tip the scale to create another one, 
possibly even damage himself. *Maybe* he's thinking he can create 
another one when he murders Harry, though he wouldn't really need 
one after that. Dumbledore and Harry are the last threats to his 
domination and he will likely feel overly confident with DD out of 
the way and not consider needing another Horcrux.

>17. Why does Dumbledore not categorically say that Lord Voldemort 
> could be killed if his Horcruxes are destroyed, but only that it
> will take uncommon skill and power to kill him?

Mainly to let Harry know what destroying the Horcruxes will and 
won't do, to make clear that destroying the Horcruxes will not 
diminish Voldemort's mind nor his magical powers. Plus, that was a 
nice segue for the author to use so Dumbledore could explain Harry's 
uncommon power again <g>.

> 18. Lord Voldemort is said to be a powerful and gifted wizard so
> why would he set such store by the Prophecy?

He's an interesting psychological study. LV still exhibits the 
magical thinking (no pun intended) of the abandoned child he was. 
There's an obsessional and irrational quality to his thinking which 
underscores all his goals and plans. Well, and there's always the 
simple fact that LV didn't want to lose his power and he viewed the 
prophecy as a threat.


Jen R.