Smoke Snakes (Re: CHAPDISC: HBP 23, Horcruxes)

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 160257

Goodlefrood:
> 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?
 
Carol:
> "Naturally, naturally. But in essence divided?" Yes, I think he means
> that the snake's "essence" is divided into her own nature and
> Voldemort's, especially when he's possessing her. I don't think that
> the division of the snake into two heads has anything to do with
> Harry. Like a two-headed Runespoor, Nagini is of two minds, hers and
> her master's.

Jen: Dumbledore's primary concern throughout OOTP is the growing 
connection between Harry and Voldemort. The snake dream was the first 
moment Harry saw the world through Voldemort's (Nagini's) eyes and was 
the reason for Occlumency. Dumbledore specifically asks Harry, "I 
mean...can you remember--er--where you were positioned as you watched 
this attack happen? Were you perhaps standing beside the victim, or 
else looking down on the scene from above?"

Once DD takes steps to secure Arthur's safety, he immediately heads to 
the silver instrument. Harry had just answered his question by 
saying, "I was the snake, I saw it all from the snake's point of 
view...." Then two smoke snakes appear from the instrument. 
Dumbledore's concern is for Harry in that moment, not Voldemort's or 
Nagini's essence. And the 'grim satisfaction' he feels at seeing the 
answer tells him Harry is not in immediate danger but the connection 
must be stopped before it grows further. I suspect the instrument has 
been Dumbledore's key to learning about the scar connection all along 
although perhaps snakes only appear because of the dream.

Jen R.