Whither soul pieces? (was Re: Musings on Dobby,Horcruxes, and MPD!LV

[julie]

No: HPFGUIDX 167175


> Now Pat:
> 
> I have always wondered about this, too, and this quote came to mind:
> 
> ********
> http://www.jkrowling.com/textonly/en/faq_view.cfm?id=17
> 
> question:
> In 'Chamber of Secrets,' what would have happened if Ginny had died
> and Tom Riddle had escaped the diary?
> 
> answer:
> I can't answer that fully *until all seven books are finished,*
> (emphasis mine) but it would have strengthened the present-day
> Voldemort considerably.
> 
> ********
> 
> So it appears that there might be more on this in DH.  If LV had 
been
> restored to his body at that time, would there be two LVs today?  If
> TR had escaped the diary, it seems obvious that they would not have
> worked from separate viewpoints or essences or whatever: they would
> have worked together, or he would not have been stronger today.  
Just
> what might have happened - any ideas?
> 
> Thanks,
> Pat 

Julie:
We know now that the diary WAS a Horcrux containing a piece
of Voldemort's soul. It was the first one, and perhaps not so
well-protected as later ones, but it was still a Horcrux. So
if Ginny died and "Tom Riddle" escaped, this essentially 
means that the soul piece would have been released from the
Diary Horcrux. And since JKR says this event would have
strengthened the present day Voldemort, it seems logical 
that the soul piece would have rejoined the main soul piece.
(Whether in the form of Tom Riddle or the later GOF body may
be immaterial, the point being the released soul piece would
have sought out any other "free" soul piece--in this case 
that which was Vapor!Mort at the time.)

If the soul pieces in the Horcruxes will automatically
act to rejoin the other pieces if released, rather than 
simply "float" off individually somewhere, then this 
makes things a bit different than we've been assuming,
and certainly has implications for DH. It may mean in
HBP that Dumbledore *did* have a piece of Voldemort's
soul in him, perhaps encased in his dead hand (as someone
else hypothesized). And perhaps whatever spell Snape
performed on Dumbledore to keep him alive (or to keep 
him from being completely possessed by the released soul
piece from the Ring Horcrux) was also intended to trap
that soul piece within the "dead" part of Dumbledore--
i.e. his hand. Or maybe "killing" Dumbledore's hand was
necessary in the aftermath to contain the soul piece.
(In either case the soul piece died with Dumbledore's
hand.)

This would mean that the soul pieces can be destroyed,
and it does seem from canon that one of Voldemort's soul
pieces--the one in the Diary--was destroyed in COS. At
least there was no indication anything escaped the
destruction of the Diary. And it would mean there are
other ways to destroy soul pieces (besides having them
sucked by Dementors). It may also mean the soul pieces
in the remaining Horcruxes MUST also be destroyed 
or they will simply find their way back to Voldemort
and his "main" soul piece, and make him stronger.

This could also be the reason Voldemort has never 
seemed aware that a Horcrux was destroyed--because
he expects his released soul piece to "return" to
him. Since it didn't, he's none the wiser. (He found
out about the Diary after the fact, but there's no
indication he feels any immediate sense of loss when
a soul piece, or its Horcrux, is being destroyed.)

If there is a soul piece inside Harry, unintentionally
deposited during the chaotic events at Godric's Hollow
(or drawn to the nearest living body), then it won't be
enough to simply "release" the soul piece intact, as it
will simply gravitate to Voldemort if he is still alive,
and make him stronger. And if Voldemort is dead in body,
would that mean his "main" soul piece would gravitate
to the soul piece in Harry, causing unimaginable havoc?
Does this again indicate that Harry must "die" with 
Voldemort so both final pieces will be released in tandem
and will cleave together and move on to the beyond? (I 
still hold great hope this can happen behind the veil
and Harry can return alive once Voldemort has lost his
soul and died for good.) Or...could Harry maintain control
to take both soul pieces within himself behind the veil
to their final destination?

Okay, my head is spinning! Really there are too many
possibilities to ponder all. But I do think what happens
to the soul pieces after the Horcrux is destroyed will
have a big impact on how events play out in DH. And so
far I don't recall any canon stating or even implying
whether the soul pieces "float away" or attempt to 
rejoin each other. But I'm starting now to believe the
latter.

Julie, musing by free association, and hoping it makes
some sense.