Voldermort has a secret

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 167878

> va32h here:
> I do agree that the secret is not the horcrux, and that people who 
> call themselves Death Eaters would not find a horcrux particularly 
> distressing. They'd probably want one for themselves, actually. 

Jen:  There's evidence in the graveyard that LV's supporters know
specifics about his quest for immortality:  'And then I ask myself,
but how could they have believed I would not rise again?  They,
who knew the steps I took, long ago, to guard myself against
moral death?' (GOF, chap. 33, p. 648, Am ed.)  It's implied the DE's
know what specific steps LV took or it might be worded more vaguely
like, 'they who knew I took steps.'  The problem is Dumbledore
states in the  'Horcrux' chapter of HBP that the DE's did *not*
know Voldemort was referring to Horcruxes when he mentioned
going 'further than anybody' in his quest for immortality.

va32h:
> My feeling is that the secret is Voldemort's half-blood status. It 
> seems such a minor thing now, but I do think the original DEs were 
> motivated to join on the whole "ethnic cleansing" program, led by 
> Salazar Slytherin's last descendant who wished to carry on his noble 
> work. 

> Since I believe RAB is Regulus Black, and the Blacks were all about 
> the blood purity thing, I find it plausible that a young boy, utterly 
> convinced in the notion of blood purity, would be disgusted and 
> horrified to learn that he had pledged himself to the service of a 
> filthy half-blood. 

Jen:  I'm torn here!  You make a good case and it's clear in OOTP that
Bella, one of his most zealous supporters, has no clue Voldemort is
a half-blood and would likely be horrified to learn the truth.  More
horrified than learning about a Horcrux.  Plus there's possible canon
for Bella already knowing about the Horcruxes when she said he
'entrusted me with his most precious...'  Horcruxes would likely
be Voldemort's most precious possessions if that's the missing word.

The con for DE's knowing specifically about the Horcruxes comes
from Dumbledore's information about Voldemort and tyrants in general,
how they actually fear the people they oppress and know one day there
will be a person who rises up and strikes back.  Voldemort giving up the
information about his Horcruxes, no matter how arrogant he is, strikes
me as counter to the assertion he actually feared those he oppressed
(including his Death Eaters) and wouldn't give them information that
could lead anyone to thwart him.  In that respect, the Horcruxes--or in 
R.A.B.'s case one Horcrux--would be a huge secret to stumble
across.  

Either way, I think the fact that Voldemort is a half-blood is bound to
come out in DH.  That would be a huge destabilizing thing for DEs to
learn and I wonder if the information won't come from Lucius?  He seems
like a guy who always has a back door and after giving up some of his
power when LV returned, combined with being left in Azkaban and
Voldemort targeting Draco, I wouldn't wonder if he will finally reveal
that he figured out Riddle's origins after the diary was left in his care.
The fact that it came from a Muggle shop would the clue he built on
to have something against the Dark Lord should LV ever return.

Jen