[HPforGrownups] Re: Locket and Umbridge

[Christine Maupin]

No: HPFGUIDX 173941

Matt:
> Early in HBP, if you will recall, when Harry does his first week of
> detentions, Umbridge touches Harry's hand and his scar hurts as if 
> he were close to Voldemort.
>The implication I took, knowing that she ended up with the locket, 
> was that she might have acquired it early in book 6, so that by the 
> time of the detention scene it had begun to possess her

zanooda:
> You are probably right about Umbridge acquiring the locket in 
> book 6, but Harry's detentions with her took place in book 5. She 
> was evil before she got the locket! However, it's possible that the 
> Locket! Horcrux made her even more cruel. I was so pleased JKR 
> finally confirmed today that the evil toad was punished :-).

 
Oh goodie, another little tidbit to think about...
I think it might be possible that Umbridge acquired the locket as far back as book 5.  In book 7, does Kreacher tells us when Mundungus raids his cupboard?  (I can't remember.)  We do know that the locket was found and disposed of during the summer before 5th year while they cleaned the house.  I think one can assume that Kreacher rescued it shortly after it was tossed in the "to be thrown out" pile.  So, at any point during late summer until the time of Harry's detention (unless book 7 tells us otherwise), Mundungus could have taken it and Umbridge could have acquired it. (I don't think Sirius being alive would necessarily stop Mundungus from stealing; and what is Kreacher going to do?  Certainly not complain to Sirius that Mundungus stole the locket that he stole...In fact, Mundungus could easily get away with stealing from Kreacher...)

Yes, Harry discovers Mundungus with a bag of goods stolen from 12 Grimmauld Place in book 6, but the locket is not mentioned among the things that Harry sees (and I do think if it was in there JKR would have mentioned it) and it doesn't mean it was the first time that Mundungus tried to peddle goods stolen from Grimmauld Place.

I'm liking Matt's theory...because I wondered why Harry's scar hurt when Umbridge touched him.  If it hurt just because of evil, then it should have hurt because of the fake Moody or Rita Skeeter or any other number of unsavory characters.

Christy