Did Voldemort make use of a Horcrux already?

[justcarol67]

No: HPFGUIDX 165632

Mike wrote:
> <snip> In the mean time he is sort of a ghost, but less so. In fact
"less than the meanest ghost". Not sure what if any reason JKR had for
adding the adjective "meanest".<snip>
> 
> 
> Dondee comments:
> In my good old Merriam-Webster, mean is defined as humble, or
lacking in power. Also ordinary, shabby, and contemptable. LV was
therefore less than the humblest and least powerful ghost. Pretty
pathetic considering that about all ghosts can do is appear suddenly
out of chalkboards, make you cold when they pass through you and, lest
we forget, moan and groan ;)
>
Carol responds:
With regard to the first part of your post, you're correct. "Mean" in
British English means (among other things) low and contemptible. LV is
emphasizing his weakness and feebleness. I think this might be one
instance when the American editor might have been justified in
altering an adjective so that it made sense to young American readers,
who would naturally read "mean" as vaguely synonymous with "cruel in a
small or petty way" ("Mommy, that boy was mean to me!")

On a sidenote, words shift in meaning, sometimes retaining a meaning
in British English that is lost in American English or vice versa.
Look at "nice" (formerly meaning "finicky" or "exacting," as in "a
nice distinction," but at one time meaning "wanton or dissolute").
Other examples off the top of my head include words that have lost
their power (both "awful" and "awesome" used to mean "inspiring awe").

But with regard to ghosts, they do a bit more than moan and clank on
the astronomy tower. The Bloody Baron is somehow able to control
Peeves. NHN helps Harry cope with Sirius Black's death by explaining
that "he will have gone on." Moaning Myrtle helps Harry with his
golden egg in GoF, and her screams bring Snape running to save Draco
in HBP. And Professor Binns, bless his dull, departed soul, is still
teaching History of Magic, exactly as he did in life.

Carol, who hopes that the Hogwarts ghosts, immune as they are to
death, will somehow join the fight against Voldemort in DH