Bella and Horcruxes (was: That whole locket, green goo in mysterious cave thing)

[Neri]

No: HPFGUIDX 165853


>  "Debi" <dobbycat@> wrote:
> >
> > What am I missing? Where does it say in HBP that Bellatrix was the
> one to place the locket in the cave? Or where does it say she had it
> in the first place, page or chapter? Because I can't find this
reference.
> > 
>  
> 
> colebiancardi:
> 
> It doesn't state it anywhere.  It is a theory - just like all of the
> theories on this board.  We try to base our theories on hints in the
> books - The reason why I think this is a good theory is because of
> this line in HBP spoken by Bellatrix: "The Dark Lord has, in the past,
> entrusted me with his most precious..." HBP Am Edition hardback -
> "Spinner's End" pg 29.  Put that with the theory that RAB is Regulus
> Black, who was a DE that turned and was *killed* (still thinking that
> Regulus is alive), and that Bellatrix is Regulus's cousin - it makes
> for a pretty good theory.
> 
> That Bellatrix had the locket - Regulus took it and replaced it with
> the fake one.  Or something along those lines.  


Neri (jumping on the chance to plug in his own theory):

As I wrote here before, personally I don't think it is the locket Hx
that Bella is involved with. This one already seems to have quite
enough plot and characters to go on with: Regulus, Sirius, Kreacher,
Mundungus, Dumbledore, perhaps Aberforth. Bella's addition would be
rather redundant here, especially since her involvement according to
the locket switch theory was minor and had ended anyway many years
ago. In this case her slip of tongue in Spinner's End would be
completely useless as a clue to the current whereabouts of the locket.
Such waste of clues and character potential just wouldn't be very good
plotting on JKR's behalf.

Especially since we still have three other Hxs to find, and their
stories seem to be in a much poorer shape than that of the locket
right now (except maybe for the last one, if it's Harry himself).
We're in urgent need of some really good subplots to go with the
Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw Hxs, at the very least, preferably subplots
based on clues from past books, or DH is going to be rather disappointing.

But in fact we do have an important subplot lying around for several
books, just burning to be resolved in a satisfying manner. And
moreover, it is a subplot that Bellatrix already plays a central part
in. I'm talking about the Longbottoms subplot, of course. Why were
they attacked? What great secret was Bellatrix trying to torture out
of them? Why has JKR been keeping them in cold storage, alive but
unable to speak, for the whole series? Isn't it because this secret
they keep is still very important today? And how will the development
of Neville's character fit in this? I'd be extremely miffed with JKR
if all this beautiful foreshadowing won't resolve in a satisfying BANG
in DH.

So, we have Bella's hypothetical Hx in need of a plot on the one side,
we have the great Longbottoms plot in need of a secret on the other
side, we already have Bella herself connecting them, and the timing of
this connection (in the end of VW1 or just after) right for both.
Hmmm, don't you get that feeling when two separate puzzle pieces
*just* match? 

No, we don't have any details yet, but speculation from here seems to
practically flow of itself: Bellatrix was appointed the keeper of a
Hx, by default I'd guess the Hufflepuff Cup, just as Lucius was
appointed the keeper of the Diary Hx. Frank and Alice, probably while
doing their job as aurors, possibly trailing Bella or searching her
place, found it and confiscated it from her. At that point they may
have realized it's the Hufflepuff Cup and suspected that Bella hadn't
come by it legally, but they didn't yet have proof against her and
didn't know it was made a Hx. Bella attacked them and tortured them in
order to get it back, but at that point they may have realized its
critical importance and refused to reveal where it is. So it is still
hidden somewhere, perhaps in the Longbottoms house, perhaps even in
Neville's possession. It's going to surface in DH and Bella will be
coming back for it, just in time to have a final showdown between her
and Neville, probably while he's protecting his parents. Awesome plot
potential, isn't it? I just can't wait.


Neri