Tom Riddle and the RoR (Was: Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and the Deathstick)

[Zara]

No: HPFGUIDX 181705

zanooda:
> This only means that both DD and LV knew no one attempted to create 
> multiple Horcruxes before. It doesn't mean that LV already knew 
*how* 
> to create a Horcrux when he talked to Slughorn. 

zgirnius:
Ah, I see the distinction you asre making. To know that *no* wizard 
had ever done it, Tom would have had to do a good deal of research, 
in the course of which I suppsoe it is reasonable he would have 
discovered how this is done. But this is not, as you say, stated.

I would point out, that if Tom did not know before, he still does not 
know after talking to Slughorn. Slughorn gave a general, theoretical 
description. He refused to speak of the spell, which he himself may 
not even know, which is used to encase the soul bit.

> zanooda:
> Maybe it's just Harry's 
> interpretation, that's all. Or I didn't read HBP carefully :-).
> 

zgirnius:
There is also some possible timeline evidence. Tom made the diary at 
sixteen, to complete his noble work. This was his opening of the 
Chamber, fifth year, so while this is never stated, it is reasonable 
to suppose he made the Diary Horcrux right then, when Myrtle's death 
made it necessary to stop. Just putting in the memories would not 
have been enough for the stated purpose of 'completing the work'. 
According to Dumbledore, it was the soul bit that alloowed the Diary 
to do its work.

If this is what Harry believes, the rest follows. The ring was taken 
from Morfin the summer after fifth year, and the conversation with 
Slughorn is after that point, since Tom is wearing the ring.