A couple of questions on Horcrux and Secret Keepers

bboyminn bboyminn at yahoo.com
Wed Nov 4 21:39:36 UTC 2009


No: HPFGUIDX 188355



---  Cyril Andrew Fernandes <caaf at ...> wrote:
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> Cyril here:
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> I was doing another re-read of the series - and a question popped up. Not sure if this has been discussed earlier - so thought I would get your thoughts on this.
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> Question 1:
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> When Dumbledore put on the ring Horcrux, it had a deadly curse that nearly killed him - ...
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> However, when the Trio put on the Horcrux (which in fact was earlier worn by Umbridge and maybe even Dung, not to mention possibly Kreacher), it did not really impact them in any serious immediate way. ...
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bboyminn:

Keep in mind that Horcruxes themselves are not 'cursed objects'
merely by being a Horcrux.

Keep in mind that the Ring Horcrux, was merely hidden under the 
floorboards of an abandon old shack. That in itself is not very
safe. So, Voldemort added many protective enchantments and 
spells to make sure no magical people or muggles came to
disturb the object. 

One of the many things that Voldemort did, was to curse the
Ring itself, as a final line of protection. So, it was the
curse that Voldemort added to the Ring, and not the Ring 
itself that harmed Dumbledore. 
 
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> Question 2:
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> The other question links into the FAQ poll that JKR had answered on her website...
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> I am attaching her response here below:
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> ---------------------------------------------
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> What happens to a secret when the Secret-Keeper dies?
> ...
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> When a Secret-Keeper dies, their secret dies with them, or, to put it another way, the status of their secret will remain as it was at the moment of their death. Everybody in whom they confided will continue to know the hidden information, but nobody else.
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> ...
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> ...
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> ---------------------------------------------
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> If this is the case, then in DH - how could Snape be suspected to be able to pass on the info of the HQ to the DE's - or even for Hermione to be able to reveal the secret - even by accident - to Yaxley.
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> It looks like the answer given by JKR on her site and part of the DH sub plot are actually contradictory.
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> Your thoughts...
> Cyril.
> 


bboyminn:

I don't think anyone reveal the location of 'the secret' 
while Dumbledore was alive. But, once Dumbledore dies, those
who knew the secret at that time now become Secret Keepers
themselves. Since they are not Secret Keeper of the original
secret, they are allowed to pass the secret on.

That is what allowed Hermione to bring someone, accidentally
or on purpose, within the boundaries of the Secret of
12 Grimmauld Place. At that point in time, after Dumbledore's
death, Hermione, as well as everyone else, has become the
new Secret Keeper. 

That is one of the reasons they abandon 12 Grimmauld Place,
because, with so many Secret Keepers capable of divulging 
the Secret, it becomes much less secure. 

As to whether someone who knows the Secret, but was not the
Secret Keeper, could be forced to reveal it; I don't think
so. I think the enchantment of the Secret Keeper Charm would
in someway act to prevent them. Since, revealing the Secret
by a knowing but non-Secret Keeper is controlled by an 
outside force, I don't see how torture or Veritaserum or any
thing else could compel them to reveal the Secret. 

Steve/bboyminn





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