The Chain

[Talisman]

Talisman: shaking off the debilitating effects of the Unbreakable 
Vow, will now tell you all what to expect in Book 7, or at least 
some really juicy hunks of it.

For the past 4 days I have been honor bound not to post anything 
that might prematurely tip the theory that someone shared with me.  
Therefore, I haven't posted much, and I've tried to stick with 
things going in the opposite direction.

But, as I finally persuaded the theorist to post, I am now similarly 
free to discuss my ideas, which otherwise crossed into taboo 
territory.
 
Unlike some people, I also will give credit where it is due, though 
this appears to be a skill in short supply.  Unsurprisingly.

On July 16, I received an email from Valkyrievixen congratulating me 
on the HBP validation of my contentious 2003 theory from OoP: Guilty!
DD.

You may recall the posts, which were premised on my understanding 
that DD killed Sirius in the DOM.  Well, he did.

Valky was one of the readers who sent me encouraging feedback at the 
time, and apparently accepted my reading as a textual fact, which 
stood her in good stead when she came to DD's death in HBP.

Snape, of course killed DD--just as DD killed Sirius--as a loyal 
member of the OoP.

I posited in Guilty!DD that by allowing Harry to meet and become 
emotionally attached to Sirus (one part of The Plan that was 
accomplished by PoA) and then killing Sirius, DD had activated 
something in Weapon!Harry.  I still stand by this, but there is more.

(You may want to pause for a moment, here, and recall how in both 
cases Harry was a captive audience.)

Of course, at that time we didn't know about Horcruxes. (Can I just 
say to JKR, "You cheat like freaking Agatha, wench.")

Valky's theory is that, beyond destroying the Horcrux, someone one 
has to volunteer to die in order to take that bit of soul to the 
other side.  I agree.

She thought that Sirius finished the job for his brother, Regulus, 
and carried the soul bit from the locket over, just as DD carried 
the bit from the ring.

One of her problems was that DD seems to contradict this when he 
explains how Harry destroyed the Diary Horcrux (503) and elsewhere 
says, that bit of soul [that was in the Diary] is gone (can't find 
the site just now). 

I think she is correct as to why people have had to die (maybe even 
add in Lily in light of JKR's latest info, i.e. that Lily 
volunteered to die for more reason than to protect Harry or juice up 
a defensive charm.)

My take on it is that, yes, DD put Sirius through the veil so that 
he could carry a piece of LV's soul with him.  But it was the piece 
from the Diary.  Harry destroyed the Diary, but he didn't remove the 
soul from inside of it.

He gave the Diary to DD.  DD/JKR reminds us of this in HBP at p. 
500: 

"You handed it to me, Harry," said Dumbledore.  "The diary..."

So, DD found the soul bit and had Sirius carry it beyond the veil. 

Similarly, DD says he destroyed the ring Horcrux, and he says the 
ring is no longer a Horcrux (503), but he simply omits the part 
explaining that *he* now is saddled with this piece of LV's soul 
which has to be taken to the other side.

Snape knew though.  Snape, who loathed killing DD, as much as he 
loved DD himself--which was deeply (and no, not in a sexual way at 
all).

Yes, DD's death accomplished a number of things, the smallest of 
these was an act of mercy that may work it's redemptive power in 
Draco, yet.

More importantly, DD was the courier and Snape was the Order 
member "killer," because, this does indeed allow Snape to shore up 
the wobbly places in his double agent role, which was clearly in 
question, and not just by Bella.  Wormtail wasn't there just to 
serve wine, he was keeping an eye on Snape for LV. 

There are dangerous things Snape needs to do now, and he needs to be 
closer than ever to LV. 

But, the primary reason DD had to die by friendly hand--a voluntary, 
hateless death--was to take the bit of soul from the ring beyond the 
veil.

Back to Valky's idea, Harry's power, love, is the bond that connects 
The Chain of hands that carry the LV soul bits to the other side.  
That is to say the soul-couriers have to be people Harry loves. 

Lily, Sirius and DD all fit the bill.

I really hope Lily carried a piece over.  Then we'll only have to 
lose 4 more.

I think, if a bit of LV's soul was floating free--sort of in front 
of Harry when the AK went off--that may be why it rebounded.  Maybe 
you can't unintentionally AK yourself.

Well, back to Horcruxes.

My take is:
1. The Diary: Harry destroyed the Horcrux, Sirius carried it to the 
other side via DD;

2. The ring: DD destroyed the Horcrux and carried it to the other 
side via Snape;

3. The Locket: still at Grimmauld Place, probably in Kreature's bed 

(I believe DD knew that the locket in the basin was not a Horcrux.  
I do not believe he wants Harry to try to destroy it and in so doing 
either lose the soul bit (for lack of understanding that part) or 
take it inside of him and become the next courier.  DD just wants 
him to learn about it.

Someone else from the OoP--possibly Snape will tell him more when 
the time comes.

Actually, if Harry understood that each piece destroyed requires a 
life he loves, he might not be willing to go forward.

That's why DD is urging him on (510-12) while keeping this 
information from him.

4. The Cup: I agree, it's hidden as Tom Riddle's Trophy in the 
Trophy Room at Hogwarts--what could be safer?  
Valky thinks this is the clue from the Longbottoms: Gum=Mug=Cup.  
Maybe, huh?

5. Nagini (now we understand all that stuff with the silver gizmo 
and the smoke serpents: two essences in one body. )  

6. Ravenclaw/Gryffindor item 

7 LV himself.


Interesting meta idea:the fear of death erased as so many people we 
care about go before us. 

And, along with DD words about imortality being bad for people, sort 
of reverberates of the myth of Aurora and Tithonus, etc.

It may be (I'm not sure I can make my fingers say this) that Snape 
will have to go this way, too.

But, before it's all over, Harry will understand, and will actually 
love Snape.

Talisman, who also predicted Snape for DADA, Snape's thing with 
Narcissa, and Snape as the HBP, prior to the book's release.

PS:  Now we know from JKR herself that no one but DD ever owned 
Fawkes.  Please review the past wand discussion.  And, refrain  from 
using the unfortunate phrase, "duh," in future.

I also hope you can see that DD has had a plan the whole time--
before Harry's birth.

I'll back off the idea that DD created LV, since JKR isn't 
cooperating, but he certainly was managing events prior to Harry`s 
birth and I expect he has set things up that will continue to work 
after his own death.

The other idea I'll retract: Snape is a Vampire: though JKR fails to 
acknowledge she drank deeply from the waters of connotation.  

As to the "Choice" rant DD goes on, well, like many other parts of 
HBP  some of it smells of pandering, and it's pretty limp 
philosophically.

1. First, with the possible exception of some experimental pieces, 
all literature is about choices.  In every story worth it's salt you 
find out what sort of people the characters are by what they choose 
to do in the given situation.  Choices is the theme that's so big, 
it's not a theme worth having. 

2. The crap about how the Prophecy is only meaningful because LV 
acted on it is rather unconvincing: Oedipus did the same, i.e. 
brought the prophecy about by the actions he took to thwart it--and 
I believe that story was meant to prove the inescapability of fate.

(And, what about Trelawney apparently having valid predictions with 
her Tarot cards.  A little nod to fate, thrown back in?)

3. Then there is that business about "you can choose to walk into 
the arena or chose to be dragged."

First, that's a mighty thin allowance of free will.  It's more like: 
choose to accept your fate.  Certainly not enough for anyone to 
argue that DD's management of events would "undermine" the Choice 
Theme.  (And if you can't see DD managing Harry in HBP, you`re in 
trouble) Harry can always chose his attitude no matter what DD does.

But, even that is a juvenile assertion.  Within a certain range of 
events, and depending on what the individual has had to weather in 
life, I'll agree choosing a good/fighting/resilient attitude is a 
laudable thing and there is nothing wrong in advocating such.

But there are definite limits (unless you are a Vulcan or Cyborg) 
and I think the effort to deny human emotion, or to pretend that 
people should try to deny their emotions (or, indeed are always able 
to), is unhealthy and disingenuous. It may just point back to JKR's 
own problems.

So, go ahead.  If you find yourself tied to the RR track and the 
engine bearing down: It's your "choice," scream, or wave and 
say "hi." (N.B. "choice" aided by having had a lobotomy.)

Hey, but it's her story.

Talisman, noting also, when DD allowed Harry to see into the Mirror 
of Erised, he not only taught him about the mirror, he gave Harry 
faces to connect to his idea of parents, thereby increasing the 
amount of love Harry feels for them. 

That love in itself, and the vengeance he seeks from LV on their 
behalf are important to DD's plan.  

People have dismissed my concern (posted on HPfGUs 2003) with what 
DD would really see in the mirror,  but you notice how Rowling won't 
answer the question.  She didn't say socks, either--which was a lie 
when DD said it.