Search Beyond Hogwarts:

Reference Desk:
•	Beyond Hogwarts FAQ
•	Wizard to Muggle Currency Converter
•	Harry Potter Spelling Reference

Pages:  <<  <  9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29  >  >>

Reader Comments: (Page 20)

Inirini and Elizabeth,
I do see Harry going on alone. So many times Harry has ended up alone with Voldemort. But I also think Ginny could be involved.
Her involvement with Tom Riddle may point to a similar situation in the last book, either as a hostage to prevent Harry from attacking Voldemort, or through the Imperius curse on Voldemort's side. I hope she would be strong enough to resist Voldemort, but I don't know.
I see Dumbledore's legacy not through a Horcrux, but through the plan he conceived based on the prophecy, with Harry destined to vanquish Voldemort.
Just as Frodo had no idea what he was accepting when Bilbo gave him the Ring, Harry was set on this path without his consent. The Ring irreversibly changed the hobbits, and the prophecy also change Harry, although I hope not him.

Posted by Patty from Quincy,Massachusetts on March 20, 2007 07:13 AM

The question of not having to "" someone to make a horcrux might be true, but i believe this to be unlikely. What would classify the horcrux as evil could make the evil intent a prerequisite for performing the spell. We see this with another spell, the Cruciatus Curse, in which Bellatrix talks about needing to enjoy putting another person through pain in order to make the spell work (OotP).
Also, with another spell, the Avada Kedavra, the fake Moody says that just saying the words have no effect (GoF). Would the Horcrux spell, a spell described in Magick Moste Evile to create the evilest creation of magic, not also have this prerequisite of evil intent?

Posted by Kevin from Charlotte, NC on March 22, 2007 4:00 PM

According to Dumbledore himself, in the Philosopher's Stone, to the well-organized mind is simply the next great adventure. Dumbledore certainly had a well organized mind, not to mention vast knowledge of magic which, while it would allow him to create a horcrux or to probably find other means of escaping , also taught him that the desire to escape is a product of fear.
Voldemort's greatest weakness lies in his fear of and his belief that is the worst thing that can happen to a person. Dumbledore does not believe this, as he states during their duel in The Order of the Phoenix. Dumbledore believes that love is the greatest power, the power which Voldemort "has not." The power of love leads to a ingness to , as demonstrated by Lilly Potter.
Dumbledore would never employ a horcrux or other means of avoiding because, in his great wisdom, knowledge, and cleverness, he knows that is not the worst thing that can happen to a man. Perhaps ingly ing another person and tearing your own soul apart is. The weakness of fear and the power of love are central messages of the series which, I do not believe, be undermined by a return of Dumbledore.
I do believe that Dumbledore have a continuing presence at Hogwarts (and perhaps at other wizarding centers with which he was affiliated) via portraits. But, I'm going to go with Rowling on this point: those who believe that Dumbledore return need to move through the five stages of grief, starting with overcoming denial. Those out there who still believe in Dumbledore's full return, beyond a portrait, hang on to a belief that is grounded in fear that Dumbledore would have encouraged you to be rid of.

Posted by Mac the Badger from New Orleans, LA on March 23, 2007 10:21 AM

Mac the Badger - Clearly 'fear of ' is one motivation for wanting to create a horcrux or to avoid . But I can see other motivationas as well. I, too, agree that Dumbledore did not fear . In fact, I really can't imagine anything that Dumbledore, at age 150, would fear. But I think he made arrangements to continue to be available in the fight against evil, to not be struck from that battle by physical , and a horcrux is a viable way to do that.
Of course, in his work with Nicholas Flamel, he may have been made aware of other ways to live on besides using a horcrux. Nicjolas Flamel had been using the Elizir of Life for centuries before Albus Dumbledore was born, so it is intruguing to wonder about what the two of them wre up to as partners. Surely not the philosopher's stone -- Flamel had aced that years ago.
I think Dumbledore may have foreseen the need to continue to be part of the fight against Voldemort and a horcrux would have allowed him to remain on the side of the good guys. Dumbledore was the strongest member of the Order of the Phoenix and without him they were somewhat crippled. But, no, I don't think fear had anything to do with it either.

Posted by Jan-Marie from New York on March 23, 2007 2:19 PM

Jan-Marie, for Dumbledore to have made a horcrux, an object considered utterly evil and which he appears to have utterly rejected, he would have to subscribe to the belief that the end justifies the means.

I just don't see Dumbledore going down that path. It might be the ultimate temptation of course for a man like Dumbledore, but in the end I believe he would reject it. I think Dumbledore would trust the Order to continue and manage the fight without him.

Posted by Elizabeth from Australia on March 24, 2007 05:18 AM

I think that if Dumbledore had the desire to continue to be part of the war beyond , this represents a different kind of fear. It is a fear that the surviving members of the Order would not be able to go on without him. I do not believe that Dumbledore lacked faith in his comrades to the point that he would feel the need to bring himself back from the . An important message in Dumbledore's is that at some point we (or specifically Harry) can no longer rely on others, no matter how clever and wise they might be, to show us the way. We have to take responsibility for ourselves. Anyway, I still believe that as a portrait Dumbledore still be able to participate, to some degree, in the war. I believe that Dumbledore would have been content with this, and (though he is not overly modest all the time) he would not seek to prolong his life because of a belief that he is the most important member of the Order. Indeed I believe that Dumbledore would say that Harry is the most important person in the war against Voldemort and that is part of the reason why he petrified Harry on the astronomy tower rather than saving himself.

Posted by Mac The Badger from New Orleans, LA on March 24, 2007 06:19 AM

This makes very good sense as JKR mentioned that Fawkes was coming back. She said something about Dumbledore being in the 7th book, and that he was .

Posted by Eaten on March 24, 2007 12:35 PM

This is a very intriguing idea. I can't help but see some similarities between Dumbledore and Voldemort. Where is Dumbledore's equal? Where is his partner or confidante? He, like Voldemort, prefers to work alone, although for a different side.

Posted by Laura from Cleveland, Ohio on March 25, 2007 11:43 AM

Ok I first want to say that there are some great ideas on this site and all have some plausible evidence. But I think the idea that Dumbledore had a horcrux is ridiculous. First of all you have to someone to create it, Dumbledore is just not the kind of person to someone else for his own personal gain. Second Dumbledore in several of the books goes out of his way to make a point that is a natural part of the universe that should not be interfered with. He in fact detests voldemort because he has so upset this natural balance in the universe. Third I honestly think Dumbledore was such a powerful wizard he probably wouldn't even need a horcrux because no one would be able to him(unless he wanted them to a.k.a. Snape).
Just think about it, voldemort has been risking life and limb throughout the entire book to destroy horcruxes. Why after all that hard work to get rid of the things would he go and make another one?

Posted by Adam on March 26, 2007 10:40 AM

no doubt he is prepared and had a plan for . he has a horcrux and it is most likely fawkes as it would be undestroyable. i think it may also be something like hogwarts the whole building if possible.

Posted by mikedagr8 from melborune, victoria on March 27, 2007 01:24 AM

Adam,

I couldn't agree more with your comments, it is also my opinion that Dumbedore would not make a Horcrux, because he would not want to live with a torn soul, and as he said himself, "For the organized mind, is just the next great adventure".

mikedagr8 from melborune,
I do believe that Dumbledore had planned for his , but not with a Horcrux, we have to see how the story develops, but I woud be very disapointed if He had resorted to the same thing that he is trying to erradicate.

Posted by Emilio from Mexico City, Mexico on March 27, 2007 3:29 PM

If Dumbledore had made a Horcrux, he would be a wandering soul (meaner than the weakest ghost) looking for a poor guy to possess, and trying to maintain its weak power by possessing animals and drinking unicorn blood. That would be, as Dumbledore himself said, worse than .

Along with the fact that Dumbledore is too noble to use such dark arts, it seems obvious to me that Dumbledore has no Horcrux.

I have the same feelings about Godric Gryffindor, James, Lily and Sirius. I'm not so sure about Regulus (he was a Slytherin, wasn't he?).

Posted by herve from strasbourg on March 28, 2007 02:49 AM

Pages:  <<  <  9  10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29  >  >>