I KNOW WHAT A HORCRUX IS (go team!)
"You've got to be frickin' kidding me" -Harry
Wait for it…
…wait for it…
…wait…for…it…
I KNOW WHAT A HORCRUX IS!
(uproarious applause is heard from the crowd)
Now let’s talk…
I had it. I knew exactly what a Horcrux was and you all kept your mouths shut while I went on about it, as if I was wrong. You made me second guess myself. Sneaky! All of you! Very sly.
Forever-and-a-day ago, I went on this long rant about the legal wizarding age and whether or not 17 was a cunning plot device or a last ditch effort to keep the series at 7 books. Your response was a resounding “7 is a magical number”, sung in unison (with a full choreographed dance) as if you all knew something I didn’t. And here we have Harry blatantly saying “7 is a magical number” (which makes you all posers).
7 books. 7 Horcruxes.
Harry must find and destroy 7 Horcruxes 4 Horcruxes during the course of the 7th book in order to kill Voldemort. Does this sound vaguely like the plot of a video game to anyone else? Collect them all, then face the boss! Right now, I’m picturing this whole process taking place in 8-bit format, set to the Mario Bros theme song. Hermione can throw fireballs while Ron jumps on Goombas.
Marvolo’s Ring was a Horcrux. I was completely right about that (gold star for me!). Tom Riddle’s Diary being a Horcrux eluded me, but I attribute that to the fact that the 2nd book is nothing but a vague memory right now – a blur of stuff that I probably should have remembered.
The Hufflepuff cup and Merope’s necklace are two remaining Horcruxes. Nagini is a third, which makes perfect sense, considering the encounter with Mr. Weasley in the Ministry of Magic. Interestingly, this opens up the possibility of the remaining two Horcruxes being living beings. So what could they be?
While Dumbledore cautioned Harry from blindly assuming they are valuable Slytherin and Gryffindor trinkets, I wouldn’t be surprised if things go that direction. That said, since the possibility of a Horcrux being a live creature has been introduced, I feel at least one of the remaining two will be alive.
When I saw the sixth film, I claimed as the credits rolled “Harry is a Horcrux!” and I remained pretty convinced of this as I read the books. Think about it: If Harry has to destroy all the Horcruxes to kill Voldemort, the idea that he would have to sacrafice himself is compelling. Plus, doesn’t he belong to Gryffindor in a way? All that said, there are a lot of holes in this theory. If Harry was a Horcrux, part of his soul would have to be mixed with Voldemort’s, which there is no evidence of. However, Voldemort can read Harry’s mind, so it’s not impossible. More importantly, though, how could Harry destroy himself as a Horcrux and then kill Voldemort? If he is the only one who can kill V., he can’t kill himself in the process. This is what we call counterproductive.
Granted, maybe there’s a loophole – a way for him to destroy the Horcrux inside him without destroying himself – but whether or not this is possible will depend partially on how the Nagini situation is handled. Marvolo’s Ring wasn’t destroyed; it’s just no longer a Horcrux. If Nagini can be rid of her Horcruxness (the power of Christ compells you!), maybe the same can be done with Harry, if need be.
I know this was a popular theory when the books first came out. For this reason alone, I’m actually almost abandoning it. I’m not saying it’s not still in my mind – I just don’t think it’s true.
I have my eyes on a different living Horcrux.
I heard a rumor Hedwig dies. True? False? Don’t tell me! But this made me think, “Maybe Hedwig’s a Horcrux…”
"Don't kill me, Harry!"
I bounced this idea off Ben, who called me evil (in not so many words) for hatching a plot in which Harry would have to kill his poor pet owl. Think: Old Yeller. I still think it’s an excellent idea for the story, which is why I’m not allowed to write children’s literature.
So maybe one of the remaining two Horcruxes is Hedwig, or maybe not. What could the other one(s) be? If the Gryffindor sword is definitely ruled out, I can’t think what could be left. I’m sure they are things that have been mentioned somewhere in the trillion pages of this series and I’m just not able to pick them out. It’s like “Where’s Waldo?”, Harry Potter style.
Something of value…something of value…
Something Snape owns?
This flies in the face of my theory that Snape is an unsung hero who will prove himself in the end. Seems like a lot is flying in the face of this theory recently.
Okay, so let’s leave the question of what the Horcruxes are for a minute, and focus instead on how the hell Harry is going to find them!
Let me sum up this past chapter for you:
“Harry, listen. There are 7 Horcruxes that must be destroyed before you can kill Voldemort. We’ve destroyed 2 of them so far, but I also destroyed my hand in the process. I have a pretty good idea what the 3 others are, but I haven’t the slightest idea where the 3 others are. And your guess is as good as mine on the remaining 2. My bad! Oh gosh, Harry. Not to pat myself on the back or anything, but I’m arguably the world’s most powerful wizard who completely sees the big picture in this situation and it took me years to find that one Horcrux. But hey, you’re a pretty good Quidditch player. I’m sure you can figure this out on your own. I’m going to go back to being old now, okay? Awesome! TTYL! KIT” -Dumbledore
So let me get this straight. Harry has to figure out what the Horcruxes are, find them, and destroy them – then face Voldemort.
Ha!
He’s totally going to die.
Okay, no he’s not. I know he’s not. But seriously?
Part of me wants to know how he’s going to pull this off, while part of me is more curious as to how J.K. justifies him pulling it off. I’m sure it’s absolutely brilliant (since no one has ever claimed the end of this series was disappointing or forced – trust me, I asked), but if I had to wait 2 years to find out, I think I’d be more worried for the author than the lead character. I’m glad to be going into this with the confidence that she has nailed it.
So there we are – HORCRUXES!
Ladies and gentlemen, we have plot!
I have a lot more to say on this. Harry’s interpretation of the prophecy and Dumbledore’s response is fodder for an entry all of its own. Actually, I’m going to leave this here now. Let that sit, talk about the prophecy later – cause that’s a whole other can of worms (to completely forgo creativity and rely on a cliché).
Side note: My spell check absolutely hates the word Horcrux.
I;m REALLY enjoying reading this. I have to stay my desire to blurt out the answers to all of your suggested questions. You describe your own take on the Harry/Horcrux situation in the exact same way that I did before reading 7.
And yes, you can rest assured that the ending will be very satisfying. You know how parents are not supposed to hold their kids hands through everything in life? Because there are some things you need to figure out for yourself in order to really understand and appreciate them? Well think of Dumbledore as a father figure. Perhaps it will help…
Oh my! I was literally laughing out loud while I read your “sum up” of the past chapter. Great post! (and of course, I’ll hold my tongue on how JKR actually does manage to pull off the conclusion).
Woo hoo! {fist pump} Wow, that felt good. NOW we can talk!
–And on a side note, I (and I think everybody else) have been very careful about what I say when you blog your analysis and conclusions. I haven’t ever tried to mislead you. I *have* said only what I thought I could say and no more. Part of the reason this is fun is because you put your thoughts and reasoning out there, including the uncertainty. We can’t really give you certainty: only JKR can. But don’t worry, she will!
And Deathly Hallows is tied with Goblet of Fire for my favorite of the series. Sometimes one is “more” my favorite than the other, but they’re easily the ones I re-read the most.
Sorry about your spellcheck and Horcrux, too, BTW.
Read on!
Wait young Harry!! When Harry asks about Voldey making 7 horcruxes Dumbledore corrects him and says he only made 6, Voldey wanted a 7 part soul. The 7th piece is the piece in Voldey’s regenerated body that lived in exile/Quirrel for all those years. 2 down (diary, ring) and 4 to go (locket, cup, snake, unknown). A few quick hits:
- Dumbledore said the last horcrux might be something of Griffindor’s or Ravenclaw’s (not Slytherin) although he was certain the sword is OK
- Voldey can possess/read the mind of anyone he is physically close to but as Snape explains in OoTP “the usual rules don’t seem to apply to Harry ” (I love that Snape gets that line)
- Your picture of “Hedwig” made me pee myself
Saw your text. You are completely right!
I guess that’s a “little” better – Harry only has to guess at ONE Horcrux. He probably should still die in the process
Thank you for clearing it all up, because I’d end up at the last chapter of Book 7 wondering where the seventh Horcrux went to.
That picture of Hedwig made my day!
[...] Harry Potter”) just wrote a hilarious post on the Horcruxes chapter in Half-Blood Prince. Don’t miss it! Here’s a teaser (framed as a note to Harry from Dumbledore): Oh gosh, Harry. Not to pat [...]
Snape Static? (with Poll!) « Expecto Patronum said this on January 6, 2010 at 9:17 pm |
Thanks for the plug!
You’re welcome. But a word of warning: please avoid visiting my Expecto Patronum blog at all costs until you’ve finished Deathly Hallows. It will spoil you. And the last thing I want is to see you spoiled!
Just thought I’d give you the heads-up, since this is probably not the last time I’ll give you a plug!
You now what’s sad? I had to google one of the missing horcruxes, because I couldn’t remember what it was. And it’s awesome! (can I say that?) – I mean, the story behind it. And I didn’t remember the story either! I think I was just so ANXIOUS to finish DH that some storylines became blurry.
I’m so reading the 7th book again with you.
aaargh! There is a clue in book 4 about a conjecture you make here and I can’t tell you what it is… so frustrating…
…can’t say…mustn’t say… (bangs head repeatedly against nearest large heavy object)
Jeremy: Just breathe. She will read Deathly Hallows and all can be explained. I’m so biting my tongue right now!
Yes, the word “Horcrux” and the plural “Horcruxes” (not Horcri) gives my spell-check hell, too.
Jess, glad you were right about the premise of a Horcrux. You know you didn’t REALLY want us to tell you if you were right or not concerning what Horcruxes were and how they operate. I’ve learned my lesson about spoilers, so even if you ask (or beg), I’m not revealing ANYTHING…
Blog on!
HILARIOUS. Especially your assessment of Harry’s Horcrux quest as a Super Mario Bros. game. Indeed
Sorry, Harry, but our Horcrux is in another castle!
I am SO pumped for you to experience the rest of this series!!! Squee!
ahhhh I’m so excited for you to read book 7!!
and when I was at this point I had that kind of reaction too, like “really? he’s going to find and destory all of those and then defeat voldemort all in one book?”
Pessoal Visitem o nosso Blog…
http://escritoresloucos.blogspot.com/