Remaining Questions: Making Inferi

It's said that Voldemort killed (or had killed) enough people to make an army of Inferi. Meanwhile, we know that Voldemort had placed several Inferi in the black lake, where he placed the locket horcrux.

However, we don't see any Inferius attacks first-hand other than in that cave. And we don't hear specifics of any new attacks on the general populace since Voldemort's first rise to power. The Ministry warns that since Voldemort had used Inferi in the past he might use them again, but apparently he didn't. Looks like he only made them before attacking the Potters, not afterwards, and that they all ended up in the black lake. Why is this?

Dumbledore gives us an interesting hint about it, but the details are missing. He told Harry that Grindelwald wanted to use the Resurrection Ring in order to raise an army of Inferi. Though Grindelwald never found the ring (it was still in the possession of the Gaunt family), Voldemort sure did -- he stole it the day he killed his father and paternal grandparents. He was still known as Tom Riddle then, still a student at Hogwarts, still a member of the Slug Club, but he knew how to make a Horcrux by then. He obviously didn't understand that the ring he used to make a Horcrux also happened to be a Hallow. Peverell ring = Resurrection Ring. If he had known just how special the ring was he might never have turned it into a Horcrux. Did Voldemort make Inferi without knowing how he did it? Had he figured out how to tap the ring's ability to make Inferi without understanding the ring?

Is there another way to make Inferi without the Resurrection Ring?

Prediction: Kreacher will

Here's an article about a character that JKR said should be in the OotP movie, since he will be important to Deathly Hallows:


This is great! From the cover of the UK children's edition of Deathly Hallows you can see a House Elf riding Harry's back and holding up a sword. It has pointed ears, like Kreacher's, not more-rounded ears... like Dobby's. But the artwork allows for some artistic license, so we couldn't be sure which House Elf it was... or if it was actually a friendly Goblin.

Of course we had a feeling Kreacher would still be important to the story, since there was a good chance R.A.B. (Regulus Black) left Slytherin's locket (used as a horcrux by Voldemort) somewhere in #12 Grimmauld Place. Chances are it's no longer there, as Mundungus has stolen several items, and Aberforth appears to have bought something from Dung, perhaps the locket (pulls his cloak up about his neck before he walks away).

Interestingly, this works well with the unauthorised teaser given earlier by an unknown person claiming that something Harry thought was against him is actually loyal to him. Of course, Harry owns Kreacher, and he might be simply following Harry's orders, against his own will....

The Hallows of Britain

The "Four Hallows" might have come from a list of 13 Hallows or Treasures of Britain. How might these items creep into HP?

The following quotes are all from http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/13.html. My comments are in other text colors.

"Dyrnwyn, gleddyf Rhydderch Hael: White-Hilt, the Sword of Rhydderch the Generous: if a well-born man drew it himself, it burst into flame from its hilt to its tip. And everyone who used to ask for it would receive; but because of this peculiarity everyone used to reject it. And therefore he was called Rhydderch the Generous." Godric Gryffindor's sword doesn't have a white hilt. We don't know just how "well-born" Harry is, but we tend to assume he is well-born anyway. Though it doesn't seem to burst into flames, Fawkes sure does. Harry was hoping desperately for help when he received the sword. The sword is helpful, can be said to be "generous"... at least to the loyal.

"Mwys Gwyddno Garanir: The Hamper of Gwyddno Long-Shank: food for one man would be put in it, and when it was opened, food for a hundred men would be found in it." I'm not sure if this shows up in HP, yet. (It sure would make food prep at Hogwarts easier for the House Elves, not that it's particularly difficult for them.)

"Korn Bran Galed o'r Gogledd : The Horn of Bran the Niggard from the North: whatever drink might be wished for was found in it." The Hufflepuff cup might be an HP version of the horn.

"Kar Morgan Mwynfawr: The Chariot of Morgan the Wealthy: if a man went in it, he might wish to be wherever he would, and he would be there quickly." The HP wizarding world has vanishing cabinets, flying chariots, ships that appear out of whirlpools, thestrals, the Floo Network, portkeys, and apparation, among other quick, magical modes of transport not yet mentioned.

"Kebystr Klydno Eiddin: The Halter of Clydno Eiddyn, which was fixed to a staple at the foot of his bed: whatever horse he might wish for, he would find in the halter." I haven't found any version of this halter in HP, though Harry has little trouble finding horsey things to help him (centaur, thestral, hippogriff, etc.). Cars and motorcycles, flying or otherwise, are discussed in terms of how much horsepower they have in their engines. Even the horse-faced Petunia might help Harry by providing him with more information.

"Kyllell Llawfrodedd Farchog: The Knife of Llawfrodedd the Horseman, which would serve for twenty-four men to eat at table." I bet the Weasley's wish they had such a knife....

"Pair Dyrnwch Gawr: The Cauldron of Dyrnwch the Giant: if meat for a coward were put in it to boil, it would never boil; but if meat for a brave man were put in it, it would boil quickly (and thus the brave could be distinguished from the cowardly)." This would be a cool way for Snape to prove he's no coward! Except I imagine he'd make a potion, not just try to cook some meat....

"Hogalen Tudwal Tutklyd: The Whetstone of Tudwal Tudglyd: if a brave man sharpened his sword on it, if it (then) drew blood from a man he would die. If a cowardly man (sharpened his sword on it), he (his opponent) would be no worse." Another interesting way to separate the brave from the cowardly. However, the only time we see anything close to a whetstone is when Macnair sharpens the ax for beheading Buckbeak. Of course, Buckbeak didn't lose his head, but he was gone, so Macnair never had the chance to try....

"Pais Badarn Beisrydd: The Coat of Padarn Red-Coat: if a well-born man put it on, it would be the right size for him; if a churl, it would not go upon him." Don't know about this item, but I imagine if someone "well-born" had it they'd never need Madam Malkin to make them a coat. This could be related to the Invisibilty Cloak, since Harry is at least somewhat "well-born", but in the Potterverse being well-born might have another meaning....

"Gren a desgyl Rhygenydd Ysgolhaig: The Crock and the Dish of Rhygenydd the Cleric: whatever food might be wished for in them, it would be found." Reminds me of when Hogarts students, staff, and guests choose what they want from a menu... and the chosen food appears on the platters.

"Gwyddbwyll Gwenddoleu ap Ceidio: The Chessboard of Gwenddolau son of Ceidio: if the pieces were set, they would play by themselves. The board was of gold , and the men of silver." Wizard Chess, anyone?

"Llen Arthyr yng Nghernyw: The Mantle of Arthur in Cornwall: whoever was under it could not be seen, and he could see everyone." A perfect precursor of the Invisibilty Cloak.

"These belong to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries; the earliest manuscript contains only the names of the Treasures without the explanatory comments. The earliest versions refer to the Treasures 'that were in the North' and the majority of names are from Y Cogledd. In a few of the later versions two other Treasures are added (the Mantle of Tegau Eurfon and Eluned's Stone and Ring), dropping one item and counting 'the Crock and the Dish' as one item instead of two." We have no Mantle of Tegau Eurfon (it covers a chaste woman but shows the nakedness of a loose woman) in the HP series, at least not quite. JKR might have decided not to touch this one, since it's a bit risque for a children's novel. Of course, we have a few strange robes and cloaks throughout the series, so its young reader-friendly replacement could be somewhere. Besides, it 's a bit too close to The Coat of Padarn Red-Coat. Eluned's name was changed to Luned and has ties to the moon (la luna). Her ring made the wearer invisible as long as the stone of the ring was turned toward the palm and concealed in a fist. The closest thing we have in HP to this ring with the stone is the Paravelle ring, which we last saw in Dumbledore's office. And where is it now?

On "Deathly Hallows"

This could be a reference to the "Four Hallows" of Celtic myth, various items in Arthurian legend, or any other Fisher King-like story.

Quoted from http://www.answers.com/topic/four-treasures :

Four Treasures
"The Tuatha Dé Danann came to Ireland from four cities on four islands in the North; Murias, Falias, Gorias and Findias, bringing with them The Four Treasures, also known as The Hallows of Ireland.
From Falias was brought the Stone of Fal (Lia Fáil), The Stone of Destiny which was supposedly located near the Hill of Tara in County Meath. It used to cry out beneath every king of Ireland. Said to hold Ireland above the waves. The Druid who lived in Falias was named Morfessa. From Gorias was brought the Spear of Destiny (Spear Luin). The Druid who lived in Gorias was named Esras. It was forged by the Smith of Falias for Lugh to use in his fight against Balor. No battle was ever sustained against it, or against the man who held it. From Findias was brought the sword of Nuada (Claíomh Solais). The Druid who lived in Findias was named Uscias. No one ever escaped from it once it was drawn from its deadly sheath, and no one could resist it. A bronze sword in the National Museum in Dublin claims to be this sword. From Murias was brought The Dagda’s Cauldron, the Coire Anseasc ("Undry Cauldron"). Semias was the Druid who lived in Murias. The cauldron was bottomless, capable of feeding an army. No company ever went away from it unsatisfied."

If JKR intends for us to consider the Hallows of Ireland, the Deathly Hallows are probably tied in with the four founders of Hogwarts: Godric Gryffindor, Helga Hufflepuff, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Salazar Slytherin. Not necesarily from different islands, they are definitely from different parts of the land.

We'll also have to see how this ties in with the horcruxes Harry has to find, as well as various items that could help Harry in his quest to defeat Voldemort.

Gryffindor's sword was not turned into a horcrux, but Voldemort might have been trying to find a Gryffindor item during his interview for the DADA position many years prior. Harry was able to "pull it out of the Sorting Hat" while battling Slytherin's Basilisk back in the Chamber of Secrets. It might come in handy again. Come to think of it, the Chamber of Secrets, or other hidden areas below Hogwarts, might come in handy. It's interesting that Dumbledore has the sword and says Harry would have to be a "true Gryffindor" in order to get it out of the hat. I wonder if 1) Dumbledore used this sword during his fight with Grindlewald, and 2) Dumbledore's odd scar above his left knee was somehow caused during that battle (either by sword or wand). Let's also recall that Vernon drove into the middle of a forest during what I call the "flight of the Muggle" (PS/SS). A forest is where Godric Gryffindor came from.

Hufflepuff's cup (a replacement for the cauldron) was intended for becoming a horcrux, but Harry hasn't found it yet. A few of the places it could be: Potter house ruins in Godric's Hollow, near or in the rubble of Brockdale Bridge (brockdale means "badger valley"), trophy room at Hogwarts, Room of Requirement junk room at Hogwarts. Brockdale Bridge also reminds me of the suspension bridge Vernon gets halfway across before turning around during his "flight of the Muggle". Of course Vernon also drove to the middle of a field... the field being a more direct reference to Hufflepuff from the valley.

Slytherin's locket could be the representation of the stone often appearing in early hallows myths. Sometimes it is a silver dish. Again I'm reminded of the bridge that Vernon drove to, simply because bridges denote water. Of course, Harry and Dumbledore travelled to a cave with an underground lake. The water reference here is unquestionable.

We don't know what Ravenclaw heirloom Voldemort found, if he even found one. The last of the four hallows is generally a spear or a rod. A wand would fit quite well, and we have one that is as of yet unexplained: it was on the purple pillow in Ollivander's wand shop. Where it is now, we don't know, but I should think we'll see it again when Ollivander makes an appearance in DH.... We also have the brother wands owned by Harry and Voldemort. A variation for the spear is Nagini. We might not think of a possessed snake as being a "hallow", but she did bite Arthur Weasley in the side, much like one version of the spear (lance of Longinus) was poked into Jesus's side in stories of the crucifixion. Yet another possible variation of the spear (of destiny) is Harry's scar, a scar of destiny. Harry's scar is shaped like a bolt of lightning, or like a Sowulo rune, so it's a good fit, too, and it tends to make Harry feel like there is a re-opening wound, like it should burst at any moment and bleed. We figure the scar has some other significance than what has been explained so far, since it's the last word of the septology... so far. We should also consider Vernon's drive to the top floor of a multi-level car garage; this can be seen as symbolic of Air, of Ravenclaw, of wands.

If we look at the Thirteen Hallows/Royal Treasures of Britain (http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/13.html) we should also consider:

• cauldrons (leaky or otherwise),
• knives (silver),
• the Invisibility Cloak,
• the Black family silver (particularly the chalices/cups),
• a chariot, the vanishing cabinets, or the flying motorcycle,
• horse references (centaurs, thestrals, hippogriffs, Abraxan horses, chessboard knights, even the horse-faced Petunia Dursley, if anyone mentions the "horsepower" of the Ford Anglia or the flying motorcycle),
• wizard chessboards,
• a whetstone (perhaps the Pensieve is an odd variation),
• a coat or some robes that shrink or enlarge to fit (what about those robes that attacked Ron?),
• as well as a stone and ring (the Perevelle ring's a good fit here). The Philosopher's Stone could also be considered here, even though it has its own rich history.

What else? (updated April 13th, 2007)

• the hamper Slughorn receives every year from Honeydukes.
• any horns (drinking horns)

Hufflepuff's Cup

I was reading some google group posts about HP issues, and I saw a list of questions. One of them in particular caught my attention: Where is Hufflepuff's cup if we should be able to figure out the horcruxes by reading books 1 through 6?

I have an idea! Couldn't it be placed among all the plaques and trophy cups in the trophy room at Hogwarts? Would anyone pay particular attention to this cup if it was placed there? Could a horcrux be "stored" at Hogwarts without Dumbledore quickly detecting it?

When would Tom/Voldemort have placed the cup there if that's where it is? When he went to Hogwarts for his job interview?

Could someone else have later placed the cup there on Voldemort's behalf? Snape? We know that Lucius had Voldemort's diary. We think Voldemort hid the locket himself (Dumbledore detected Voldemort's magic signatures). Who planted the ring at the Gaunt house...probably Voldemort, but maybe not. Might Voldemort entrust Snape with protecting the cup without explaining why it was so valuable to him? All Voldemort would have to say is that it once belonged to a founder, and that it should be protected as an historical artifact. Snape might have thought the best place for it was the trophy case....

And if I'm totally wrong, where else could it be?

What about the horcrux Voldemort had planned to make with Harry's death back in 1981? Which artifact was Voldemort going to use? Who found it at Godric's Hollow after the attack, or was it even found?

There are two major possibilities here: either the item is still in the ruins of the Potter house or someone found it and took it away. We know Sirius went there and we know Hagrid went there. We also know that Fudge and some other ministry folk showed up. There's also the mysterious person who must have been at the Potter house the night of the attack...Harry? Snape? Wormtail? So many possibilities. We know it wasn't handed over to Dumbledore, otherwise Dumbledore would have mentioned this to Harry after showing him the memory about the cup and locket. However, it doesn't rule out the possibility that it somehow ended up in the Hogwarts trophy case.

Hagrid doesn't mention anything about Sirius taking items from the crime scene, so that pretty much (but not quite) rules out Sirius. What about #12 Grimmauld...or the place Sirius bought with inherittance...or the Black family vault?

Hagrid probably would have either overlooked it or would have taken it to Dumbledore.

Fudge and his employees would have taken it back to the MoM if they thought it was of any significance...or might have kept it for personal, greedy reasons.

Wormtail doesn't seem to know about the horcruxes (though you think he'd know by now) so he could have left it in the ruins or placed it just about anywhere...at Hogwarts...even at The Burrow.

If Snape found it he'd probably figure out it's somehow important and connected to Voldemort in some way. He could have taken it to Hogwarts or even to Spinner's End. I'd like to think he'd take it to Dumbledore, but I'm a bit on the fence about Snape's loyalty. He might ultimately be loyal only to himself.... If he found it, he obviously didn't take it to Dumbledore.

And then there is the whole idea of Harry not just viewing a memory but actually travelling back in time to witness the attack first-hand. If this is the case, then he will have found one of the objects originally intended to be a horcrux -- an object that is not a horcrux.

Best case senario: Snape or Timetravel!Harry finds the Hufflepuff cup at Godric's Hollow. It's not a horcrux because Voldemort didn't get to use it. Either man sneaks the cup into Hogwarts and places it in the trophy case.

Worst case senario: Harry witnesses the attack (either through time travel or pensieve), sees the item (might be something other than the cup), sees someone take it, and now wants to track down the item. I say "wants" only because he doesn't need to track down an artifact that isn't a horcrux.

Harry doesn't realize it yet, but his trip to Godric's Hollow, either in the present or in the past, will either gain him one item or give him major clues as to where it is. Horcrux or no horcrux, it's one item Harry will be able to cross off his list....