Horcrux Counting

[gadfly22]

I have a question about the number of horcruxes (horcruces?) still out there.

Assuming an original number of 7 pieces of Voldemort's soul, with with one piece in his physical body and 6 hidden in objects, how many objects should be left?

Harry seems to be under the impression that there are 4 left (with maybe one in the new Voldy-body and 3 in objects), because 3 have been destroyed -- Tom Riddle's diary, the ring and the one presumably destroyed by "R.A.B.".

But shouldn't one piece of soul have been killed when the Killing Curse rebounded on Voldemort after bouncing off infant Harry? Doean't that leave only 6 total, with one in the new Voldy-body, which means 5 originally in objects and 3 of those destroyed? That leaves only 3 soul pieces left -- 1 in Voldy-body and 2 in objects.

And, with Voldemort back in corporeal form, why would he not have secreted more soul pieces in more horcruxes? The more, the immortaler.

Am I miscounting?

[Imelyen]

I think Dumbledore said there was one in Voldemort's snake...

I think Originally there was 1. Voldemort himself 2. The locket 3. The ring 4. The Diary 5. Something of Ravenclaw and 6. Hufflepuffs Cup (dont know if it was mentioned to be one, but i think it's safe to assume it is one)

After he returned dumbledore thinks he added one in Nagini. Since the Locket, the ring, and the diary have been destroyed, he still has 4 to go....the one in Voldemort is regenerated unless the other 6 are destroyed first (Have to re-read that part, but i believe that is what Dumbledore said)

[gadfly22]

That sounds right -- the Voldy-body soul-piece might not be able to die until the horcruxes with the other pieces have been destroyed.

That should set up Harry for a fight with Nagini and then a final battle with the Voldy-body rendered horcrux-less.

[Imelyen]

I think Ron will Kill Nagini, sort of a "Take that for hurting my dad" kind of thing, the plus...it would be doing something useful!

[thestral]

please let ron do SOMETHING constructive rather than just cracking a joke!!!

[Imelyen]

He's, uhh, good at getting hit...

[thestral]

ummmm and at chess.... but i don't think there will be many more giant chess sets to battle. nor will VD challenge harry or ron to a spot of chess in the park.

[gadfly22]

Ron may be relatively useless (except at chess), but HBP clearly sets a fellowship of friends -- of which Ron is in the inner circle -- against the friendless Voldemort, who has followers but no friends or desire for them.

That lack of comradeship and loyalty on Voldy's part may be a factor in his undoing, since his followers will diminish as his power wanes. And Peter Pettigrew may have a particular role to play in turning on Voldy, given Harry's Frodo-like hold over him.

[Kalessin]

Hmm, something just occured to me. I have been a little worried over Harry's lack of magical skill (something I thought might be fixed a little in HBP) and I was thinking that in the 7th book, he would suddenly come into his power and gain a bit of skill.

However, the posts above have made me think that with each piece of Voldemort's soul Harry destroys (or is already destroyed), Voldemort becomes weaker magically (or otherwide)? I mean, if Voldemort is reduced to just having 1/7th of a soul, he can't be all that durable surely?

[menotyoo]

Whoever said that the soul in LV cannot die unless all 6 others are destroyed is right. That is why there can be 7 counted. Now whoever said that LV should add more: he doesn't know that any are gone, so he will not make any more because 7 is the most magical number, and he believes he is most powerful at that number.
Now. the 7 are: LV himself, diary, ring, Slytherin's locket, Hufflepuff's cup, Gryffendor's something, and Nagini. At the end of the book, Harry believes that ONLY the diary and the ring are gone. He does not count LV as a Horcrux. He does not risk that RAB has destroyed the locket. He says there are 4 out there to find, and then he must kill LV.
Hopefully, he will be pleasantly surprised to find the locket destroyed. Honestly, I think it must be, since in one book there were only 2 Horcruxes destroyed, along w/ the rest of the plot, so I don't see how 4 scattered around the world - w/o DD to help find them - would take about 2,000 pages. (not that I'd mind!!!)

[Anna Black]

Yes. 7 is the most magical number and Dumbledore did not believe LV knew when his horcruxes were being destroyed. There would have been no need to leave a note in the fake locket if LV knew that horcrux was missing or destroyed. That note was meant to be found by LV to let him know someone was hunting the horcruxes.

Also, I absolutely believe that Harry does not count the locket as being destroyed. He does not want to take for granted that the locket has been destroyed, he has no real proof. The note only said that RAB would destroy the locket. It would be irresponsible for Harry to just assume the locket was destroyed without tangible proof.

He knows the diary is destroyed, as is the ring.
1.diary 2.ring 3.Nagini 4.locket 5.Hufflepuff's cup 6.something of Gryffindor's or Ravenclaw's (Dumbeldore was sure it would be something of Ravenclaw's/he didn't think there was anything left of Gryffindor's except the sword)

Harry is not concerned with the seventh thing, LV himself, because he knows it would be worthless to try to destroy LV without having first destroyed the rest of the horcruxes. Another reason it is so crucial to not just assume RAB has already destroyed the locket. If he hadn't, Voldemort could not be destroyed.

I am certain RAB has destroyed the locket. But, Harry would not want to assume anything. I think we will meet RAB in book 7 and find out.

[dibble2]

Okay, two potential problems coming up. Number one: Is there any way for Harry to know for certain that he has destroyed all six horcruxes before he takes on Voldemort? For instance, if he assumes the locket is destroyed and takes out all the other horcruxes, will he have any way of confirming if the locket is indeed out of the picture? Number two: Voldemort must know his diary has been destroyed. Lucius would have known, and certainly would have told him something of such great importance. Voldemort could have made another one after his return to replace the diary.

Also, I think Dumbledore says that although his soul is no longer whole, his intellect and magical ability are as strong as ever.

While I'm at it, Harry doesn't know how to destroy a horcrux. It can't be easy! For that matter, R.A.B. might not have been able to do it and that leave the locket out there. Book 7 is going to be pretty thick, I imagine.

[niki_192]

hmmmmmmmm i dont know..... i still think that harry should've come bak to hogwarts for the seventh year to finish his school years so that he could know more spells and be more advanced for hunting LV (itt also mentioned that wen he came bak to hogsmede with dd he said he didnt have an appirition licence yet) so i thought he would come bak... oh well

[Stumpy]

he will be able to take his exam in the summer on his 17 birthday! and he didnt seem to have to much trouble with the other death eaters! but i agree he's not going to be the greatest and not up to teacher standards e.g. Snape. Saying that he did manage to teach the DA Defence against the Dark Arts. We also have to remember that he is going to have alot of support from friends and the order

[niki_192]

it still shocked me when he said he wasnt going to come back to hogwarts