In our last episode, we concluded our sundry Snape theories. Now to another significant mystery in the Harry Potter books: the matter of Horcruxes.

We know that Horcruxes are objects (or perhaps creatures) in which an evil wizard has placed a piece of his soul in order to extend his life unnaturally. This evil magic apparently always involves an act of murder—the most “soul-splitting” crime a wizard can commit. In Harry’s case, Voldemort was apparently attempting an unprecedented scheme of concocting seven Horcruxes in hopes of not only extending his life, but of actually making himself immortal. (Clan Murphy was reminded of how in Tolkien’s Middle Earth, the desire to escape death in one manner or another was the impulse behind every “fall” Tolkien narrated, whether that of men or elves.)

From what we gather in books 1 - 6, Voldemort chose Harry as the one to murder in the process of making his seventh and all-important Horcrux, because of Trelawney’s prophecy, overheard by Snape. that “neither could live while the other survived.” Of course, we know that Neville Longbottom, who shares Harry’s birthday, might have just as easily fulfilled this prophecy, but Voldemort believed it referred to Harry, and so arrived on the Potter doorstep that faithful evening.

Well, there are certainly a number of Horcrux-related mysteries, but we think one of the foremost of those to be revealed in Book 7 is that because of the misfiring of Voldemort’s Avada Kedabra curse (due to Lily’s self-sacrificing intervention), Harry was not killed, but was inadvertently made into a Horcrux himself (or at least his scar was) by Voldemort’s magic.

Our reasoning: Dumbledore mentiones that living creatures could conceivably be used as Horcruxes, and even believed that the great snake Nagini was one. And if Harry turned out to be a Horcrux—as we believe Dumbledore suspected—that would explain why Harry was able toe “read” and “feel” Voldemort’s thoughts and feelings from time to time, and why Dumbledore was so keen on having him learn Occlumency. And why Dumbledore emphasized Harry’s free will.

This would of course also explaine some of Harry’s unusual powers as a Wizard, and how it was that Dumbledore belived that some of Voldemort’s powers had been transferred to Harry in the botched curse.

The upshot: Harry, learning all this, will think he must die himself in order for all of Voldemort’s soul to be destroyed. As a result, Harry will attempt in some way to sacrifice himself for the destruction of Voldemort. What will happen, however, is that he will instead lose his Scar—the evidence of the Horcrux—since the act of self-sacrifice itself (witness the situation with Lily Potter’s death) is mysteriously powerful “old magic” as Voldemort himself once described it.

Rowling has said that the last word of the book will be “scar”. We think the last sentence will involve Ginny (or another major character, perhaps Hermione or Mrs. Weasley) kissing Harry on the forehead “where once there had been a scar.”

The ultimate consequence: Harry will indeed lose some of the powers “borrowed” as it were from Voldemort, but not his love or ability to fly—he will go on to become a great Quidditch player, like his father. (And marry Ginny of course, and so become a part of the wonderful Weasley family!)

Next time: the mysterious role of Ginny Weasley.

Tags: book reviews, books, Harry Potter