As I’m continuing to slowly work through the Harry Potter series, I’m looking for horcrux clues. I think I’ve stumbled upon another one that supports the scar theory. In Chamber of Secrets, we encounter the first object that we know for sure is a horcrux: The Riddle Diary.
Prior to the discovery of the diary, we have already learned that Harry can speak Parseltongue, just like Voldemort, and the Sorting Hat has affirmed that he would have done well in Slytherin. Though Ron insists the diary contains nothing of value, since nothing is written in it, Harry seems to think differently:
Harry couldn’t explain, even to himself, why he didn’t just throw Riddle’s diary away. The fact was that even though he knew the diary was blank, he kept absentmindedly picking it up and turning the pages, as though it were a story he wanted to finish. And while Harry was sure he had never heard the name T.M. Riddle before, it still seemed to mean something to him, almost as though Riddle was a friend he’d had when he was very small, and had half-forgotten. But this was absurd. He’d never had friends before Hogwarts, Dudley had made sure of that. (Chamber of Secrets, 233-34, bold emphasis mine)
The bolded words are the important ones. Why would Harry feel this connection with the Voldemort horcrux, as though it were an old friend of his? We know that Rowling likes irony, and these seemingly throw-away lines often hold important clues. When she puts phrases like, “But this was absurd” into Harry’s thoughts, it often means, “In reality, this is not absurd, Harry just thinks it is.”
I submit that this is more evidence for the scar-as-horcrux theory. How would Harry have this connection with Voldemort, as though he were a childhood friend? Part of Voldemort’s soul has always been with him. Especially in the presence of another horcrux, Harry has this funny feeling that he’s unable to explain and dismisses as “absurd.” I think it’s an important clue.
Quick review so far on support, whether directly or indirectly, for the scar-as-horcrux theory, chronologically (through the books): In Philosopher’s Stone, we have Harry’s dream. In Chamber of Secrets, we have parseltongue, the Sorting Hat’s affirmation of his potential for success in Slytherin, and Harry’s interaction with the Riddle diary. Of course we still have that famous quote by Dumbledore in the last part of Chamber, which I’ll blog about when I get there.
revgeorge on 
Arabella Figg on 
Fricka on 
Lynn on 
Steve Morrison on 
Ally on 
Joivre on 
Loading ...
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
On the other hand, couldn’t the connection with the book be a nod towards the connection that he has with Voldemort… the reasons he ends up taking Oculomancy lessons down the line?
But how does the connection exist? That’s what the scar-as-horcrux theory explains. How does Harry have a connection with Voldemort? Part of Voldemort’s soul is imbedded in a scar in his forehead. That’s how he can have a connection between every other living being that has part of Voldemort’s soul (LV himself, and Nagini).
Travis – What a coincidence (no such thing, of course!), but I’ve been listening to Chamber of Secrets again, I thought about that line (friend he had when he was very small) over and over again. I believe it foreshadows the connection between Harry and V, and from what we’ve learned in other books, the connection is quite obvious and quite strong. But I still don’t believe that it means, necessarily, that the scar is a horcrux.
As you can tell, I’m quite resistant to the theory.
Great post.
My new thought on this: a “bit of Voldemort” is in Harry and a “bit of Voldemort” is in each horcrux. That’s the connection, even if it’s not a “scarcrux”. In a sense, it’s not even proper to say that there’s a part of Voldemort’s soul in each horcrux because the human soul is supposed to remain whole and intact, as Slughorn reminded Riddle. It would be more proper to say that each “bit” was at one time part of Voldemort’s soul.
The phrase “accidental horcrux” is clumsy, I’ll admit, but it’s an attempt to explain how Voldemort’s plan has been his undoing since he’s given Harry some of his own great power in his division of his own self. I think that has already been shown to be the case, examples include the parseltongue, the wand effects, inability to touch Harry, etc.
LaShawn, I was very resistant to the theory at first, but it seemed to me that I had no good textual reason for being against it. I just didn’t want it to be true. Then I realized a couple of things. (1) It is probably the best explanation we have for all the unexplained phenomena surrounding the scar, and (2) It’s not necessarily true that Harry will have to die in order to destroy the horcrux.
I’m still willing to hear counterarguments and give the theory up, but I haven’t heard a good one other than, “I just don’t want it to be true,” nor have I heard a better alternative theory.
Pauli, I had another thought recently on the “accidental horcrux” issue. What if the horcrux spell is actually an addendum to the AK curse? What if the spells are cast simultaneously by the same person, so that as the soul tears while the AK curse is being performed, it can be used immediately on an object to “horcruxify” it? I’m going to start working on this as an alternative theory and see if I can make it go anywhere.
i have been SO resistant to this theory also, but find that resistance very slowly being eroded…..
jkr2
Call me an idiot, but what the heck is a “horcrux”?
Hah! Never mind, there is a wiki on it…unbelievable. That one would have never made it in Encyclopedia Brittanica!
The wonders of modern technology!
The proof presented just seems to establish a connection between Harry is a horcrux and nothing specifically that says its ony the scar that is a horcrux
Its a part of harry’s mind that is linked to LV’s
If its only the “scar what is the connection between the scar and harry’s mind… ?
A scar is probably more of a consequence of the action of making Harry a horcrux
(intended or unintended)
Skylar, JKR has said that it is the place of the scar (moreso than the shape) that matters. Hence, there has to be some significance to its being on his head.
It’s also pretty clear that the scar is really important.