James' Invisibility Cloak, Why did Dumbledore have it? |
 Sep 13 2006, 10:01 AM
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#1
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Official Singer of the Sorting Hat Song  Posts: 6,606 Joined: 3:12pm July 22, 2005 Location: Lost in Hermione's beaded bag    |
Well, I hope this hasn't already been asked elsewhere, but JKR has recently posted this "Never Asked Question" on her website. See NAQ
Why did Dumbledore have James' invisibility cloak on the night James died? Dumbledore can become invisible without it. And it is apparently very VERY important. Why? -------------------- Come the words that bubble
Up through broken laughter, Sweeter than spring-water, "Gods, I am so happy!" |
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Sep 13 2006, 10:24 AM
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Flesh-Eating-Slug Catcher Posts: 165 Joined: 4:03pm June 21, 2005 |
All I can think is that it has some value beyond just being an extremely rare type of item--it was something that James didn't want Voldemort or his followers to have in the event they were discovered. This has just occurred to me, so I haven't thought it out yet, but I had always assumed that there was something at Godric's Hollow that Voldemort wanted, maybe even that he was planning to turn into a Horcrux. I don't think the invisibility cloak is a Horcrux, or even necessarily a founders' artifact, but keeping it safe from the Death Eaters is the only reason I can think of for James to entrust the cloak to Dumbledore (although it is sort of reminiscent of Obi-Wan telling Luke that Anakin gave him his lightsaber to give to his son:-)).
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Sep 13 2006, 10:26 AM
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#3
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Being Eaten by the Pea Soup Posts: 20 Joined: 5:37pm April 11, 2006 Location: Efrat, Israel |
I have absolutely no idea what the answer to that question is, but I can assume that James didn't give it to Dumbledore because he needed it. There was probably some reason James didn't want it, possibly because he knew Voldemort was going to kill him and he figured if he found the cloak in the house he'd take it and use it himself. Or maybe James just donated it to the Order, because as a group they'd probably need it more than he did as an individual, and when Dumbledore gave it back to Harry it was because the Order didn't have much to do and he felt Harry deserved to have it.
Well, as it turns out, I have a bit more of an opinion than I thought I did... -------------------- "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." -Dr. Seuss. July 21st, 2007 |
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Sep 13 2006, 10:46 AM
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Flesh-Eating-Slug Catcher Posts: 165 Joined: 4:03pm June 21, 2005 |
I don't know. It seems to me that the language "Your father left this in my possession before he died" is significant. There are different interpretations, but it seems to me that DD is saying that the cloak was given to him not long before the attack, and possibly in anticipation of the attack. I don't think the Death Eaters really NEEDED to be invisible at the height of Voldemort's power--they weren't exactly engaged in much stealthy activity. I think that, if it was given to keep it out of the Death Eaters' hands, it was because the cloak has some power in addition to invisibility that needed to be kept safe.
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Sep 13 2006, 11:11 AM
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Stargazing on the Astronomy Tower  Posts: 3,908 Joined: 8:04pm September 28, 2005 Location: Astronomy Tower |
 I was one of those that felt the Cloak had no real significance. So now taking into account that there IS something important and reading over the posts. I thought one possibilty was James didn't feel he needed it and gave to DD. It makes me think that James didn't feel he was going to get out of this alive.
--------------------  "We need metaphors of magic and monsters in order to understand the human condition."-Stephen Donaldson "One of the greatest talents in the world is to never say two words when one will do." |
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Sep 13 2006, 11:12 AM
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#6
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Freelance Daily Prophet Reporter Posts: 1,537 Joined: 3:18pm August 30, 2005 Location: Mon pays ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver. |
Obviously Dumbledore was not at Godric's Hollow that night with the invisibility cloak or the Potters would not have died. The cloaks can't be extremely rare because Mad-Eye Moody has two of them. I am astonished that she said "There IS a significant - even crucial answer". Boy I didn't think the invisibility cloak was that important. I just figured that Dumbledore had borrowed it and that is where it was when he died. It must relate to whoever was at the house and alerted Dumbledore to the attack. Whoever it was, was obviously not able to fire a shot in defense of Harry or Lily but must have been hiding under the cloak and was able to tell Dumbledore what happened.
-------------------- "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." Hunter Thompson
"Shun the non-believers! Shun! Shun!" from Charlie the Unicorn |
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Sep 13 2006, 11:19 AM
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#7
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Trying to Resell a Used Comet Two-Sixty Posts: 2,574 Joined: 6:16pm October 4, 2005 Location: Reading the Lexicon |
I'm going to phrase my answer very tongue-in-cheek but there is the possibility of some part of it being true-I've always wondered why Harry witnessed DD's murder under the cloak but couldn't do anything to stop it-unless someone else was in a similar situation, where they couldn't help the Potters for example. It is suspected someone might have been at the Potters that night. I've also wondered if there was a time-turner involved, so someone went back afterward. There are lots of odd questions like why did it take 24 hours for Harry to show up at the Dursleys. But if DD say went back and watched what happened but of course did not stop it because he could not. Or perhaps some people seem to think Snape promised Lily he'd watch out for Harry. Anyway, perhaps the Potters were warned LV was on his way, and being the brave Gryffindor, James didn't run from him, but in fact, knew he was probably a goner and gave DD (or whomever it was) his cloak.
ETA: Most of Snape's answers at Spinner's End have a possible "but" at the end (ie-DD was recently injured but I healed him). He says he was at Hogwarts the night of the attack-but what? This post has been edited by PAM2002: Sep 13 2006, 11:22 AM -------------------- “Sweet is true love that is given in vain, and sweet is death that takes away pain.” -Alfred, Lord Tennyson |
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Sep 13 2006, 11:22 AM
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#8
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Stargazing on the Astronomy Tower Posts: 3,908 Joined: 8:04pm September 28, 2005 Location: Astronomy Tower |
Ooo what if it was Snape under that cloak? Certainly anyone else would have told Harry by now. No WONDER Jo didn't allow James death to be filmed. I can imagine someone grabbing that cloak to hide from Voldemort and when Voldemort fell the person went to DD and told him what had happened. I don't think DD could possibly have been their either, and if this is "crucial" then yes this could be evidence to confirm a certain former potions master's loyalty!
-------------------- "We need metaphors of magic and monsters in order to understand the human condition."-Stephen Donaldson "One of the greatest talents in the world is to never say two words when one will do." |
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Sep 13 2006, 11:24 AM
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#9
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Official Singer of the Sorting Hat Song Posts: 6,606 Joined: 3:12pm July 22, 2005 Location: Lost in Hermione's beaded bag |
When Dumbledore took Harry to the cave, he asked Harry to wear this cloak. I assume Dumbledore also escorted someone --away from Godrics Hollow?-- and this person needed to be unseen. Who? Who would be visiting James & Lily as well as Dumbledore and need to go about unseen? Snape? RAB?
If it does refer to someone coming and going unseen to the Potters, who could it be? It's not Sirius, Lupin, or Pettigrew. These are all accounted for. Did Dumbledore take baby Harry to and from the Potters' hiding place during this time? There's something hidden here. -------------------- Come the words that bubble
Up through broken laughter, Sweeter than spring-water, "Gods, I am so happy!" |
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Sep 13 2006, 11:31 AM
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#10
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Stargazing on the Astronomy Tower Posts: 3,908 Joined: 8:04pm September 28, 2005 Location: Astronomy Tower |
The possiblities are tantilizing I agree, though could it have been RAB? Somehow I think that if DD and RAB had been in contact then DD would have know about that Cave much earlier and done something about it before HBP. It does seem to indicate that someone else needed to be invisible other then James, Lily or DD.
Interesting side note but how does DD become invisible without a cloak?? Spell? Potion? I'm wondering if someone was at Godric's Hollow trying to warn James and Lily to flee. James refused to, so when Voldemort came a knocking the person then hid under James's cloak. -------------------- "We need metaphors of magic and monsters in order to understand the human condition."-Stephen Donaldson "One of the greatest talents in the world is to never say two words when one will do." |
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