mainly HBP musings - the potion in the cave

[kennahijja]

Ah, Christmas is over! Hope you all had a good and not too stressful time! Ours was nice, relaxed and enjoyable, and I spent an hour on the phone to my best friend in the US on the 25th (after 1am, but... shudders at thought of phone bill). Still, it left me lots of time with fanfic in front of the computer, and curled up with HBP in bed. Which means a substantial fic rec post should be forthcoming tonight :).

But while re-reading HBP (and after mulling over Horcrux traps for the recent fic), something occurred to me about the potion Harry and Dumbledore encounter in the Cave in HBP...

In HBP, the Horcrux is at the bottom of the basin, and Dumbledore concludes:

"But how to reach it? This potion cannot be penetrated by hand, Vanished, parted, scooped up, or siphoned away, nor can it be Transfigured, Charmed, or otherwise made to change its nature." Almost absentmindedly, Dumbledore raised his wand again, twirled it once in midair, and then caught the crystal goblet that he had conjured out of nowhere. "I can only conclude that this potion is supposed to be drunk."
"What?" said Harry. "No!"
"Yes, I think so: Only by drinking it can I empty the basin and see what lies in its depths."

And then:

Before Harry could make any further protest, Dumbledore lowered the crystal goblet into the potion. For a split second, Harry hoped that he would not be able to touch the potion with the goblet, but the crystal sank into the surface as nothing else had; when the glass was full to the brim, Dumbledore lifted it to his mouth. "Your good health, Harry."

So... if the potion can be scooped out by goblet, why does Dumbledore *drink* the stuff? Why not empty the goblet on the floor or something? I'm sure this has been discussed by someone before, but I just wonder... Anyone encountered any theories?

Comments

[kennahijja.livejournal.com]

I always thought that RAB had also brought somebody with him... (an interesting theory - forgot who brought it up - pointed at Kreacher once). Which of course doesn't solve the where-does-the-potion-come-from problem. Unless it's self-refilling, but on a slower rate than it is scooped out?

Totally with you on the spectacular fit of pique :).

I *really* think you should write that Dementor theory up as fic - it's brilliant! :)

[leni-jess.livejournal.com]

I've thought Kreacher might have been his companion, too. You'd need one, if only because the person who drinks is going to go loopy long before he's done.

I enjoyed promulgating the Dementor theory, but I dunno about writing it up as fic – it's more the kind of thing sollersuk does when she writes these pseudo-scholarly bits of history of magic in early Britain. However, I will bear your encouragement in mind.