[littleleaguemom]

I can't imagine DD pleading FOR his life from Snape. DD had no fear of death; even in book 1 he referred to it as the next adventure for Nicholas Flame. I think the whole book was about passing the torch to Harry. Remember when he came to the Dursleys to make them promise to take Harry back for a brief time in the summer? Until he became of wizarding age at 17 and could go off on his own? After all HP has serious bucks and even that ratty house now. DD had to be telling Snape to really kill him. He'll still be around in his portrait.

Now what good are the horcruxes? How does V get out of a locket or ring to do anything?

[WV Mountain Mama]

It is when a soul is split and stored in an object. That way, if the person is killed, he isn't really dead. Half of his soul (or 1/7 of the soul in Voldemort's case) is still intact. It can therefore, be released and strengthened (like he was trying to do in the Chamber of Secrets with Ginny. Notice how his form was getting stronger and clearer until the Diary was destroyed.) Then he can become human again. At least that is my understanding.

[Quinotto]

My 2 cents into the apparent Snape betrayal: I think Snape and DD set it all up, I think that DD saw it coming and he was becoming weaker and weaker (by his own admission, everysince the failed Avakadevra spell which ended up hitting his "wand hand") and got Snape to earn Voldemort's complete trust by killing him. Harry was no use to Voldermort anymore, he got his blood in order to assume human form again so Harry's death would have been welcomed by Voldermort. Snape went out of his way to protect Harry and just remember his reaction upon Draco's mother request to vow to protect Draco at all expense...and DD's insistence in asking Harry not to be concerned with what Malfoy was planning...I do think DD is dead but I think it was a well-planned, well-thought sacrifice in behalf of Harry and final destruction of Voldemort.

[Cyclopean Squid]

Something I thought was weird was that Voldemort was using Nagini as a Horcrux. I think it's bizarre to use a living thing as a container for one's soul. What happens when the snake dies? Is the bit of soul destroyed? Is there a chance to put it somewhere else? Does the snake live forever, so long as the other Horcruxes and Voldemort are intact?

[null and void]

How does V get out of a locket or ring to do anything?

I think wearing it allows the wearer to be taken over.

More to the point, what good does making them nearly impossible to acquire serve?