Speculation: What's being guarded on the third floor?

[zorb]

Hello, fellow alt_fen! Since I don't appear to be alone here (yay!), I thought I'd kick off a discussion on the mystery just starting to unfold.

Now, of course, we all know what was canonically on the third floor, and what it was guarding. But how much of that still holds in this universe, with corporeal Voldemort and the Ministry essentially in control of Hogwarts?

From Harry and Draco's conversation, it still sounds like it's Fluffy - perhaps not named as such ;-) - guarding the trap door. And I can certainly imagine that Voldemort would still be on his quest for immortality. It doesn't seem like Hogwarts would be the wisest place to hide the Stone, though, with DEs all around and within it, and lacking the teachers' protections.

What do you think?

Comments

[brimtoast.livejournal.com]

I am pretty sure it's Fluffy. There's a reference to the multiple heads (http://alt-neville.livejournal.com/2283.html?thread=19691#t19691), and the implication that it is guarding a trapdoor (http://alt-harry.livejournal.com/1995.html?thread=28363#t28363).

Also, I think they found Fluffy the same way as in the book. A Gryffindor and a Slytherin sneak out for a wizard's duel. But instead of Draco vs. Harry, it's Draco (with Harry as his second) vs. Ron (with Neville as his second (http://alt-neville.livejournal.com/2283.html)). And Hermione happened to be there too (http://community.livejournal.com/hpalternity/4119.html). Which gives me a feeling that this game is going to incorporate a lot of book canon (though twisted around, of course) instead of veering in a totally new direction.

I have another mystery I'd like to hear speculation about: What is the letter from October 28 1981 (http://alt-lupin.livejournal.com/1122.html) that Lupin was sent but never received until now? Smells of sandalwood and currant, cheerful tone, green ink... Do any of those clues connect to anyone we know of?

[zorb]

Yes, Fluffy seems a certainty, as well as the trapdoor.

I'm not sure that Lupin's letter has an equivalent in canon, but I'd guess it was from the Potters. Either that or Sirius.

[lapin-agile.livejournal.com]

My guess is on the Potters as well -- or Lily alone?

My father sent along a box of my mother's things, and in it I found something quite... unnerving. Touching. Devastating. A letter I never knew I'd received, dated 28 October 1981. The postmark is still legible. The ink still green. The contents... deceptively cheerful and completely devastating.

In addition to wondering what the green ink signifies (I'd have taken it as a Slytherin colour choice ... but who?... surely Snape was never so juvenile as to write in green ink?), my attention is drawn by two things: that he calls the text "deceptively cheerful" and that the letter has a postmark. As far as we know, owl mail doesn't get postmarked.

So.

Somebody help me think further on this one?

[brimtoast.livejournal.com]

Looks like it was from Lily (http://alt-mcgonagall.livejournal.com/1782.html?thread=8182#t8182). And his mom never delivered it... why? Because Lily was already dead by then, and she wanted to spare him? Because his mother was on Voldemort's side and was against Lily for being Muggleborn? Maybe his mother just forgot, and there's nothing else to it.