Is anyone else bothered by the fact that JK was very specific about a bloody axe in the room of requirement when Harry dumped HBP Potions book? Something tells me that the axe might play a role in last book. She has done this before, the room was mentioned in GOF (the room full of bedpans for DD) and then is explored more throughly in books 5 and 6 as the room of requirement. She mentions the swords, but why was this axe bloody?

We don't know who the axe belonged to, but it was just too descriptive for it not be noticed by the readers and remembered for the next book.

I would love to hear your thoughts.

I think that she is trying to show that this is a room that people used to hide all sorts of items, for varying levels of things they did wrong. The axe is described in detail because it gives us a great image of someone commiting some gruesome crime and then hiding it in the room of requirement. I think that is all there is to it. Who knows though. I am a huge fan of the simple little clues that JKR leaves in her stories and would love for this to tie into the story somehow.

I don't remember reading about the axe at all. Can you give the page number of where it talks about it. But yeah, if I had to guess I would say it just shows that people hide stuff there, but Ill write more on it maybe when I re read it

Solorund, I don't have the page number because I like to listen to the book. Go to the part where harry has to hide the book after performing the sectum sempra curse on Malfoy.

Bloodoftheheir

I don't remember anything about an axe either, but it's more than likely I've just read too fast over that part... I'll have to go back and check...

But if you're correct Bloodoftheheir, what immediatly struck me was the Bloody Baron, though wasn't only one person ever murdered inside Hogwarts? That being Moaning Myrtle? But if she wasn't, that's my very vauge and uneducated guess... I've always wondered how the bloke died...

Here it is, from page 526 of the US version:

"He was standing in a room the size of a large cathedral, whose high windows were sending shafts of light down upon what looked like a city with towering walls, built of what Harry knew must be objects hidden by generations of Hogwarts inhabitants. There were alleyways and roads bordered by teetering piles of broken and damaged furniture, stowed away, perhaps, to hide the evidence of mishandled magic, or else hidden by castle-proud house elves. There were thousands of books, no doubt banned or graffitied or stolen. There were winged catapults and Fanged Fizbees, some still with enough life in them to hover halfheartedly over the mountains of other forbidden items; there were chipped bottles of congealed potions, hats, jewels, cloaks; there were what looked like dragon eggshells, corked bottles whose contents still shimmered evilly, several rusting swords, and a heavy, bloodstained axe."

Bloodoftheheir, you were good to notice this...it seems it may be important, look how she's put this axe at the end of the long list.

Aphrodite, you may be right about the Bloody Baron. Wasn't he always described as having bloodstained robes? Could have been his blood, after all...

I agree with Aphrodite's general idea, but not exactly. We know that Nearly Headless Nick was killed by a blunt axe that didn't quite decappitate him, and struck him in the head some ridiculously large number of times. The bloody axe in the room of requirement could be that very same axe.

I think this is just incidental description, probably intended, as Vulturmort surmises, that Hogwarts has a highly nefarious history!

Why should the chipped bottles, cloaks or rusting swords not play as big a part in equal books? Sorry, don't buy it!

Reading this thread reminded me of the GOF-chapter I've just read. While Harry and Ron make up their prediktions Harry predicts his own death by decapitation (pg 197, paperback, GB). I really don't think he is right, but just thought of that...

I don't think it has any meaning. She simply listed some of the items in the RoR, and called it off by adding an adjective to the last item, which I believe is quite common.

We may hear of it at some point in book seven, but it wasn't pointed out whether the blood was dry or moist (I would guess it was dry since Harry didn't react on it), as mentioned before, Hogwarts got a long history.

i just read PoA and on pg 171 on christmas day it said something about a mad axe-man. i know it sounds crazy but its just a guess

Well, I just read that excerpt, and I don't really believe the axe is very significant. However, JKR may mention it again anyway. It is possible that it is the same axe used to murder Nearly Headless Nick or even the Bloody Baron, but I wonder if Ginny used it. Remember in CoS, she used chicken blood to write on the walls, and usually people kill chickens by chopping off their heads. If Ginny came out of her trance and still had the axe in her hand, then naturally she would look for a place to hide it...Room of Requirement. Again, I doubt the axe is very significant, but this is just another idea. Actually, I think the "corked bottles whose contents still shimmered evilly" is more significant. I wonder if these bottles are bottled memories, like the memories Dumbledore uses for the Penseive. Hmm...sorry mods, that's off topic, but it's just a thought.

Could've been used by that "Axebanger" chap Hermione mentions in the final chapter?

I like the idea of previously mentioned items and people cropping up again - I read PoA before the PS and I thought that introducing Sirius Black in such an innocuous way was genius.

Interesting... I think I'm going to have to go with the idea that Ginny used the axe to kill the roosters. It makes perfect sense that she would want to hide it afterwards, although I do have to ask where she would have gotten it from in the first place.

The only problem I have with the Ginny theory is that a first-year wouldn't know where that room was. On the other hand, though, if Tom was able to get her to speak Parseltongue in order to open the Chamber of Secrets, he could probably get her to find the Room of Requirement. Later on she'd forget all about it...

remember the locket on[OOTP 116]??...it might not be the axe, but something in that list of items is likely to resurface later on.. maybe the potions...

We know Ginny got the roosters from Hagrid's house, so she could've easily swiped the axe from there as well.

As far as her not knowing about the Room of Requirement, she could've just found it by accident. After all, Dumbledore found it by accident when he was looking for a bathroom a couple of years ago. I'm sure many people over the years have just accidentally stumbled across this room.

For example:
Ginny could've suddenly woken from the trance, and realized what she had done. Naturally, she would panic and began looking for a place to hide the axe. She would've been thinking, "I need a place to hide this, I need a place to hide this, I need a place to hide this." And suddenly the door could've appeared.

I just think it's interesting. Perhaps, Harry and Ginny will have a conversation about the room, and she will mention this. Harry may even send Ginny to the Room of Requirement to retrieve the HBP's Potions Book, or even something else inside the room.

One thing to say about the Ginny theory. Its a heavy blood stained axe.Ginny is not that big, as fred and george have said in OotP, so she would be even smaller in her first year, therefor making her incable of using such a large axe.

Another thing though, whats with the hiding stuff part of the RoR? I mean it was literally a small town full of stuff that people have placed in to hide! I cant remember exactly, but hogwarts hasnt really been around for an insanely large ammount of time. Maybe only a thousand years or so. So whats with all the stuff people have to hide in it? kinda wierd, a school with kids who have that many secrets.

But yeah, I have to say the bloody axe is more significant than pretty much anythign else in the RoR. I'm stating this only because thats how people usualy write. They save more important things for last (best for last) sooooo I have no idea at all if the axe is significant.

I doubt that the RoR is even significant anymore. I just cant see Harry going back to Hogwarts ever again. not after whats happened.

Yes, Ginny is small, but that doesn't mean she's not strong. Also don't forget...she's a witch and a powerful one at that. She could've easily used magic on the axe. All throughout HBP, a big deal is made about her magical ability. I think the Ginny/axe theory is very possible, and would probably be kinda funny if it turned out to be just that. It doesn't necessarily have to be that important, but JK could make it one of the lighter, more humorous points of Book 7. However I still can't help but wonder about those corked bottles with the shimmering substance. They remind me of the memories used by Dd for the pensieve. I wonder if someone took their secret memories, put them in bottles, and hid them there. Possibly Snape or even Dumbledore? Hmm...

Also, pertaining to the RoR being so big and full of hidden things...it has been around for about 1000 years, and that is a long period of time. Hogwarts is full of mischievious students who are gonna need places to hide things. Not to mention, Trelawny hides her sherry bottles there. So I can see how that much stuff could be hidden in there over a 1000 year period.

But I dont think Ginny was that strong in her first year. I mean she good use wingardium leveiosa but I dont think she could really kill a rooster with a hovering axe..... maybe something more like a flying axe of doom, or a super fast death axe. But not a haevy blood stained floating axe. Sorrys haha I'm being silly.

but yeah, I'm pro theory with the axe decaptitating Sir Nicholas. But the question we should ask ourselves is, why would someone try to decapitate him?


holy crapperS!!!! I just rememberd!!!!!!! whoa! WHOA!! WHOOOOAAA!!!

okay, sorry, that wasnt needed

I'm getting off topic here, I'm sorry. But according to CoS durring Nicks deathday party he was killed in 1492!!!! thats when columbus discovered america! Maybe he had some part of that whole thing. But still if a "sir" means someone that was knighted by england then why would he be killed? there were no real wars going on at that time. and why would the axe end up at hogwarts? meh

I'm done. I just proved myself wrong about the axe being used to kill Nick theory..... ****.

cheese puff?

The Battle of Bosworth in 1485 put Henry VII on the throne but he had many enemies who wished to restore the York line.

An extended period of stability was not really achieved until the succession of Henry VIII in 1509. Sir Nick is more likely to be a victim of the aftermath of the Wars of the Roses, possibly allied to the Stanley household.


Apologies to everyone as that was totally off-topic but I thought I'd voice it now since it seemed appropriate! Oh, and Cheeser - James Westfall and Dr Kenneth Noisewater are ready to see you now...

I'm pretty sure that somewhere on Jo's site, there's a copy of a song that Nick was going to sing at his deathday party but got cut out of the final version of the book. I can't remember exactly what it says, but I think it might tell why he was sentenced to death. Hmm, I'm off to go check...

[QUOTE=El cheeser puff,Oct 15 2005, 12:20 PM]I'm done. I just proved myself wrong about the axe being used to kill Nick theory..... ****.

Maybe Not, perhaps The Bloody Baron used the axe to kill Nearly Headless Nick. Thats why his clothes are blood-stained, and why Nick is intimidated by him.

I'm sure the axe will crop up again somewhere in the last book, it does seem to be emphasised quite deliberately.

From what people have said I think the Ginny axe theory is most likely. I know people are saying she would not have been strong enough to use the axe, but she was being possesed by Voldemort at the time and that would probably have some sort of effect on her physically.

I dont think the axe is the one used to kill Nick, from what we have heard of his death it seems like a legal excecution and so I can't imagine the excetcutioner hiding the axe in a school. People where always being beheaded in them days, usually for some kind of treason.

The Bloody Baron theory is interesting and possible as we dont know much about his death. Someone said Nick is intimidated by the Baron, which I dont think is quite true, doesn't he say in book 5 that he and the Baron get along as the houses must stick together in dangerous times - after the sorting hat sings the song.

Ofcourse it may be none of these theories and could be a total suprise, or, have no significance whatsoever!

A few things interesting here.

That Axebanger guy Hermione mentioned when she was looking for RAB was Rupert "Axebanger" Something (can't recall the last name, but I remember Rupert's name was used).

When I read the post about the bloody axe, I thought of Harry's prediction of decapitation, too, and remember the headless wizard in OoftP who saved Harry from Bellatrix outside the DofM?

The Axebanger guy could be a possibly, but I still think my Ginny theory is the most likely. However, I also wonder if it will be used to destroy the vanishing cabinet. It's pretty safe to say that the cabinet is made of wood, and we know they are going to want to get rid of (probably destroy) it, so it is possible they will use the axe to do so. Just a thought...

I think these are all great theories, I just think that the axe might have more effect on the story of the seventh book than just a back story for one of the characters. I mean, we know that Gryffindor had a sword, could this be a weapon from another founder, say Syltherin?

Nearly Headless Nick was beheaded because of something like he tried to fix someones nose or something with magic and she sprouted a tusk. Jk said this on her site. she also said that nearly headless nick and his beheading would not be too vital to any plot (possibly only exception cos)
I did think NHN would be HBP and I was mistaken so now i do not feel he is important

Personally I think this line is reaching just a bit too far........ JKR seems to be just describing some of the things Harry saw when He entered the room. After all JKR spent more time describing the fanged frisbe than anything else........... Is Harry going to need it to help kill Voldemort?

I personally do not think that the axe is of great significance but you never know. I agree that JK was describing some of the objects in the room and she mentioned this one last.

the ginny theory seems to fit, but I think the question is, why would JKR bring that up again? I can't imagine it would serve much of a purpose in the overall storyline. The only reason I can think of, is if the axe turned out to be a horcrux, but I highly doubt that anyway.
I wouldn't be surprised if something from the RoR turned out to be something significant in the last book, but I'm a bit skeptical about the whole Ginny storyline.

The Ginny/Axe theory could still be inserted into the book without making a big contribution to the storyline. It could just be something Ginny mentions to Harry in passing. It would be kind of funny, and one of the lighter moments of the book. The axe may not be very significant, but it could be mentioned. And whether the axe is mentioned again or not, it is still interesting to talk about.

The line that caught my attention was "...or else hidden by castle-proud house-elves." I think that Kreacher hid all of the Black family heirlooms that he stole in the Room of Requirement when he came to Hogwarts. Remember the locket that was found when they were cleaning out Sirius's house? I think that that is the real Horcrux. It would all add up because the initials on the locket were R.A.B. (Presumably Regulus Black) So what if the real locket (the real Horcrux) is in the Room of Requirement? What do you all think?

Hiya Weasley's_Wizard_Wheezes and welcome to the VTM forums...I am not sure about your last comment? are you using that as your signature? thats is what you should so rather than posting that at the end of all your posts...if you need help setting up a siggy feel free to PM me or one of the other mods or prefects and we will help you get started...why not go over to the introduction thread and intruduce yourself there (there are links to all those things in my siggy!)

Thanks, pigwidigon!!!

MOD EDIT: err your welcome but please read the rules one liners are not allowed!

Whoa! Let's get this back on topic. The topic is The Bloody Axe in the Room of Requirement.

Um...I'm the one who started the Ginny/Axe theory, but I also like the idea about the Bloody Baron. He is very mysterious and I'd like to know more about him. Also, what does everyone think about the possibility of the axe being used to destroy the Vanishing Cabinet? They are going to have to get rid of the cabinet in some way. I posted this idea earlier, but I don't think anyone has commented on it.

this really has me wondering aobout something. she has said that she will tell the history of some of the ghosts in future books (which I think will be interesting) and how the ghosts will be of use to the order. I am wondering about the Bloody Barron. I wonder if this bloody axe had something to do with his death. all we know about both of them, at this point in time, is that they are covered in blood. could this have been the instrument the Bloody barron was murdered with?

edit: I need to really go back and read some of these messages on the last pages. Someone else spoke about the bloody barron and Sir Nicholos (which is also a very good theory). I wonder.

They don't have to destroy the vanishing cabinet, they could sell to the shop that has it's twin!

I see the axe as just another mysterious object, like everything else in that room, even the Fanged Frisbie.

In my opinion, the bloody baron theory is right but think about the other things in ROR (the jewels etc),they may be of importance too. maybe voldemort hid a horcrux here and that's why he wanted to return to hogwats as a teacher...to get back his horcruz..but with dd there he couldn't do so..i think harry will find a horcrux there.
what do you think about this?
(sorry if this has already been discussed elsewhere)

Every one is talking about the last clue, but the last clue in actual was a skeleton of 5 legged aniamal

" Harry hurried forwards into one of the many alleyways between all this hidden treasure. He turned right past and enormous stuffed troll, ran on a short way, took a left at the broken Vanishing Cabinet in which montague had got lost the previous year, finally pausing beside a large cupboard which seemed to have had acid thrown at its blistered surface. He opened one the cupboard's creaking doors: it had already been used as hiding place for something in a cage that had long-since died; its skeleton had five legs.
He stuffed the Half-Blood Prince's book behind the cage and slammed the door. He paused for a moment, his heart thumping horribly, gazing around at the clutter... would he be able to find this spot again, ..........."

I read in magical creature book (also written by J.K. Rowling) , that there is an island where live 5 legged creature, they are very powerful and no one dare to go there..so ministry has separated that area.
That skeleton was of a child of that creature, dont know who brought him in Hogwarts but whoever had decided to kill that creature for any purpose and also thrown acid on that cupboard too......definitly when Harry would go back to bring that book again in Part 7 book, he would see that creature again....may be there is anylink between Voldemort or someone mysterious character with that !!!

What do you think??

yes i thought about that creature as well but i think its not connected to voldemort but maybe it has some link with Hagrid i guess because he is fond of these type of creatures and may be in his school years he had one and hid it in this room.....but then who would kill it...hagrid himself?

Fluffy_FG, I think that that is possible because, as you said, we do not know what the Ravenclaw Horcrux is. It would be interesting if one of the real Horcruxes did turn up in the Room of Requirement.

I had that same guess that it was most probably the axe that was used on Nearly Headless Nick. But we have no facts on it.
You got to consider the room was to be made as a hidding place for objects, it could be anyones, or used in many ways. Consider Hogwarts is 1000 years old.

On possible use for the axe could be the decapitation of Nearly HEadless Nick. Nick is a very large character in the book, and resides at Hogwarts, so it would make sense that he was killed there, and the instument used to kill him is still there also.

ermmmm Several people (including me ) have already said that. But it has no significance, I mean, unless its a super magical axe that does .... stuff. heh

But I'm seriously not sure what good it is. I honestly am under the impression that Rowling was just putting bunches of stuff in the room to entertain us. This really is going no where.heh