Horcrux #3- Helga Hufflepuff's Cup
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Ever think "man, while tailgating, it would be really fun to find a geocache?" well, consider that inquiry over.
I am a very big Harry Potter fan and have been inspired to create a series of caches dedicated to the great series of books by J.K Rowling and the Warner Brother’s films. In preparation for the last movie to be released, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: part 2, I have hidden 7 caches, dedicating them as horcruxes.
A horcrux is a very powerful object (from the books) in which a dark wizard or witch has hidden a fragment of his or her soul for the purpose of attaining immortality. Creating a single horcrux allows one to gain the ability to resurrect themselves if their body is destroyed, however creating multiple horcruxes allows them to gain near immortality. When a wizard/witch makes a Horcrux, the mutilation of his soul causes him to become less human. The more Horcruxes he or she creates, the less human he or she becomes. Now I am no evil witch, but I did hide 7 geocaches in several areas that mean something personal to me.
This cache inspired me because I am a HUGE Philly sports fan and if anyone wanted to find me where I am known for having the most fun, most likley they would find me in this vicinity of the stadium complexes of the Phillies, Sixers, Eagles and most importantly the Flyers. I made this cache Horcrux #3 - Helga Hufflepuff's Cup, because it is important in the book, as much as the Stanley Cup is important to the Philadelphia Flyers.
UPDATED 10/20: You are looking for a small clear lock latch jar located in section M12 behind the Jethro Lot. There is room for a few small trade items. Please replace as found and BRING YOUR OWN PEN.
P.S. Go Sixers, Go Phillies, Go Eagles, Go Flyers!
P.P.S. UPDATE: JULY 29, 2011 - I was initially unaware of the beehive close to the cache, so I will tell you approach the cache with caution, remember swatting only aggrivates and if you are allergic DO NOT ATTEMPT. I do not remember seeing bees nor did i hide it IN the railing, which is where loggers have led me to believe the hive is. just and FYI and thank you to all those cautious cachers for the heads up.
History of Helga Hufflepuff's Cup:
Tom Riddle used a cup owned by Hogwarts founder Helga Hufflepuff to create his third Horcrux. The spell was cast after he murdered Hepzibah Smith by poisoning her. The cup is introduced during the twentieth chapter of Half-Blood Prince and is destroyed by Hermione Granger in the thirty-first chapter of Deathly Hallows.
Hepzibah Smith, who owned the cup, was a distant descendant of Helga Hufflepuff. Riddle killed Smith, stole the cup, then framed her house elf Hokey for the crime. Voldemort entrusted the cup to Bellatrix Lestrange, who kept it protected in her vault at Gringotts Bank, a place to which Harry guessed that a once penniless Voldemort would have always coveted a connection. Additional protective spells, including the Gemino and Flagrante curses, were used to protect the contents of the vault. Harry, Ron and Hermione stole the cup after breaking into the bank. Hermione later destroyed the Horcrux using a fang from the remains of the basilisk still in the Chamber of Secrets.
Please replace the cache as found, thanks all...happy caching.
CONGRATS TO SQUIRTGUNN on being the FTF!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
zhygvcyr fvyire envyvat cbfgf, 2 juvgr ebpxf, 1 Pnpur.