The Hand of Glory is "real."

[usergoogol at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 26913

I was reading a book on superstitions (I found it at the library, looking for the encyclopedia of fairies someone mentioned here.) and I read about the Hand of Glory.

Basically, it is formed by taking the hand of a hung man. Then, any remaining blood is drained, and it is tied up tightly at the end. Then, a candle is put in the hand (which may or may not be formed from the fat of the hung man) and then, when it is lit, it makes the user invisible. I'm guessing either Rowling decided that having HER hand of glory merely only give light to its owner was a better item, or that some superstitions believe that it does that.

In case you don't recall it, the hand of glory was mentioned when Lucius and Draco were in Knockturn Alley, when Harry screwed up the Floo Powder. Lucius then complained about Draco's poor grades.

Here's how the book describes it:

>"Can I have that?" interrupted Draco, pointing at the withered
> hand on its cushion.
>
>"Ah, the Hand of Glory!" said Mr. Borgin, abandoning Mr. Malfoy's
> list and scurrying over to Draco. "Insert a candle and it gives
> light only to the holder! Best friend of theieves and
> plundrers! Your son has excellent taste, sir."

Isn't interesting how all this "real" magic is in the Harry Potter books? Of course, that's also one of the reasons why those annoying fundamentalists complain so much. (Not to offend any fundamentalists.)