"in essence divided?" from OOTP chapter 22

[eilissf1906]

No: HPFGUIDX 120704


"nicouise" <nicouise at h...> wrote:
> ...Snip...
> I am curious about the instrument which DD 
> used in his office after HP had his dream of AW being attacked in 
> the above named chapter.  
> It is described as a fragile silver instrument and when DD tapped 
> it with his wand it issued tiny puffs of pale smoke which then 
> thickened into a serpent's head.  DD murmured "naturally, naturally" 
> to the serpent and then "in essence divided?" after which the 
> serpent spilt into two snakes, "coiling and undulating in the dark 
> air".  DD is described as having a "dim look of satisfaction" before 
> tapping the instrument with his wand again then the serpents 
> vanished and he put the instrument back on it's table.
> 
> Does anyone have any theories on what this instrument is, who he is 
> communicating with?  Is it a way of communicating with the Order? 
> What does the comment "in essence divided?" posed as a question mean?

Well, I've been puzzling this one out since OotP came out, and all 
I can think of is:
Serpent= Harry/Voldie/whatever the wizard asked about.
Divided= have been the same/connected/melding with one another but 
have/will split
dim look= "well, we knew it would come to this, but at least it's 
happening at last."
I have no ******* CLUE what the silvery thing is and it's driving 
me batty!
Eilissf