Something Small

[jenni_stern]

No: HPFGUIDX 92522

<idrinkjameson at h...> wrote:

> I'm not sure if this has been discussed, I searched the archives and 
> didn't find anything, but I might have missed it . . .

>      JKR stated that something very small would be a big part of book 
> six.  I've heard a couple of interesting theories on what that small 
> thing might be, but I've yet to hear anything convincing.  Its been 
> discussed elsewhere that the something could be the Weasley clock, 
> the car, or Ginny herself.  I'm not sure that any of those are the 
> right answer.  I myself am leaning towards the secret compartment 
> under the floor in the Malfoy's palace, but I'm not sure why.  Has 
> anyone found any other indications of what that small thing is.  I've 
> spent several days looking for clues.  I'm going to have to go back 
> and read COS again tonight.


My Turn:

I'm of the assumption that the "small" thing mentioned, that will 
play a role in book 6, is the Hand of Glory.  

Why?  

Well, the scene was in the book and the movie.  It could have been 
cut out of the movie, but it wasn't.  The whole scene with Lucius and 
Draco in Borgin and Burkes was almost entirely cut out of the film, 
even though it added more depth to their characters and motivation, 
except for Harry grabbing that hand.

Also, it is one of the few items in the shop mentioned by name that 
Draco wants... and for the shopkeeper to comment on.  A best friends 
of theives?  There was a little too much conversation about the Hand 
for it to be a mere background prop.  

Not to mention that the Hand, like the Philosopher's Stone, plays a 
part in our current mythology/history.  A bit more information about 
the Hand...

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"This was a right hand of a murderer that was severed while the 
corpse was still hanging from the gallows. It was then used as a 
charm or in black magic practices after being magically perserved. It 
is also believed robbers often used the hand when breaking into 
buildings and homes.

"Preferably the hand was cut off during the eclipse of the moon. 
Afterwards it was wrapped in a shroud, squeezed of blood and pickled 
for two weeks in an earthenware jar with salt, long peppers and 
saltpeter. Then it was either dried in an oven with vervain, an herb 
believed to be able to ward off demands, or laid out to dry in the 
sun, desirably in the hot dog days of August.

....

"The hand of glory was linked to witches during the witch-hunt period. 
There are two noted incidences. One, in 1588, of two German women, 
Nichel and Bessers, that were accused of witchcraft and exhuming 
corpses. They admitted poisoning helpless people after lighting the 
hands of glory to immobilize them. John Fian, after being severely 
tortured during his witch trial in Scotland in 1590, confessed to 
using a hand of glory to break into a church where he performed a 
ceremony to the devil."

Read the whole article at 
http://www.themystica.com/mystica/articles/h/hand_of_glory.html

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On another note of pure speculation...

Dean values his right hand, and fears losing it.

Wormtail is a murderer, and already lost his hand.  Think this legend might play a part in its loss?

Jenni