What really caused the damage to Dumbledore's hand?

[Kathy]

No: HPFGUIDX 145201

This is a great question!

I know that Dumbledore himself said that his hand was injured 
because of the horcrux - however, could there be another reason as 
well?

We see Snape take the U Vow.  What if Snape was actually Dumbledore? 
When Snape hesitated, could it be that Dumbledore had been too smart 
for his own good?  Could it be that his hesitation was due to the 
knowledge that he was taking a vow to kill himself?  A vow he 
obviously would not be able to fulfill?  Therefore his hand 
withered.  Snape would be the only other person to know...the only 
one to understand that Dumbledore - possibly from a combination of 
the UV and the horcrux - was dying.  I know most don't like the 
mercy killing theory, but Dumbledore knew it was going to come to 
this, and Snape was the only one he could trust.

As for the ring needing to be destroyed - the cover of the book has 
a broken stone in the ring.

KathyO



--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Bonnie Harvey/ Alesia 
Gillefalyn" <alesiaglfyn at j...> wrote:
>
> After reading Valky's Horcrux hypothesis, I started to question my 
own thinking.  
> 
> When I first read HBP I didn't think the damage to DD's hand was 
from the destruction of the Ring Horcrux.  I read it that the damage 
from DD's hand came from whatever protective magic was guarding the 
ring (the equivalent of the potion for the locket).  It would make 
sense there was some type of magic guarding all of Horcruxes (and 
clearly there is for the Locket).  The diary is hard to say since it 
appears to have been left in Malfoy's care.
> 
> I have always thought the Ring Horcrux is intact when DD comes to 
Privet Dr and when they go to see Slughorn.  The ring is later gone 
from DD's office when Harry asks about the mouth-whistle at that 
point the Horcrux in the ring has been destroyed.  I don't see how 
the Horcrux could be released from the ring and have the ring still 
be intact.  I based this assumption on how the diary was destroyed 
in CoS. Clearly DD was wearing the ring to make a point to Slughorn 
that DD knew LV had made Horcruxes and had found one. It is quite 
possible DD already had the altered memory from Slughorn at this 
point but I don't think so.  
> 
> Does anyone think it reads this way or am I misreading it?
> 
> Bonnie
>