The curious silver instruments

[bbkkyy55]

No: HPFGUIDX 126636


I've been interested in the WW machinery.  Let's see, there's the 
interesting clocks, DD's watch and the Weasleys' clock.  There's the WW cars that seem to hold much more than expected and can move through traffic magically.  (I want one.)  There's the sneakascopes and the various mirrors (foe glass, mirror of Erised, the one Sirius gave Harry).  Of course there's wands and radios and pensives.  I'm sure I've missed a lot.

You probably have discussed this, but perhaps some of you oldtimers 
can enlighten us newcomers.  The ones that interest me most currently 
are the fragile silver instruments in DD's office.

from COS chapter 11
   "A number of curious silver instruments stood on spindle-legged 
tables, whirring and emitting little puffs of smoke."

from OOP chapter 22
   "Dumbledore now swooped down upon one of the fragile silver 
instruments whose function Harry had never known, carried it over to 
his desk, sat down facing them again, and tapped it gently with the 
tip to his wand.
    The instrument tinkled into life at once with rhythmic clinking 
noises.  Tiny puffs of pale green smoke issued from the minuscule 
silver tube at the top.  Dumbledore watched the smoke closely, his 
brow furrowed, and after a few seconds, the tiny puffs became a 
steady stream of smoke that thickened and coiled in the air....A 
serpent's head grew out of the end of it, opening its mouth wide.  
Harry wondered whether the instrument was confirming his story: He 
looked eagerly at Dumbledore for a sign that he was right, but 
Dumbledore did not look up.
   'Naturally, naturally,' murmured Dumbledore apparently to himself, 
still observing the stream of smoke without the slightest sign of 
surprise.  'But in essence divided?'
   Harry could make neither head nor tail of this question.  The 
smoke serpent, however, split itself instantly into two snakes, both 
coiling and undulating in the dark air.  With a look of grim 
satisfaction Dumbledore gave the instrument another gentle tap with 
his wand: The clinking noise slowed and died, and the smoke serpents 
grew faint, became a formless haze, and vanished.
    Dumbledore replaced the instrument upon its spindly little 
table;....."

What is this all about?  Will we learn more in books 6 and 7?  Does 
anyone have any ideas?

Bonnie