The Ring and the Hand - Unfounded Speculation

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 142371

For a long time now I've been thinking that somehow the final battle
and the final solution to Voldemort would revolve around that Veiled
Arch of Death in the Dept of Mysteries. But I could never work out HOW
they would manage to get into the Dept of Mysteries for the final battle. 

Now, farfetched as it may seem, I think I have found a way.

Notice that the only Horcrux that has been destroyed by Dumbledore is
the Slytherin/Gaunt Ring. Also, note that Dumbledore has a 'dead'
hand. And where do you wear a ring if not on your hand?

We also have speculated that we don't really have to destroy the
Horcrux soul-pieces, we only have to release them from their new
'bodies'. That is, Harry doesn't have to kill the soul pieces, only
release them. But how? And how can we release the soul-pieces in a way
that assures that they don't rejoin their master in the 'home-body'?

Note: in previous discussion, I didn't really care if the soul-pieces
rejoined Voldemort or not; now I'm thinking it might not be such a
good idea.

So, here is a scenario that I envision. Starting with Dumbledore and
his 'dead' hand. Dumbledore manages to get past all the enchantments
that are guarding the Slytherin/Gaunt Ring. Now he has to release its
soul-piece but how? Simply he takes it to the Dept of Mysteries, puts
the ring on his hand, and sticks it thought the Veiled Archway. That
releases the soul-piece into the 'great beyond' in a way that prevents
it from ever returning to Voldemort. Dead Ring - Dead Hand; it's gone
and gone for good.

Now Harry will have to find a way to extract the souls from the
remaining Horcruxes, and that gives us an excuse for the final battle
to take place in the Death Chamber in the Dept of Mysteries. Harry has
taken the Horcruxes there to destroy them, and Voldemort is bent on
stopping Harry and ending the troublesome boy's life forever.

They stuggle, they fight, they duel; it's just a question of which one
goes through the Veil first. Ultimately, Harry forces Voldemort
through, perhaps with the help of a friend; maybe Neville. In the
final moment Harry is defeated, Voldemort is about to kill him, and
Neville, bodily or by spell, sends Voldemort through the Veil. 

I could live with that.

I guess part of the reason for forcing the story in this direction is
that I think the Veiled Archway is just TOO GREAT a plot point to
abondon. 

Who knows?

Steve/bboyminn