What does Slughorn knows about Dumbledore's injury? WAS: Re: CHAPDISC: HBP4

[Miles]

No: HPFGUIDX 143409

Claudia wrote:
> It's so interesting how readers percieve the same text totally
> different. Because for me it was clear after DD's injury was
> mentioned the first time, that DD was going to die during the book.
snip
> On the other hand, since English is not my mothertongue, I may be
> missing a lot of unspoken meaning within the text.

Miles:
I learnt English at school as well, but I don't think this is a problem of
proper comprehension of the text.
My feelings about this injury were quite the same and still are, and I think
this can be founded by regarding Rowling's style.

We know that Rowling pays very much attention in details and their
description. Every detail she describes noticeable closely has relevance -
either for a situation, a person, or for the plot of the entire series.
The injured arm is one of these details. It is mentioned quite often,
several people talk about it (so we can be sure that Harry's perception is
proper). So - if Rowling is not losing her plot, we can assume this injury
is important.
IMHO there is no point in interpretating this injury as *not* serious. Not
in a book of the J.K. Rowling I know.

For me, this dying arm of Dumbledore is not only a metaphor for Dumbledore
dying himself. My impression is, that Dumbledore is actually dying *because*
auf this injury. We are "watching" this arm for about ten months, and it
doesn't improve a bit.
Assuming, that Dumbledore is dying from the very beginning of HPB, and knows
about it, this is a strong clue for the judgement of Snape killing
Dumbledore in the end.

Miles