Was the MoM built around the Arch? , The Kiss v Death

[Ali]

Following OoP, I have felt that the MoM was constructed 
around the Chamber of Death. IMO, the arch and the veil predate the 
MoM. I think that they are a link between our world and the next, 
perhaps a place where it is easier to pass on quickly, I don't know. 

That has led me to think that once, the WW used (or perhaps abused 
even), the Veil to "execute" people, hence the space around the 
platform, allowing spectators. I think that they built the whole of 
the MoM, but particularly the chamber where the Wizengamot sits, and 
of course the Department of Mysteries, to be close to the Veil.

I also think that the WW don't have the death penalty anymore. 
Whilst this mirrors our own Muggle culture, I note that they do have 
something which is arguably worse than death - as Lupin says "Much 
worse than that" p. 183 PoA UK edition. They have the "Kiss".

I wonder if this is what Dumbledore is thinking about in his duel 
against Voldemort in the MoM, when he tells Voldemort that death 
wouldn't be sufficient for him? IIRC, Dumbledore has said that a 
weakness of Voldemort's is his failure to recognise that anything 
can be worse than death. If you see death as marking the transition 
between this world and the "next great adventure", but see the Kiss 
as being an end, then it is quite easy to see that death is not the 
worst thing that can happen to you.

Perhaps it is Harry's belief that he will see Sirius again, rather 
than his love for him by itself, that saves him from Voldemort's 
possession? If this is the case, then I'm willing to hazard a guess 
that this fundamental difference between Harry and Voldemort will be 
absolutely key to the resolution of Book 7. This idea can be tied in 
with the idea of saving one's soul, and can perhaps be linked back 
to JKR's religious beliefs - supposedly a key to the ending of the 
books.

Ali