The cracked ring

[darkcloak]

Just a little question that's been whizzing round my mind. Might be nothing, might be the meaning of life......

We all have read about the Gaunt family ring shown in Dumbledore's first lesson with Harry in HBP. When he first sees it on Marvolo's finger, Harry describes it as an "ugly black stoned ring". Marvolo then declares it to have the Peverell coat of arms engraved on it.

Harry returns from the pensieve and sees the same ring now lying on a table on his way out of Dumbledore's office and this time describes it as "an ugly gold ring set with a large cracked stone".

If you close the book (I know it's very hard to do ) and look on the spine, you can clearly see the cracked ring at the top, with the rupture going through a coat of arms. To me it looks exactly like a lightening scar and instantly brings to mind Harry's own blemish.

All we know about what has happen to the ring is that:
a) it was made into a Horcrux
b) Dumbledore/Snape destroyed the Horcrux within the ring (possibly using Avarda Kedavra)

So my questions are: Which of these caused the crack? Is this also what happened to Harry? Are the scars merely an S for Slytherin (inventor of Horcuxes?)?

Much love

darkcloak

[menotyoo]

Hmmm, it is not there on my typical American version....
Which version do you have? Do you have a picture of this that you could post?
Unless I am missing it on my version, then I very much doubt it will be SUPER significant. I mean, if only the people who bought ONE specific version have this image, then it can't be a clue, because that would be handing some people more than others.
Also, unless she drew the ring herself, and told the publishers to use it on the cover, then I think it might be too much to say that the book's artist was given such an enormous hint.
Imagine the conversation:
MGP(artist): So here is the cover art, Ms. Rowling, with the ring off to the side there. How does it all look?"
JKR: Oh the fron is lovely, but the crack in the ring, it should look exactly like Harry's scar.
I don't know, I think it is a coincidence or something, but who knows?
I would like to see a picture, though.

[darkcloak]

Hello menotyoo

Apologies, mine is the UK version.

Here is a large image of what is on the top of the UK spine.


http://www.hogwarts-gallery.org/hogwartsgallery/picture.php?cat=268&image_id=4085&expand=169,176,169,176,169

Looks pretty significant to me.

[Person1]

wow, thats quite interesting.

[Snow_Crystal]

I don't think the two are related.

I know he's not an expert but didn't Hagrid say that you only get a scar like that if you've been touched by an evil curse? I don't think DD would have used evil magic on the ring to destroy the horcrux - surely it would have to be a purification curse using good magic?

[Person1]

well, since it was part of a saoul you most likely would have to kil; curse it, to kill the soul inside

[Dutchess42]

Do you think DD got the injury to his hand when he destroyed the horcrux in the ring?

[Person1]

didn't he say something like he wore it, and Snape came in time to save him?

[Snow_Crystal]

Hmm - not sure. I read it and assumed that DD had to wear it to destroy it. I assumed that DD's soul was pure and that the ring would have to be purified or something. Maybe only a pure wizard wearing it could do it like wearing it he would have to fight off the evil imbedded within it. - sounds really corny though!!! yuk!

[Person1]

Yeah, sounds 2 corny for this kind of book.

[Snow_Crystal]

Blimey Person1 - just spotted you only joined yesterday and you're a 4th year already! Obviously loving this forum!

[Person1]

Lol, yeah, a very active forum, hard to find those. Always good to find opinions on the book.

[Lelie]

it is interesting that the shape of the crack in the ring on the cover is a lightning bolt. however, the ring did not have a lightning bolt crack until it was no longer a horcrux. so, if you were following that line of thought, then harry used to be a horcrux, but he isn't anymore. or something like that. does that make sense?

[Person1]

Makes sense, and then again, pictures are concepts made by the artists not the writer usually, and i doubt that if it was a clue that it would be only in one version of the book cover...now that i think about it.