Snakes

[Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer]

No: HPFGUIDX 92

Hi:

SNAKES: Well, like Dave, I generally like snakes -- had 2 pet garter
snakes as a kid.

The basilisk & Nagini would not be high on my list though. The basilisk
is an actual mythological creature -- Heidi will know more when she does
the Mythology FAQ, but I believe it's something to do with the egg being
nested in a particular way, etc.  Harry killed the basilisk (so, yes, as
far as we know, there is a rotting basilisk carcass in the Chamber).

Nagini sounds to me like she is a cobra.  For one thing, the name
reminds me strongly of the snakes in Riki Tiki Tavi -- Nag & Nagana I
think.  It definitely sounds to me as though she is venomous and that
Wormtail was "milking" her venom to sustain Voldemort.  Poisonous snakes
are often "milked" of their venom for pharmaceuticals & other medical
research.

Snakes do seem to be an important theme in the books.  Slytherin;
Voldemort's connection with snakes; parseltongue; there's a serpent
emerging from the skull for the dark mark.  I'm sure we haven't seen the
last of snakes in the series.

 I think if the boa returned to do Harry a favor at some point, it would
be great.  The snakes are getting a bad rap in general.  <g>

Penny