Nagini/basilisk/snake ramblings

[Brooks R]

No: HPFGUIDX 230

> 
> Dragons seem too important, in a magical creature kinda way, to have
> a 
> limited role.  They'll come into play before the end of this tale.



I dunno.  As I remarked once upon a time on Yahoo, most fantasies in 
the last 60 years plus have had dragons being very intelligent, able
to  speak Human even if Humans can't speak Dragon, and very sneaky. 
In
HP the dragons - indeed all magical creatures other than Centaurs,
who 
after all are half human, including the brain half - are 'dumb 
animals',  although Fawkes may be a partial exception.  (By the way, 
one version of the Phoenix myth is that there is only one Phoenix at
a time, which is another convention that HP is apprarently not
using.)  
Conversely, snakes - even non-magical ones -  seem to be able to talk 
back in some cases, and at least listen and obey in others (the 
summoned snake which went after Justin).  Crookshanks has something 
above and beyond, as well as the rats in the wizard animal store
where 
he was bought; but Trevor, Neville's toad, seems to have only the
power 
to run away from him frequently!  The owls seem to have intelligence 
greater than 'animal' as well, but they are also not able to 
communicate back, unless there is a 'Radagast the Brown' -  style 
wizard around who can talk to birds.

I do not think dragons will show up, unless Voldy's magic arsenal 
includes a spell sufficient to tame dragons enough for them to be in
an army.  

-Brooks