Nagini's size (was now Nagini)

[Kelley]

No: HPFGUIDX 15664

> Chained By Freedom wrote:
> > >JKR seemed to make somewhat of a miscalculation with lengths 
with the basilisk- she mentions something about the skin of the 
basilisk in CoS- "the creature that had shed it must have been twenty 
feet long."
> >
> > Amanda:
> > I think perhaps JKR described it like that on purpose. Remember, 
we're reading the books as if from Harry's viewpoint. To Harry, it 
looked 20 feet. He was 12 when this happened, correct? Most 12 year 
olds can't accurately pinpoint something's length or size. Even if he 
could, I don't think he was at a state to when he found it. That's 
just my opinion, however. :)
> 
> Also remember that the basilisk is close to a thousand years old. It
> *has* been out other times in the past than this week. It's 
conceivable that the skin is old, from a molt say, fifty years ago? 
Or further. The length of time it takes things like basilisk skin to 
crumble to dust might be affected by the fact that they're magical.
>
> rainy lilac:
> I don't ahve my books with me, but I sseem to remember in GoF 
Voldemort threatening to feed Wormtail to Nagini, and then saying 
that she will instead feast on Harry Potter. My impression from even 
the first chapter is that she would have to be one big mama of a 
snake. <<<<<<<<<<<<

First off, thanks to all for the terrific snake info and comments.  
As to the current discussion, the basilisk from the chamber and 
Nagini are two different snakes.  (Or am I just misunderstanding the 
discussion?)  Harry killed the chamber basilisk with Gryffindor's 
sword.  Nagini is Vold's current snake companion/pet/minion.  In GoF, 
Frank Bryce estimates Nagini's length at about twelve feet, and if I 
remember right, that's all we hear, isn't it?  To me, the statement 
that the Basilisk's shedded skin is about twenty feet long seems more 
descriptive info about the basilisk from JKR, rather than a 
guesstimate from Harry.  What I mean is, I take that as her way of 
giving us an idea of the snake's size, and should be taken at face 
value.  The only other descriptives we get about the basilisk 
are "enormous," "thick as an oak trunk," and with fangs about the 
size of the sword Harry was holding.  This info never struck me 
as 'from Harry's POV, should be taken with a grain of salt', but 
rather as straight from JKR...

Kelley