[HPforGrownups] Re: Basilisk/Petrification Question

[Emily H.]

No: HPFGUIDX 47559

This is my first post, but thank you all for allowing me to lurk and listen in.  

Regarding petrification, I had always assumed it was the fact that the basilisk's gaze was reflected off something that made it non-lethal.  For Hermione and Penelope, it was reflected off a mirror; for Colin, the gaze passed through the lens and reflected into the eyepiece.  If one was wearing glasses, they wouldn't reflect the gaze, it would pass right through the glass.

So I suppose the logical extension of that theory is that if you were standing next to a basilisk (ick) facing a window and caught his gaze in reflection, you'd just be petrified.  But if you were on the other side of the window and caught his eye, you'd be dead.  Does that make sense?

Emily


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