[HPforGrownups] Re: Basilisk/Petrification Question

[Simon Nickerson]

No: HPFGUIDX 47566

In message <016d01c29995$c792f8f0$410110ac at wkslnng238>, Emily H. 
<hartma44 at pilot.msu.edu> writes
>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.

On the other hand, Justin saw the basilisk through Nearly Headless Nick, 
so it's not just about reflected light.

I don't think we have enough information to answer the question, or the 
other related questions (what if you squint, or wear contact lenses, or 
see a basilisk from a long way off? What happens if two basilisks look 
at each other? Does a profoundly deaf person die in the presence of a 
crying mandrake?)

[Speculation: a basilisk's eye emits rays of light of two types, type A 
and type B. Type A light is fairly easily absorbed, even by glass (like 
ultraviolet light I suppose). Type B light acts like visible light. If 
any type A light hits your retina, you die. If any type B light hits 
your retina, you get petrified, assuming you haven't already died from 
the type A light. Under this theory, you don't die if you're extremely 
myopic and are remembering to wear your specs, and you don't die if 
there's a handy Gryffindor ghost to absorb all the nasty type A photons 
for you.]

The fact that Harry doesn't want to look at the basilisk's eyes doesn't 
prove all that much, because Harry would rather not die or be petrified.

-- 
Simon Nickerson
"I went on the Underground - "
"Really?" said Mr Weasley eagerly. "Were there escapators?"