[HPforGrownups] Re: Dead Basilisk; and ancient construction

[LD]

No: HPFGUIDX 40102

Alexander wrote...
>>>I wonder, was it discussed, or noticed, that there is still a dead
basilisk lying in the Chamber of Secrets, with lots of poisonous teeth
in his jaws (can be removed quite easily, considering that the teeth in
Harry arm had broken). Actually, a whole damn supply of super-weapons
for anybody who knows how to get there...<<<

I can only assume that you're right about the Basilisk corpse. The
Chamber entrance closed right behind Harry, Ron and Lockhart when they
were flown back up the pipe by Fawkes, and there's no mention of Harry
opening the Chamber again (and it would have to be Harry, since nobody
else we know of is a Parseltongue) with Dumbledore and Hagrid in tow to
dispose of the beast. But still, it's hardly a supply of super-weapons
is it? I'm no expert on snakes, but I think they only have two fangs and
no other teeth. So at most there is one complete fang, and one broken
one still down there. Also, a Basilisk fang - no matter how lethal its
poison is - still wouldn't be a match for a group of Death eaters with
wands. Now a Basilisk's eye, that's a weapon worth having! It'd be like
the Medusa's head! Snape could have the eye in a bag, wait until he
feels the Dark Mark on his arm, apparate to wherever Lord Voldemort is
and whip that sucker out! INSTANT VICTORY!!!


Mahoney wrote...
>>>On the other hand, I've been wondering about that tap in Myrtle's
bathroom, wondering how a modern sink tap managed to be the entrance of
a Chamber created and sealed and never opened prior to Tom Riddle since
Salazar Slytherin's day a thousand years ago (did I get the time frame
right?  No books at hand).  I didn't think they had indoor plumbing back
then....<<<

Yeah, the time frame is right as far as I remember. I think Hogwarts is
said to be 1000 years old, and the Chamber probably would have been
there from the start - and certainly before Salazar Slytherin bought the
big one.

As for the tap, I've seen this discussed on the list before. It's been
suggested that Wizards are far in advance of Muggles in many respects,
since it's easier to use magic to manipulate things than technology.
Transport is just one example of how Wizard World surpasses the Muggle
equivalent. Broomsticks and Flying Carpets, Portkeys, Floo Powder, and
probably more seem much more efficient than Bicycles, Cars and
Aeroplanes. Communication seems to be an area that Muggles get their own
back though, what with telephones, television, email and the internet.
Much better than sticking your head in a fireplace or tying a piece of
parchment to an owl -- but that's an entirely different topic :D

Another possibility (and my own personal theory) is that the entrance
was charmed to remain disguised as a part of whichever room it finds
itself in. If Moaning Myrtle's bathroom was for whatever reason knocked
down and turned into another corridor, then the entrance might take on
the shape of a portrait or suit of armour instead of a sink. Don't think
of it as the tap being the entrance, rather think of the entrance being
the tap ;)

-LD, who is wondering exactly *how* that ever-so-wise Ravenclaw failed
to notice a huge chamber being built underneath her castle?