[HPforGrownups] Dead Basilisk

[Amanda Geist]

No: HPFGUIDX 40115

First Alexander said:
>
> >   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).

Zoe-with-the-e-dots-I-can't-do responded:
>
> I think it's pretty much a sure thing that the Hogwarts staff took care of
> that over the summer break.

Now me:

I think it's a sure thing that the basilisk will lie there undisturbed my
man or elves until doomsday comes, unless Harry takes it into his mind to
traipse down there again, or Voldemort wins and wants to go reminiscing.

Regardless of the basilisk's post-biological status (nods to Joywitch,
wasn't it? old joke), the fact of the matter is that the entrance can only
be opened by one speaking Parseltongue. And as far as we know (stresses this
point, because other Parselmouths may pop out of the woodwork), only
Riddle/Voldemort and Harry speak it ("It's not a very common gift").

The Hogwarts staff was unable to get down there before, when there was
pressing need (say, to rescue Ginny, or simply collar the monster, or even
further back the first time Riddle opened it). Why should they be able to
get down there to clean up?

Unless the rockfall caused some structural problems with the school far
above, necessitating getting down there for repairs, or unless they asked
Harry to open it for them, I'm betting the basilisk lies there still, where
it fell, presumably in some state of decay. Maybe not--didn't Harry hear
rats down there?

--Amandageist