The Basilisk *Does* Target Its Victims (IMO)

[erisedstraeh2002]

No: HPFGUIDX 46818

Grey Wolf wrote:
 
> I don't really think the basilisk is trained for anything at all. I 
> keep picturing Tom!Ginny (that is, Ginny's body being controlled by 
> Tom) following the basilisk and giving it commands about who to 
> attack. Thus, on Halloween they are met by Mrs. Norris (and her 
> ability to find any student that's doing mischief) and is promptly 
> stoned. Tom!Ginny hangs her body and paints the message and returns 
> the basilisk to the chamber. On the other occasions, they roam the 
> castle (the normally empty parts) until they meet someone. They 
> attack and hide again.

Now me:

Since the reason Slytherin built the Chamber in the first place was 
to rid the school of muggle-borns and those he deemed unworthy of 
practicing magic (such as squibs), it seems to me that the Basilisk 
would therefore need to target muggle-borns rather than simply 
attacking whomever it happened to meet.

Each of the petrified human victims in CoS was muggle-born.  We don't 
know Myrtle's history yet, but I would wager a couple of knuts she 
was muggle-born also.  As to the only non-human that was attacked, 
Neville speculates that Mrs. Norris was attacked as a way of 
attacking Filch, who is a squib, and I happen to agree with Neville.

I always wondered whether it was Riddle's voice Harry heard in the 
walls rather than the Basilisk's voice.  Riddle, urging the Basilisk 
onward, telling the Basilisk who to attack.  But even if it was the 
Basilisk's voice Harry heard in the walls, I still believe Riddle's 
memory was directing the Basilisk as to who to attack (as Riddle 
himself says, he preserved himself in his diary in order to be able 
to come back someday and continue Slytherin's "noble work").

~Phyllis