[HPforGrownups] Slytherin, the Chamber and the Basilisk

[Danger Mouse]

No: HPFGUIDX 47021

David said at 6.54pm:
"We know that Slytherin was concerned about the admittance to Hogwarts of muggleborns - but not on grounds 
of magical inferiority or hostility, just of security in an age of persecution.  A *magical* approach to this problem would be to try to bring about some kind of reconciliation between wizards and muggles by means of a spell."

In reply, we can't be sure why Slytherin wanted to build the chamber of secrets, but i find it unlikely that he did it for "hugs, puppies, and goodwill between magic and muggle!" He wasn't "concerned" about having muggle-borns at Hogwarts, he hated the idea--Dumbledore tells us that this was likely the reason he left the school! 

Furthermore, does or does not keeping a sleeping basilisk in an underground closet as a pet for a thousand years, only to let it out to slither about and murder little kiddies strike you as ethnic cleansing? It's a gigantic snake with a sweet-tooth for children! Now, you suggest that the Chamber may have been a place to carry out spells. I agree on this point, especially that some spells Sally would perform likely require a basilisk or other snake. Remember how in CoS, GoF, etc, we're told that snakes are important in many dark rituals. DARK rituals, not of the kind you do with lovely little bunnies hopping in fields. Furthermore, the modern Slyths do seem to hate muggle-borns based on magical impurity. What else? What persecution? A muggle-born student would be magical---just as magical, if not more, than a Pureblood. 

This begs the question: why would a muggle-born wizard persecute a pureblood? Because... um... err... no idea, actually. Do any muggle-born students seem to be hating purebloods because they're pure? Hermione hates Draco because he's a malicious jerk (but a darned sexy one). Just who would Sally be protecting people from? Crossbows and torches? Hogwarts has incredible magic to it--a muggle does not see or experience Hogwarts like a magical person. We're told that they would see a run-down building with a warning sign on the door. Maybe it was different "back in the day," but not only was persecution fairly minimal, but wizards possess, well, magic. Try to light me on fire? Harry learns for History of Magic that there are plenty of ways to protect against heat. Against crossbows? No doubt there's a way to stop those in their tracks. 

In conclusion, the statement that Slytherin was actually noble and trying to do things for the good of muggle/wizard relations is unfounded and extremely unlikely.

-DM