Why Petrification? WAS Re: Draco's Crimes & Misdemeanors

Wed Feb 5 11:58:43 UTC 2003

No: HPFGUIDX 51652

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Diana <dianasdolls at y...>" 
<dianasdolls at y...> wrote:
<Extensive snip> 
> Now me: [Diana]
> The only reason no one was killed was because of lucky chance.  
> Draco was hoping someone *died* in the next attack, like Moaning 
> Myrtle dead.  The goal of Tom Riddle [and Lucius Malfoy by giving 
> the diary to Ginny] was to *kill* Muggle-borns...not 
> petrify...*kill*.  Every one of the students petrified was 
> *supposed* to die, but because of circumstances were petrified 
> instead.  
<Snip>
> You're right, petrification is not the same as death, but the goal 
> was never to petrify them in the first place - only luck and 
> circumstance saved those students from instant death.  

Whoa! Hey! This view of things is quite *explicitly* contradicted by 
Tom Riddle himself.

"Haven't I already told you," said Riddle quietly, "that killing 
mudbloods doesn't matter to me any more. For many months now my new 
target has been - *you*" [Harry. Author's emphasis, CoS, UK 
paperback, Ch. 17, p.230]

Admittedly Tom's a liar, but his statement that Harry is the real 
target makes absolute sense of the long series of petrifications. 

What happened the last time the Chamber was opened? A girl died, and 
*because of that* the school was nearly shut down. Dippet: "... the 
Ministry of Magic is even now talking about closing the school ..." 
[CoS, Ch. 13, p.182]

>From that, it's a safe bet that only a certain number of deaths 
would be tolerated before the school was shut down [in the event, 
one presumed death is enough].

**And Harry would be sent home with the other students.**

So Riddle's task is to keep the terror going, try and suck Harry in, 
*whilst* keeping the school open. The answer is petrification.

It is *not* a long series of rather far-fetched coincidences that 
the Basilisk doesn't actually *kill* anyone. It's [or Ginny, its 
physical controller] under orders. Probably those orders are to 
*not* to look directly in anyones eyes; but to seek out situations 
where victims could see the 'reflections' of its eyes.

With no students dead, the chances are that the teachers will 
continue to keep the school open in the hopes that things will die 
down like they did last time.

Of course, Dumbledore has exactly the same problem, but in reverse. 
The last time the Chamber was opened, Tom Riddle (a Parselmouth) was 
at the school. How come he could open the Chamber when no other 
wizard could find it? What's different about *him*?

He's a Parselmouth.

So is Harry Potter. Dumbledore's in a bind. It is quite likely that 
the *only* person in the school remotely capable of finding the 
Chamber is a Second Year student. Which means if he chooses the safe 
route and sends the students home, he destroys his only chance of 
finding the Chamber. His only chance of destroying its monster for 
good and all ...

Unless he *forces* Harry to search for the Chamber, which of course, 
he won't do. The only thing Dumbledore actively *forces* Harry into 
is situations where he has to make a choice...

 ...  but that's another story.

Pip!Squeak
[for the 'other' story see the MAGIC DISWASHER section of Hypothetic 
Alley in  http://www.hpfgu.org.uk/faq/hypotheticalley.html ]