Why Petrification?

[jodel at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 51684

Eloise asks;
<< So why take Ginny down into the Chamber, thus precipitating the closure of 
the school, *before* he has had the chance to get to Harry?

 >>

Possibly because he had finally gotten strong enough to come out of the 
diary. 

At this point in the proceedings, his goal may be killing Harry, but his 
anchor point is still Ginny Weasley. He would have been in a real bind if 
Ginny had been sent home before he was finished with her. Ginny has managed 
to keep her situation a secret amongst a dorm full of firsties who never met 
her before, and a quartet of older brothers who are not known for their 
sharply observant natures. (Only Percy notices that she is looking peaked, 
and forces a dose of pepper-up down her.) But can you imagine Arthur and 
Molly managing to overlook the way Ginny is acting? I don't think so. From 
Tom's standpoint, Ginny *must* remain at Hogwarts until he can feed off her 
long enough to build up the strength he needs to emerge from the diary.

Once he has gained enough strength, the school can't close fast enough to 
suit him. Even if Harry doesn't take the bait, or hasn't gotten enough of a 
clue as to how to get into the Chamber, Tom will be much better able to fly 
out beneath Dumbledore's radar and leave the school (with or without the 
Basilisk) without having to dodge a swarm of students and teachers in 
residence. And then go after Harry himself.

-JOdel