Did Harry speak to the Basilisk?

[probonoprobono <probono@rapidnet.com>]

No: HPFGUIDX 50501

> Taryn wrote:
> Because the basilisk can only be controlled by the Heir of 
Slytherin. As Professor Binns puts it:
> 
> "Slytherin, according to the legend, sealed the Chamber of Secrets 
so that none would be able to open it until his own true heir 
arrived at the school. The **heir alone** would be able to unseal 
the Chamber of Secrets, unleash the horror within, and use it to 
purge the school of all who were unworthy to study magic." (US 
paperback p. 151, emphasis mine)
> 
> So it stands to reason that /only/ the Heir of Slytherin could 
control the basilisk, whether another person was a parselmouth or 
not.
------------
Me: I always had the impression that the reason only the Heir of 
Slytherin can open the chamber and control the basilisk is because, 
until Harry, the only known Parselmouths were all Slytherin's heirs? 
It was accepted in the WW that parseltongue was a hereditary trait. 
Slytherin knew this, in fact, he counted on it when he built the 
chamber. 

And we know that the actual Heir of Slytherin (Riddle) neither 
opened the chamber nor controlled the basilisk (at least not until 
the end of CoS). Riddle controlled Ginny, Ginny opened the chamber 
and Ginny ordered the basilisk to do her bidding. And of course, 
Harry opened the chamber too. 

If only the Heir of Slytherin can open the chamber and control the 
basilisk, than both Harry and Ginny are somehow related to Slytherin 
(and each other! <grin>). 
-Tanya