[HPforGrownups] Did Harry speak to the Basilisk?

[Taryn Kimel]

No: HPFGUIDX 50535

Me:
"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.

Mike:
But by that logic, Harry shouldn't have been able to unseal the Chamber 
either.

Me:
Absolutely correct. My logic is, indeed, faulty. Sorry about that!

--Taryn

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