Now that I think about it, I'm not sure the Basilisk was such a good idea...

[Andrea]

No: HPFGUIDX 57959

--- darrin_burnett wrote:
> The canon tells us that the legend is -- on page 114 -- that the 
> horror within the Chamber would be used to "purge the school of all 
> who were unworthy to study magic."

Well, my point was that the legend isn't necessarily accurate, after a
thousand years.

> He did research the thing extensively. And again, we are talking 
> about the "Heir of Slytherin," are we not? This is the one chosen to 
> open the thing. If we are to believe the Sorting Hat has essence of 
> the founders, then Salazar at least had some say in this.

There's a lot of debate about just what it takes to be Heir of Slytherin,
whether it's just bloodlines or if he's in some way chosen for beliefs,
etc.  Since there's no canon on this, there's no reason to assume he's the
"heir" in anything other than the strictly bloodlines.  Yes, he was chosen
for Slytherin House by the Sorting Hat, because he's cunning and
ambitious.  Until the Sorting Song says, "Slytherin chose those who wanted
to kill Muggle-borns," I'm reserving judgment on *that* matter. ;)  As for
research, if his "research" involved the thousand year old legend about
killing Muggle-borns...well, who's to say his research was any more proof
of Salazar's original intent than Binns'?  He made his interpretation,
which might or might not be Salazar's.  I'm just saying that the two don't
*necessarily* equal, not that they *can't*.

> Who would have been the most likely attackers in Slytherins time? The 
> Muggles, specifically, the Inquisition and other witch-hunters. To 
> defend the school, it should have been charmed to attack Muggles, not 
> Muggle-borns, and certainly not left to just roam free, attacking 
> whomever.

Ah, but it *wasn't* left to roam free, attacking whomever.  For whatever
reason, for a thousand years the basilisk was confined where it couldn't
harm anyone but rats, until a budding homicidal maniac started to use it
for his own reasons. 
 
> I love you. You love me. We're a happy family.

Okay, I liked you until you started quoting Barney.  Now you must die. 

> OK, I'm coming around to the possibility of defense, but I'm not sure 
> I can go with the pet thing.

Me either. :)  I just said that was one possibility.  My personal favorite
scenario is a combination of the defense and research theories, but I was
just trying to illustrate that there are several reasons beyond
GenocidalManiac!Salazar.
 
> Actually, we do, but it depends on your definition of "a few" and "a 
> while."
> 
> "For a few years, the founders worked in harmony together..." pg 114
> 
> Then disagreements sprang up..and "after a while."
> 
> Pick a number. I say less than 50 years.

So really, we have no canon.  "A few" and "a while" are not decent
indications of time.  More than one year, less than eternity.  Gosh, that
narrows it down! *g*

> We're back to the Sorting Hat, which gave Harry the sword. Original 
> intent is closer than you might give it credit for.

The Hat gave Harry a sword because he's a true Gryffindor.  That's all
Dumbledore said, so it's the only canon we have.  Even that, of course, is
open to interpretation, and there may be other criteria that he didn't go
into.  And after it *gave* Harry the sword, Harry was still free to use it
for whatever he wanted.  He may have wanted it originally for defending
himself against the basilisk, but could have then decided that he should
just rid Hogwarts of threats like Malfoy and other Slytherins.  

> Why does the hat still have Slytherin in it and why do the other 
> houses put up with Slytherin? 
> 
> I maintain that the hat is a magical contract. Not even the combined 
> power of Godric, Rowena and Helga could get rid of Salazar, since the 
> essence of him was in the hat.

First, thank you for supporting the idea of the Founders' essences in the
Hat.  It's a personal favorite of mine. :)  Second, that's definitely a
possibility.  If the Goblet of Fire can be a binding contract, I don't see
why the Sorting Hat couldn't be too.
 
> BUT... if that's not the case, then there is obviously some reason 
> Salazar's thoughts are still in the hat, and that is because even 
> Godric doesn't think he's all that bad.

I think that Slytherin's still a House at Hogwarts because the other three
Founders recognized that the traits of cunning and ambition were also
important to cultivate.  I also think that sentiment, tradition, and sheer
practicality ("You mean we have to reSort ALL these former Slytherins? 
And expand the dormitories?  And reshuffle the classes?  And--") also
played a role.  Even if a founding member of a group leaves (and even if
it's under acrimonious circumstances), all traces of him aren't
automatically eliminated.


Andrea

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