Lack of Hogsmeade Muggle Protection

[probonoprobono]

No: HPFGUIDX 58352

>jodel wrote:
<snip>
> And, there was a third passage behind the mirror on the fourth 
>floor which was the Twin's prefered route until it caved in the 
>winter that the Basilisk was making free of the school. At this 
>point we do not know whether the Basilisk was relevant to the cave 
>in.

Or do we? 

"He [Lockhart] raised Ron's Spellotaped wand high over his head and 
yelled, "Obliviate!"
The wand exploded with the force of a small bomb. Harry flung his
arms over his head and ran, slipping over the coils of snake skin, 
out of the way of great chunks of tunnel ceiling that were 
thundering to the floor. Next moment, he was standing alone, gazing 
at a solid wall of broken rock." -CoS

Well, ok so maybe the Basilisk wasn't directly responsible, but this 
is likely the passage that the twins mentioned in PoA. One branch 
must lead to Hogsmeade and another to the Chamber. There were also 
two different entries into that passage, through the mirror on the 
fourth floor (the way Fred and George always went), as well as 
through Myrtle's bathroom. 

But if Fred and George had used the passage up until it caved in, 
you'd think they might have noticed all the rat bones and the giant 
snake-skin? Pretty dangerous too, at the time. I reckon they were 
very lucky that year!

-Tanya