Ponderables...

[sevenhundredandthirteen]

No: HPFGUIDX 83000


deedeee88 pondered:

>2. If only the heir of Slytherin could open the chamber of secrets
>how was Harry able to open the Chamber of Secrets??!?

I reply:

The book never actually says that only the heir of Slytherin could 
*open* the Chamber of Secrets, only that they are the only ones who 
could *unseal* the Chamber of Secrets.

>From CoS Chapter 9 `The Writing On The Wall.'
Spoken by Professor Binns:

"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."

Note that we have the use of the words `seal' and `unseal.' The way I 
see it, Slytherin sealed the Chamber 1000 years ago. Tom Riddle, his 
true heir, unsealed it 50 years ago. But no-one has resealed it in 
any way. That is, *anyone* can now walk on down into the Chamber of 
Secrets (provided they speak Parseltongue or are with someone who 
does). So, Harry didn't unseal the Chamber of Secrets (which is the 
only task restricted to Slytherin's heir) it was already unsealed for 
him. He just opened the door to it.

The above quote uses the line `none would be able to open it until 
his own true heir arrived at the school.' Follow that train of 
thought logically and you get `as soon as Slytherins true heir *does* 
arrive at the school, *anyone* would be able to open the Chamber of 
Secrets.' So, seeing as Riddle was at the school at the time (that 
is, via Ginny Weasley) it makes perfect sense that Harry is allowed 
to open the Chamber's door, without actually having to be related to 
Slytherin.

~<(Laurasia)>~