Fawkes and the basilisk

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 81250

I have been reading bits of COS through again in the last couple of 
days and also watching a few scenes in the DVD when an odd thought 
came to me. Perhaps this has been tackled in the dim past, but I 
would be interested to hear other people's views.

How did Fawkes manage to attack the basilisk and blind it without 
looking at the creature's eyes and getting killed as a result?