Was Harry in Danger from the Basilisk?

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 108651

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Steve" <asian_lovr2 at y...> 
wrote:

Geoff:
> >
> > Go back to Riddle's time at Hogwarts - we only seem to have a 
record
> > of one attack, that on Moaning Myrtle.
> 
> Asian_lovr2:

Steve:
> Not quite, if you read carefully you'll see that 50 years ago 
several
> people were attacked but only ONE person died. That dead person was
> Myrtle.
> 
> I'm not saying I'm right, I'm just trying to come up with a
> speculation that resolves the most inconsistencies and at the same
> time has a reasonable degree of likelihood. 

Geoff:
I think this could open a whole can of worms.

I've just found your reference:
'Riddle's reply came quickly, his writing becoming untidier as though 
he was hurrying to tell all he knew.
"Of course I know about the Chamber of Secrets. In my day, they told 
us it was a legend, that it did not exist. But this was a lie. In my 
fifth year, the Chamber was opened and the minster attacked several 
students, finally killing one..."'

(COS "The Very Secret Diary" p.181 UK edition)

So there must have been petrified students back in 1942 before 
Myrtle's death since the only options with the Basilisk appear to be  
either death or petrification.

So, what's with Dumbledore?

'At last Dumbledore straightened up.
"She's not dead, Argus." he said softly.
Lockhart stopped abruptly in the middle of counting the numbers of 
murders he had prevented.
"Not dead?" choked Filch, looking though his fingers at 
Mrs.Norris. "But why's she all - all stiff and frozen?"
"She has been petrified," said Dumbledore ("Ah, I thought so!" said 
Lockhart). "But how, I cannot say...."

(COS "The Writing on the Wall" p.108 UK edition)

The original implication of this is that he doesn't /know/. However, 
with Diary!Riddle's comment, does this mean he won't /tell/? And if 
so, why not? Does he know what caused the previous problems? Other 
evidence begins to raise its head...

'"What does this /mean/, Albus?" Professor McGonagall asked urgently.
"It means,"said Dumbledore, "that the Chamber of Secrets is indeed 
open again." Madam Pomfrey clapped a hand to her mouth. Professor 
McGonagall stared at Dumbledore.
"But Albus.... surely.... /who/?"
"The question is not /who/" said Dumbledore, his eyes on Colin. "The 
question is , /how/"'

(COS "The Rogue Bludger" pp.135-36 UK edition)

Re-reading this, it is taking on much more significance in my mind. 
Does this mean that Dumbledore knows about the Basilisk and is 
speculating, knowing that Voldemort is apparently out of the picture, 
as to which person now has the ability to open the Chamber?

Hmmm.