Was Harry in Danger from the Basilisk?

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 108656

Asian_lovr2:
>>> Now the Basilisk and the danger to Harry, in this case, I think 
we are giving the too much weight to the intelligences of the 
Basilisk. This is a reptile, though very large, it probably had a 
brain the size of a walnut. ... A parseltongue might be able to 
communcate with it,.... able to relay primitive thoughts and
obey simple orders, .... 
Also, I'm not totally convinced that the Basilisk can tell a 
muggle from a wizard. The fact is that the eyes of a Basilisk are 
deadly to ANYONE who looks into them, wizards or purebloods have 
no special protection. <<<

SSSusan:
>> ... But I don't think I agree that the directions it was 
receiving were super-simple.  Diary!Tom apparently controlled the 
basilisk enough [through Ginny, am I right?] that it attacked ONLY 
MUGGLE-BORNS.  ... Tom set it all up ..., still, other than NHN, all
the victims were right-on target. ...
This makes me believe that, had Tom decided to single out Harry, he 
eventually could have done so.<<

Asian_lovr2:
> '...ONLY MUGGLE-BORNS...' you say, and you know this for a fact, 
> or is it really an assumption on your part? Is there anyplace in 
> the book where it is cleary stated that Penelope (Percy's 
> girlfriend) is a muggle-born? 
<snip>
> Can't prove it, but I just don't see the Basilisk as a very 
> selective killing machine.


SSSusan:
Sorry, Steve, I should have provided canon when I posted 
originally.  I am relying upon Tom's own words, here:
"She [Ginny] set the Serpent of Slytherin on four Mudbloods, and the 
Squib's cat."  [CoS, US hardback, p. 310]  That tells me that, yes, 
Penelope was Muggle-born, unless we have reason to think Tom doesn't 
have his facts straight.

As for the randomness of the attacks--the way you described them 
later--yes, I agree.  *Anyone* walking down the hall who encountered 
the Basilisk's eyes would be a victim, regardless of his/her status 
as muggle-born, half-blood, pureblood, or whatever.  I was referring 
to Tom's intention in directing the basilisk, which I believe was to 
go after Muggle-borns.

Siriusly Snapey Susan