Was Harry in Danger from the Basilisk?

[cubfanbudwoman]

No: HPFGUIDX 108701

Asian_lovr2:
> I also believe that Tom (through Ginny) is directing the Basilisk, 
> and believe that he is sending it after Muggle-borns. I just have a 
> hard time believing Tom's directions could have been, 'Go kill a 
> muggle born'. As I illustrated in my example, that's like directing 
> a dog to  'go attack the Catholics'. How does it know? 
> 
> Now, go attack the person who looks like this at or near this
> location, I can believe. The attacks on Colin, Justin, and
> Hermione/Penelope all occurred at times when it was very unlikely to
> find anyone wandering the hallways, much less specifically a Muggle-
> born. 
> 
> It's reasonable, although within definite limits, that a Basilisk
> could distinguish between Muggle and magic, but I can't see any 
> reason why that would be a natural adaptation of a Basilisk.
 

SSSusan:
Then we are in agreement, actually.  In my mind I guess I assumed 
that Ginny provided the information Tom wanted to know about which 
students were Muggle-born [to her knowledge, as you note], then, 
under Tom's "influence," simply reported to him when she saw one of 
those persons in a vulnerable location, with the final piece being 
Tom's instruction to the Basilisk to attack *then*.

Granted, I've never understood how this could happen so rapidly, 
since the Basilisk is way down [or is that movie contam.?] in the 
Chamber.  I figured there must be some means of rapid communication 
*and* rapid exit from the Chamber which allowed all this to unfold 
very quickly:  Ginny sees one of the Muggle-born students out by 
himself; Ginny tells Tom; Tom sends the the Basilisk to X location 
and siccs him on the unsuspecting student.

That's how I pictured it; doesn't mean it happened that way.  But 
regardless, you & I are on the same page about the Basilisk NOT 
having an innate ability to sense a Muggle-born or to track down X 
student without detailed guidance.  (Then again, that post earlier 
about the abilities of serpents was interesting!)

Siriusly Snapey Susan