Was Harry in Danger from the Basilisk?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 108702

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Geoff Bannister"
<gbannister10 at a...> wrote:

> 
> Geoff:
> .....
> 
> 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?
> 
> ...edited quote...
> 
> "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...
> 
> ...
> "It means," said Dumbledore, "that the Chamber of Secrets is indeed 
> open again." ....
> "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. Geoff


Asian_lovr2:

I think Dumbledore is saying he recognises the circumstances but not
the method. He has seen people petrified before and knows all to well
that previous pertifications were associated with the opening of the
Chamber, but he does not know if it was done by spell, charm, curse,
potion, or magical creature.

The 'not who' but 'how' in the second quote implies to me that he
suspects the same person this time as he suspected last time, but
can't imagine how Riddle/Voldemort could possibly be acting now when
he is suport to be powerless vapor lurking about the accursed
mountains of Albania.

Just a thought.

Steve/asian_lovr2