Was Harry in Danger from the Basilisk?

[Josh Warren]

No: HPFGUIDX 108748

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Cathy Drolet" <cldrolet at s...> 
wrote:
> DuffyPoo:
> 
> Could it not have been possible for Salazar Slytherin, the 'twisted 
old loony,' to put a spell on the snake to make it able to 
distinguish between Muggle and magic?  Just another thought.

Well, owls and thestrals have no problems identifying locations of 
people and places, respectively. With or without spellwork, the 
possibility for the baselisk to distinguish individuals is certainly 
an easy reach. Even Marauder's Map-esque senses could have been 
spelled (thus avoiding Snape and Filch while hunting). 

Keep in mind that the blinded beast didn't mistakenly attack TMR in 
the chamber, and neither TMR nor Ginny were ever accidently killed or 
petrified while commanding it.

Overall I still believe that the attacks were directed (perhaps not 
at Hermione, the cat, or Sir Nick intentionally), as Justin, Colin, 
and (I beleive) Penelope were all people whom Harry might want to 
target if he were the Heir. Remember that TMR quickly determined that 
he wanted to meet Harry, and that attacks could have been designed 
specifically to push him away from the general populace to help 
encourage an opportunity.

Josh