another LV - Riddle question

[Lynette]

No: HPFGUIDX 98386

Gina:
* My grasp for straws was that maybe Harry could have said stop but having been told he couldn't didn't try. Maybe Riddle knew that or maybe he didn't - we know he has underestimated Harry before. Are we to assume that
Riddle overheard that Harry could speak parseltongue or did someone tell him? How did he know?

Lynette:

You had to be able to speak parseltongue in order to open both of the doors to the chamber - in the bathroom and the one below.

As to why SS recognized TR as his true heir - he could speak parseltongue, he studied the dark arts for years, he agreed with the no mud-bloods (even though he was a half blood), and he cared enough to try to find the chamber for years.  His hatred of his muggle father increased his hatred of the mud-bloods.  The magic that SS left to protect the chamber recognized this kindred of spirit in TR.

A point of interest - a cousin of mine has traced the family for 350 years and has a book that lists most of them with over 18,000 names from one set of parents.  How many possible heirs would there be from one pairing over 1,000 years ago?  

Lynette
Hermione is misunderstood

ADMIN NOTE: If you want to discuss the question posed in the last paragraph, please do so on Off-Topic Chatter: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hpfgu-otchatter/ unless your post *also* makes a canon point.