Heir versus Descendant of Slytherin

[Jen Reese]

No: HPFGUIDX 99023

Julie:
> But we're not talking about houses, etc.  When Tom refers to 
himself 
> as the HEIR of Slytherin, he talks of carrying on Salazar 
Sytherin's 
> noble work.  If that was something that was passed down generation 
> upon generation, then why didn't one of his ancestors open the 
> chamber?  No, it had to be Tom, the heir.  How did he know he was 
> the last remaining heir unless he already planned not to marry and 
> have children.  Could it be that this choice precisely was needed 
to 
> become the heir, the last to carry on the work?

Jen: You ask a good question about why no one else opened the 
Chamber before Tom. And how *did* he know he was the Heir of 
Slytherin? Personally, I like the idea that he became the heir when 
he opened the chamber and not before. Tom was born a parselmmouth 
and descended from Slytherin, but it was putting two & two together--
researching Slytherin and the Chamber until he realized the mystery 
to open it--that he became the Heir of Slytherin.

Pippin was proposing in post # 98774, that Slytherin left "goodies" 
in the Chamber for whoever discovered and opened it. Presumably 
those things would assist the Heir in his mission. 

Julie: 
> Could all descendants of Slytherin speak parseltongue?  If not, 
why 
> not?  How was it that Tom could?  How did Tom find out how to open 
> the chamber while in school?  My theory is that something (and I 
> don't know what) had to happen for Tom to be bequeathed of the 
> powers of Slytherin.  Could this be where Grindelwalde comes in?
> I think we will find out more about how Tom was chosen, just as we 
> will find out how Harry was chosen.

Jen: I keep thinking Grindelwald will come into play again and this 
would be an interesting twist. JKR promised us in the chat we would 
find out more about Riddle's birth--I hope that information will 
answer the question of how Tom discovered his origins. Some say it 
was through a letter written by his Mom, but...Does he have a scar 
somewhere, too? Was another Prophecy made about "The Heir of 
Slytherin approaches...." Hehe.

Jen, who just saw "The Alamo" movie and wonders if Julie lives in 
Texas since she descended from Jim Bowie?