Book Two Discoveries!

[Brenda M.]

No: HPFGUIDX 111754

>>> Charme wrote: Tom Riddle SAYS he's the last remaining descendent 
of Salazar Slytherin. [snip] I also don't think DD has ever really 
confirmed this in any of the books thus far, has he? <<<

Bren now:

Actually, it is...

Tom Riddle: "I, in whose veins runs the blood of Salazar Slytherin 
himself, through my mother's side?" [CoS, 231. UK]

Dumbledore: " 'You can speak Parseltongue, Harry,' said Dumbledore 
calmly, 'because Lord Voldemort - who is the last remaining 
*descendent* of Salazar Slytherin - can speak Parseltongue.' " [CoS, 
245. UK - My version has * as 'ancestor']

So I think we can assume that Tom Riddle is in fact the last 
remaining descendent of Slytherin. And as for JKR's confirmation on 
the matter, she had to clarify whether it was meant to be "ancestor" 
or "descendent" many times, so I think we got her "Yes" on the 
lineage connection either way.

I just had an amusing thought right now. How did Tom Riddle know that 
his mother carried the blood of Salazar Slytherin? Did he discover 
his Heir-of-Slytherin status and deduce that it must be from his 
mother's side? Or did she tell him somehow (in a letter or 
something)? If his mother knew about snaky blood running in her 
veins... could this mean that Tom Riddle Sr found out about this, and 
that is why he left her? He found out she wasn't just an ordinary, 
harmless witch, but a potentially dark, evil witch?

Oooh this could be very interesting!! Yay HP Soap Opera!!
*happy conspiracy dancing*


>>> Ladykat: Is it possible that Harry could be a descedent of BOTH 
SS and GG? It seems to me that there is every possibility that the 
two lines could have merged at some point in the last 1000 years, 
with Harry being the final descendant of BOTH lines - which would 
also include muggle-blood. <<<

Brenda:

Hmm, I haven't heard that theory before, quite interesting! Now, the 
Gryffindor sword is said to have "its handle glittering with rubies 
the size of eggs" [CoS, 235. UK]. Now, if it was Emerald instead of 
Ruby, then I would have made the Lily/Harry's Green eyes and Godric 
Gryffindor. Ah well.


>>> Ladykat: Hmmmm - and this *just* occured to me as I was writing 
this post. Maybe all three of our main characters are hybrids of the 
houses. For example - Hermione _could_ have just as easily been in 
Ravenclaw (for intelligence). But she was equally suited for 
Gryffindor - so that's where the SH put her. We never heard whether 
or not there was any debate over Ron when he was being sorted, but I 
would argue that he could have just as easily have gone to 
Hufflepuff - he is _incredibly_ loyal - even when he's mad at Harry 
or Hermione - his loyalty in the end can not be doubted. Is it 
possible that the unification of Hogwarts (and by extension - the WW) 
is in our three hero's? <<<

Brenda:

I'm personally not so keen on house distinction. Some of the students 
appear to be more directed to one trait, whereas others show the sign 
of different traits equally. I visualize it as a pyramid -- each 
vertex of the base represents each house and the emphasized values, 
but as you move higher up the distinction becomes unclear. A well-
balanced powerful wizard will stand at the top of pyramid, the 
midpoint of all 4 houses. Dumbledore is a great example - he 
possesses all four traits and uses them as needed.

Other posters have pointed this out before, that each trait 
[Bravery/Courage, Hard-Working/Loyalty, Cleverness/Intelligence, 
Ambition/Determination] *by itself* doesn't mean much. One needs 
combinations of these to become a great wizard.

As for Harry-Ron-Hermione representing the WW as whole, there is also 
half-blood / pure-blood / muggle-born connection on top of Slytherin-
Hufflepuff-Ravenclaw thing ;)


Brenda