Slytherin & Gryffindor: Misconceptions

[hickengruendler]

No: HPFGUIDX 123565


--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "esmith222002" <c.john at i...> 
wrote:
 
> 
> 1. SS was worried about Muggle attitudes to witches and wizards. I 
do 
> not think he was worried about 'purity of blood' as much as he was 
> worried about a potential threat to Hogwarts.
> 2. SS was worried that admittance of 'impure' wizards would 
> eventually alert the Muggleworld to Hogwarts existence and 
therefore 
> threaten that existence. 
> 3. What if SS created the COS as a protective mechanism. As a 
> founder, he must have loved Hogwart and would not want it 
destroyed. 
> If Muggle's ever threatened Hogwarts, then the heir of Slytherin 
> could use the Basilisk to purge the school of Muggle invaders!!
> 4. All the above would suggest that SS was an honourable wizard and 
> therefore a friendship between GG and SS is more likely. Also, if 
GG 
> is the HBP (as has been suggested) it would explain why he would 
not 
> budge on the issue of 'blood purity'.
> 
>
> 
> Brothergib

Hickengruendler:

I agree with everything I quoted, except the conclusion. I think 
Slytherin probably had some right to be worried, that the muggles 
would find out about the wizarding world and maybe would pose a 
danger. However, that does not justify mass murder (or attempted mass 
murder, since "only" Myrtle actually died). Therefore even if 
Slytherin's motives are somehow understandable, that does in no way 
excuse his actions (if, and that if shouldn't be forgotten, it really 
happened how it was told in CoS. After all, the whole thing is only a 
legend, maybe Slytherin just had some eccentric hobby and studied the 
Basilisk and put it into the Chamber, to make sure that only a 
Parselmouth, to whom it doesn't pose as much of a danger, can find 
it). For example, if I killed somebody because he had blackmailed me, 
then my motives would be somewhat understandable, but the deed itself 
still would be evil. 

Hickengruendler