Couple of questions after CoS reread

[vmonte]

No: HPFGUIDX 125551


Hannah now: Yes, my argument does fall down a bit there. Maybe
McGonagall is wrong in her assumption that the 'monster' would have
waited around to finish off Colin. But they definitely do *think*
there is a risk that someone might try to kill those petrified;

'We're taking no more chances... no, I'm sorry, there's every chance
the attacker might come back to finish these people off.' Madam
Pomfrey, p197 Cos paperback UK ed.

vmonte responds:

Page 180, CoS, U.S. Edition:

"Another attack," said Dumbledore. "Minerva found him on the stairs."

snip

"Yes," said Professor McGonagall. "But I shudder to think...If Albus 
hadn't been on the way downstairs for hot chocolate--who knows what 
might have--"

I think that what Minerva was saying here is not that she believed 
the basilisk would have finished off Colin if Dumbledore hadn't come 
along, but that it would have killed her if Dumbledore hadn't come 
along. The quote implies that she found Colin moments after he was 
petrified. Colin was saved because he was looking through his camera, 
but Minerva would not have been as lucky, she would have died. 

So, at the time that Minerva found Colin, DD (at the same time) was 
coming down the stairs. The basilisk heard DD's footsteps and left 
before seeing and killing Minerva.

Vivian