Of Basilisks and rubies

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 155568

Carol:
> According to the website ("Medieval Jewelry"), "The twenty-fourth
> chapter [of the lapidarium] is entitled 'On the virtues of carbuncle,
> or Ruby, and how it is the master of all stones.' Its virtues are many
> and powerful: 'If you wear it on you, neither spiritual poison can
> harm you, nor air, nor water, however poisonous it would be, nor even
> the sight of a Basilisk.' 
> http://www.ceu.hu/medstud/manual/SRM/symbol.htm

Ceridwen:
Speaking of rubies, then, and connecting them to the HP stories, what, 
besides the obvious motive of dissing Gryffindor, was the reason rubies 
from the hourglass were spilled across the floor toward the end of 
HBP?  Was this *only* to show contempt for Gryffindor?  If so, then 
why?  Does it confirm that Dumbledore was a Gryffindor: does the 
hourglass take the place of "My Grandfather's Clock" (which 'stopped, 
short, never to go again when the old man died')?  (If so, could this 
be the end of the house system?)

When I read it, I thought it was a jab at Harry.  But now that you've 
got me thinking, why would it be?  Who knew *for a fact* that Harry 
would follow Snape and the other DEs instead of staying on the upper 
floors to help the Order with any clean-up of stray DEs or to see if 
everyone was all right?  Did *anyone* spill them, or did they spill 
themselves?

If rubies are a protection against forms of poison, could the WW also 
see them as protection against various forms of malevolent magic?  What 
was the purpose, if other than the obvious, of the Gryffindor rubies 
spilling on the floor?

Ceridwen.