Of Basilisks and weasels and rue (Was: A basilisk in the final book?)

[montavilla47]

No: HPFGUIDX 171286

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67" <justcarol67 at ...> wrote:
>
> constancevigilance wrote:
> >
> > OK. Here is an off-the-wall prediction for DH.
> > 
> > I'm thinking we might see another basilisk. Here's what I found
> while researching mythical creatures in Europe at this link:
> http://www.pantheon.org/areas/bestiary/articles.html
> > 
> > [T]he basilisk has natural enemies. The weasel is immune to its
> glance and if it gets bitten it withdraws from the fight to eat some
> rue, the only plant that does not wither, and returns with renewed
> strength.
> > 
> > CV: What is rue, anyway?
> > 
> > Brave Ron - or any of the Weasleys, for that matter - to the rescue
> when everyone is being threatened! I've always wondered why JKR was so
> determined that Ron's surname be Weasley. Such an odd name and she
> said it was the only one of her original surnames that was settled
> from the beginning.
> <snip>
> >
> Carol responds:
> 
> Regarding rue: As Snape (who knows about dittany and the properties of
> herbs, animals, and minerals in general) would know, as would Sprout
> and Madam Pomfrey, rue is an herb with healing properties.
> Botanical.com (a very interesting and informative website) describes
> it this way:

<snipping all the excellent information about rue>

> Carol, who thinks that Snape's saving Ron with rue would be a lovely
> way of proving to Harry which side he's on (foreshadowed by the Bezoar
> incident in HBP) but thinks it's unlikely to happen
>

Montavilla47:

Just as a note:  Ron's already been dosed with rue.  He took it as an antidote to the 
poisoned mead.