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

[constancevigilance]

No: HPFGUIDX 171291

CV previously:

OK. Here is an off-the-wall prediction for DH.

I'm thinking we might see another basilisk.

Carol responds:
 
I'm not so sure about another Basilisk (who'd have hatched it and
raised it?)

CV: Salazar Slytherin?

Carol: I'm pretty sure that Harry will use the Sword of  Gryffindor
(studded with symbolic and magically powerful rubies) to kill Nagini,
another large and probably magical snake. 

CV: I'm totally convinced that Harry will use the sword for
*something*. Harry has established himself as King by pulling the
sword from the stone, I mean, *hat*.

Carol: I wonder if the weasel vs. Basilisk legend has its roots in
mongooses killing snakes?

CV: Dunno. But the legend of the basilisk has been around a Really.
Long. Time. It's mentioned in Shakespeare several times (Thanks,
Caius!) Were English myth-writers aware of mongooses back in the
Middle Ages?

Carol: (lots of really great info about rue, its healing powers, its
nasty taste and references in English literature)

CV: (Is awed by the level of knowledge in evidence by members of this
group!)

Carol: Apparently, it [rue] serves as an antidote to protect the
weasel from the Basilisk's poison. [But goes on to disagree with
everything that CV suggested in the post.] 

<snip>

[A]t any rate, we do know from interviews that JKR is fond of weasels
and the whole mustelid family.

CV: Me too! I love weasels, martins, otters, etc! Too bad that keeping
ferrets is illegal in my state.

Carol: To return to "rue," the word, of course, also means "sorrow,"
and, as a verb, "to regret or to feel remorse" (the etymology of the
plant name is different from that of "rue" meaning "sorrow" but I
think they must have been associated in the medieval English mind
considering the repentance symbolism alluded to by Ophelia). 

CV: (Is once again in a state of awe. And notices that Shakespeare is
once again referenced. Who knew that the presentation of a wacky
theory would inspire The Bard from two directions?)