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

[elfundeb]

No: HPFGUIDX 171331

constancevigilance wrote:
>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.

Debbie:
I have long been curious as to how JKR will weave the basilisk legend into
the Weasleys' role in DH.  Both Ron and his father have been poisoned, and I
have always assumed that rue was used by the Healers to cure both of them.
I have always thought that the Weasleys' natural enemies were the Malfoys,
based on the scuffle between Arthur and Lucius in CoS.  Draco was
(indirectly) Ron's attacker, and while Nagini was possessed by Voldemort
when she attacked Arthur, I tend to see Lucius as instrumental to the
attempt to penetrate the DOM's defenses.

Accordingly, while in prior encounters the Weasleys have always *seemed* to
be operating from a position of weakness, due to their poverty and their
ideology, compared to the wealthy and politically powerful Malfoys, I expect
the Weasleys to fight back (not necessarily with traditional wizarding
weapons) in DH with renewed strength, clearly defeating the slippery
slytherinish Malfoys.

One more thing.  Basilisks can be used as a remedy against spiders.  I can't
help envisioning Nagini's carcass hanging from the lintel at the Burrow.

Debbie


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