Basilisk Venom

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 182338

---  "Carol" <justcarol67 at ...> wrote:
>
> Carol earlier:
> > 
> > << (The only reason that the Sword of Gryffindor could 
> destroy the Horcruxes was that, because of Harry, it had 
> absorbed Basilisk venom.) >>
> 
> Catlady responded: 
> > My memory is dreadful. I thought the Sword of Gryffindor 
> could destroy Horcruxes because it was a powerful magical 
> artifact ...
> 
> Carol responds:
> 
> Happy to oblige. In "the Goblin's Revenge," after Phineas...
> has told HRH that the last time he saw the Sword of Gryffindor
> was when DD used it to break open a ring, Hermione says, "the
> sword can destroy Horcruxes! Goblin-mad blades imbibe only 
> that which strengthens them--Harry, that sword's impregnated 
> with basilisk venom!" (DH Am. ed. 304)--...
> 

bboyminn:

Excellent post, and I've nothing really to add other than an
aside. 

Do you think the Sword is imbued strictly with Basilisk Venom,
or do you think it is imbued with Basilisk POWER. The Basilisk
has many weapons and powers at its disposal. The Deadly Look,
Venomous Fangs, and in legends of old the Basilisk Breath was
also deadly. One exhale and the Basilisk could wilt countless
aches of crops. Admittedly, JKR seems to have left this last
part out, but the point remains.

If you kill a wizard with the Sword, does the Sword then absorb
the strengths and powers of that wizard? Do it absorb the part
that strengthen it? 

If you kill a Dragon with it, would it then absorb the general
power and strengths of the Dragon?

If so, then would it not absorb all the powers of the Basilisk.

Now from a general conversational point or view, there's really
no need to talk about a 'deadly look' when referring to a sword,
but just because the Sword can't kill you with a look, doesn't
mean the underlying power isn't there. 

I think it is more than the mere fact the the Sword has venom
on it, or in it, I think it has this additional power to destroy
Horcruxes because it absorbed all the powers of the Basilisk, 
and the one critical power to destroying Horcruxes is Venom.

This seems to be a very find distinction I am making here, a
distinction which leads me to the ultimate same conclusion
that other have reached, but I'm simply expanding it a bit.

Why would the Horcrux absorb only the Venomous aspect of the
Basilisk when so many more powers were there? 

> Carol:
>
> Earlier, Hermione has said that "what Harry did" (stabbing 
> the diary with a Basilisk fang) is one of the only "foolproof" 
> ways of destroying a Horcrux. Apparently, the venom alone is 
> not sufficient.... Hermione continues, ..."There are very few 
> substances as destructive as basilisk venom, and they're all
> dangerous to carry around with you" (104). ...
> 

bboyminn:

I think trying to carry or handle Basilisk Venom would be akin
to trying to carry around highly toxic radio active material.
I suspect that Basilisk Venom would be like many toxic 
substances, you don't have to ingest it. If it touches your
skin, it will absorb and kill you. If you are pouring it from
one bottle to another and the tiniest drop lands on your sleeve,
and a while eating dinner, you wipe your mouth on your that
same sleeve, you are dead. 

Still, Ron was able to handle the fangs, so perhaps I am wrong,
or perhaps the fangs had absorbed a degree of Venom from contact
but were not actually filled with liquid venom. That still might
give them the power to destroy a Horcrux. 

Also, note, as I think Hermione is trying to imply, not only 
must you expose the Horcrux to something that can kill it,
you must physically damage it. It must be stabbed or burned,
or in someway damaged so it can't restore itself. We have had
many objects that couldn't be repaired because they were 
damaged by magic. So, in the case of the Horcrux, it can't 
just be poisoned, it must also be damaged with the poisoned
object. 

So, I don't think Harry could have killed the diary but simply
shaking the fang and causing venom to drip on the book. He 
had to stab it over and over again, to make sure the job was
finally and completely done.

That's all for now.

Steve/bboyminn