Flint?

[Barry Arrowsmith]

--- In the_old_crowd at yahoogroups.com, "pippin_999" <foxmoth at q...> wrote:
> 
> Pippin
> wondering about the possibility that the basilisk was a Slytherin
> horcrux. Kneasy?

I did consider this as a possibility - it'd be a neat wheeze from 
she-who-must-be-read-with-a-suspicious-mind. Not only that, it'd
fit neatly into Possession Theory - but - I don't think so. Sad, that.

Oh, it'd be possible to twist, mangle, distort and otherwise pervert
known canon to make the bits fit ("What's new?" you cry, "it never 
stopped you before.") and there are facets of the CoS finale that
could be read in a way to provide support - "Speak to me, Slytherin,
greatest of the Hogwarts Four!" - and if you posit that GG's sword
has the magical power to destroy a Sally Hearseclick then you could
be off and running. But I'm not convinced. (What're the odds that this
time Jo has pulled a fast one that I've missed? About fair, I reckon.)

I am convinced that there is still something Sally-related down in the
Chamber, though to match the expectations of discriminating readers 
it'd have to be a bit more subtle than a rampaging Muggle-munching 
ophidian.

The consensus view is that Hersclix have been made before - but only
one per wizard. Would Sally stuff his soul into a mortal, though admittedly
long-lived beastie? Seems a bit risky IMO.
May have been Sally!Essence that taught Tom how to form Hosschucks
though, there doesn't seem to be an instruction manual anywhere else.

Kneasy
Who has a beady eye on that capriform correspondent.