Table of Contents
Why did Tom Riddle release the Basilisk?
Riddle unleashed the basilisk on the school, his goal being to rid the school of Muggle-born students. All the victims were merely Petrified, except for a student named Myrtle, who was killed in the girls’ bathroom on the first floor. A sink in this bathroom concealed the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets.
Did the Gaunts open the Chamber of Secrets?
Tom Riddle is the earliest instance that we know for sure that the Chamber was opened. However, according to Pottermore, there is evidence that it was opened previously by members of the Gaunt family.
Can the heir of Slytherin look at the Basilisk?
The Basilisk could only be controlled by the Heir of Slytherin, Tom Riddle. Aragog (a rare Acromantula) was accused of being the monster of the chamber by Tom Riddle which sent Hagrid to Azkaban; his name was later cleared and he was allowed back in Hogwarts.
Why is the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets?
It was specifically created for the purpose of purging the school of all Muggle-born students. The Chamber contained a Basilisk, which could be controlled only by his own true heir, and use her to rid the school of all those he considered unworthy to study magic.
Why Can Tom Riddle speak snakes?
Reputation. The ability to actually speak Parseltongue — not just imitate it as Ron Weasley did — was considered an attribute of a Dark Wizard, which was partly due to the fact that both Salazar Slytherin and Lord Voldemort possessed this ability.
How did Hermione get petrified by the Basilisk?
The petrification of Hermione: Hermione was carrying a mirror with her to protect herself from the Basilisk’s eyes. She got petrified when she saw the Basilisk in the mirror. This means that the Basilisk was right behind her at that moment. If Hermione could see the Basilisk’s eyes, the Basilisk could definitely see its own eyes in the mirror.
Can the Basilisk be petrified if it sees itself in the mirror?
The Basilisk would not have been petrified if it saw itself in the mirror. We can find the proof of this fact multiple times in the series: The petrification of Hermione: Hermione was carrying a mirror with her to protect herself from the Basilisk’s eyes. She got petrified when she saw the Basilisk in the mirror.
Why did historians fail to find the Parselmouth chamber?
Successive headmasters and mistresses, not to mention a number of historians, searched the castle thoroughly many times over the centuries, each time concluding that the chamber was a myth. The reason for their failure was simple: none of them was a Parselmouth.