GOF Chapter 10: Mayhem at the Ministry

[oryx_leucoryx]

Arthur is confident Mr Roberts will be alright, though at the moment he doesn't know which day it is, and worse. And Arthur knows that based on the extensive time he spent with Muggles, learning all about them and their culture? I doubt there is any long-term follow up on victims of Obliviation. How does Arthur know they don't develop some form of early-onset dementia later? Heck, maybe Mad Cow Disease is a front for Obliviation side-effects.

Molly is worried because of scary headlines in The Prophet. That's because she totally forgot to look at the living room clock where she could see that no family member was in mortal danger (or if any were for a while the danger was long over by the time she got the paper).

Rita Skeeter criticized the Ministry's lax security at the game. Last week she criticized Percy's cauldron project. And as we shall see later, earlier in the summer she called Dumbledore an obsolete dingbat. Does she have an agenda or is she an equal opportunity trouble-rouser? (Or perhaps she is in the process of upgrading from the latter to the former.)

Arthur keeps insisting nobody was hurt, but I can't forget those green flashes.

Molly tries to object to Arthur's going to the office to take care of the crisis when he is supposed to be on holiday. Percy doing the same is met with no reaction whatsoever.

Harry finally tells his friends about his dream, though as he expected they offer no help. Hermione disses Trelawney and her prophecy. Little does she know.

Sorry madderbrad (and other H/Hr shippers out there) but here we have evidence Hermione doesn't understand Harry all that well - not as well as Ron, at least. He does prefer playing Quidditch with the boys (Ginny? Who's that?) than going to bed early to worry.

Percy's help was in fact needed after all. (He reports no change in Crouch's behavior, though we know that by now Crouch has been placed under Imperius. Perhaps because at this point his instructions were 'act naturally'.) And kudos to Percy for catching Mundungus in his lie. This is the second mention of Mundungus before we learn he is an Order member. He gets a lot more foreshadowing than Sirius Black, though his role is significantly more minor.

Percy makes accusations against Arthur, Bill defends him citing his own run-in with Rita, but is countered by Molly who actually agrees with Rita's criticism of his hairstyle. Looks like Ms Skeeter has a talent for sowing discord that puts Voldie to shame.

Fred and George have already started their campaign to get Bagman to pay them with real money.

Bertha Jorkins' disappearance is finally serious business, once Rita found out about it (how dare she?). Now Arthur claims to have told Ludo to send someone to look for her. Hmm, he just asked him if there was any news of her and quickly shut up when Ludo said there wasn't. Can't afford to get on the bad side of the one who got you the tickets. It was Crouch who repeatedly asked for a search party.

You know, while Rita's style is annoying, she does catch instances of improper conduct at the Ministry. Maybe if she and her likes had better access to the goings-on people would be scared-straight and start doing things right. Though they'd probably only intensify the covering-up.

Hermione isn't of age yet so it is Molly who washes the socks.

Didn't Molly go shopping while the rest were at the match? So why is it that the first time either boy sets eye on the acquisitions it is the last night of vacation, 6 nights later?

I can understand Molly buying Harry more expensive robes than she bought Ron, since she was using his money for that, but that's still not a reason to buy Ron robes that were in bad taste, in a bad state, in the color he hates - and do nothing to improve them after the purchase. She did have 6 days for that. Any wonder locket-influenced!Ron believed his mother preferred Harry to him? (Now that I'm thinking about this - Molly treats Ron almost as badly or incompetently as Eileen treated Severus. Well, on the one hand, other than the dress robes Ron doesn't look visibly neglected, but on the other Severus seems to have been better informed about Hogwarts and magic than Ron. So perhaps it's a wash.)

Comments

[karentheunicorn.livejournal.com]

Magic tupperware? Magic Home Interior, Magic Avon, Magic Pampered Chief, Magic Designer handbag parties?

Tries to think of other crap muggle women sell on the side for a at home business to make extra money.

[majorjune.livejournal.com]

Tries to think of other crap muggle women sell on the side for a at home business to make extra money.

Not just women; you have a long history of door-to-door salesmen touting various housecleaning products, magazines, greeting cards, rugs.

Then there's the telemarketers, altho the wizarding world doesn't have phones, I suppose someone could do mailorder via owl, selling food products, home repair, etc.

Lupin could have opened up a wizarding equivalent of a job lot/dollar store..."Lupin's Leftovers -- Nothing More Than A Galleon!" He could have had James and Sirius put up money as an investment when they first got out of school; I mean, what exactly did Lupin plan on being/doing when he graduated Hogwarts?

[karentheunicorn.livejournal.com]

Yea =) I was just thinking women because I just went to a party on Friday. Designer Handbags - which I believe are actually knockoff handbags really. But ya know, it's better than paying $300 for a handbag. I have a friend who buys coach retail, I just could never pay that much even if I did have the money. I don't mind paying $25 or 30, etc.

But yea, there are lots of side business' people run, male and female. And on Lupin it sort of makes you wonder what he was doing all those years before we first meet him in book 3.

Hell, what about Sirius and James for that matter? I guess because it was a war the situation was a little different but people still have to eat and work, etc. even when a war is going on.

It's just kind of convienent that James had lots of money.

Isn't it ironic that Draco and the Malfoy's get bad mouthed about being rich, etc...but Harry certainly doesn't have a problem living off pureblood money his grandparents 'apparently' left James.

[majorjune.livejournal.com]

Hell, what about Sirius and James for that matter?

They had inherited money, remember.

If James had any plans to do anything, my guess was to be an Auror. Who knows if Sirius had any serious plans... ;-)

[karentheunicorn.livejournal.com]

Who knows if Sirius had any serious plans

IF the war hadn't happened, he was going to America. He was going to look up the address of a curly headed American witch he met years ago...things just didn't turn out like he wanted! LOL!

[600ants.livejournal.com]

Haha, I know what clich you hint at, but now I can't but suspect that this really was his plan. After all, he doesn't come across nearly as proud and noble as the fanfics like to make him, and I can easily see him living off some rich missy. At any rate, his only redeeming quality (except for loving James as a brother) were his good looks, and if he ever had to make living on his own, it would probably have to do with them. :p

[karentheunicorn.livejournal.com]

Haha, I know what clich you hint at, but now I can't but suspect that this really was his plan.

Oh no, I was making fun of myself actually. June would know what I'm talking about, I was poking fun at my own fanfic. She's read my fic so she'd know what I meant.

After all, he doesn't come across nearly as proud and noble as the fanfics like to make him, and I can easily see him living off some rich missy.

Yea, I always saw him as the sort of rogue guy. He's not always nice, he says good things but his actions sometimes seem stupid or poorly planned. As, he can talk the talk but does he really walk the walk? I think Sirius was probably a good guy but he also has some major issues that make him a pretty flawed individual. His words don't always line up with his actions.

[600ants.livejournal.com]

Oh right, then. I thought you were talking about all the "Sirius and his ameri-sue" stories. Forgive the assuming sporker in me. :)

His words don't always line up with his actions. Do they ever? I think he's the sort of a guy who knows what is right and what should be done, but doesn't mind making an exception for himself. As in, you should treat your inferiors with respect, Harry, but I can abuse Snape all I please. Because he's a slimy git. Or, you shouldn't let your girlfriend support you, but I can, because it suits me better than working and anyway, she wants me to. :)

[majorjune.livejournal.com]

At any rate, his only redeeming quality...were his good looks, and if he ever had to make living on his own, it would probably have to do with them.

Sirius Black:

          GQ model, or

          Gigolo, or

          Street-hustling prostitute

Take your pick.

Maybe I should make a poll for the above... ;-)

[karentheunicorn.livejournal.com]

His personality fits the 'dog'

He's loyal but he's also a wanderer who likes a good time and doesn't want to be tied down. He's fun, friendly, but he barks a lot and makes a mess.

Yea, he's a dog.

[sunnyskywalker]

Or he could go the Lockhart route! Publish amazing stories about himself while winning Witch Weekly's Best Smile award or whatever that was for publicity.

[600ants.livejournal.com]

I bet there are fanfics out there for all three possibilities.

Maybe he'd manage to grow up into a sensible adult with a boring, normal personality and a boring, normal life, if he didn't go to Azkaban, but these theories are so much fun! :) And the poll should be made, definitely! :D

[600ants.livejournal.com]

I mean, what exactly did Lupin plan on being/doing when he graduated Hogwarts? Or his parents, for that matter. Knowing he was screwed for life since he was a little kid, you'd think they'd make plans for him early on. The might have opened a small business themselves, so that it would be waiting for him after he graduates/is expelled from Hogwarts, whichever comes first. What were they thinking? The only thing I can think of is that Dumbles promised them he'd take care of Remus, not to worry, and then he didn't, because the war ended sooner that expected, and he didn't need him anymore.

[danajsparks.livejournal.com]

Red Hen speculates that he Dumbledore was paying him to keep an eye on the werewolves even between the wars.

I've also seen theories that he was working in the muggle world as a teacher.

[600ants.livejournal.com]

I've also seen theories that he was working in the muggle world as a teacher.

Seriously? As far as Muggle authorities are concerned, his formal education ended by the age of eleven. The problem is, in canon Lupin isn't quaified for any Muggle world profession - except those that require no qualification at all. :)

[danajsparks.livejournal.com]

yeah, he would need to get more schooling in the muggle world before he could teach.

Oh, another option I've heard is that he was doing private tutoring for wizarding children.

[600ants.livejournal.com]

Oh, another option I've heard is that he was doing private tutoring for wizarding children. This option is slightly more realistic, but it isn't supported by canon in the least (even though it would be a brilliant argument why Dumbledore hired Lupin in the first place, as well as a good explanation of what he was doing between the wars). And let's face it, would you want a werewolf around your children? This would have worked only if Lupin had wealthy friends who needed tutors for their kids, because with WizWorld's view of lycanthropy I can't imagine strangers trusting him enough to let him work with their children.

[oryx_leucoryx]

And let's face it, would you want a werewolf around your children?

Well, he doesn't have to spend nights with his students. If all lessons are scheduled for day-times what does it matter how much he howls at night? The tutoring can be of children under Hogwarts age or children who are being homeschooled instead of attending Hogwarts.

[600ants.livejournal.com]

Well, he doesn't have to spend nights with his students. If all lessons are scheduled for day-times what does it matter how much he howls at night?

You mean like it doesn't matter who boyscout leaders choose to bed, right? Of course his lycanthropy per se isn't the problem - the problem is prejudice of the WizWorld. And even if the parents normally aren't prejudiced, they probably won't be so openminded when it comes to their own children. Not to mention we all saw in PoA how responsible Lupin was, not taking his potion and endangering children under his care...

[majorjune.livejournal.com]

And let's face it, would you want a werewolf around your children?

Most people didn't know he was a werewolf, it wasn't until Snape "outed" him at the end of PoA that parents of Hogwarts students raised a stink about it (or it was worried that they would)...

[600ants.livejournal.com]

I always thought he had to tell his potential employer, or the relevant Ministry office even did it for him. Otherwise, why would he say nobody would give him a job because of his lycanthropy? If he managed to keep his condition a secret when he was a student, don't you think he'd be capable to of fool his boss and co-workers as well? At least for some time?

[jodel-from-aol.livejournal.com]

I've a particular fondness for Angie Astravic's postulation that he was working as an exterminator for infestations of magical pests.

It wouldn't be *seatadyt* work, and would probably not be highly profitable. But it's work and he could set his own schedule.

[600ants.livejournal.com]

exterminator for infestations of magical pests Hands down the best idea for Lupins job I've seen. :D

[seductivedark.livejournal.com]

Would give him a background in the Dark Creatures part of the DADA course.

[sunnyskywalker]

*can't resist* Who you gonna call?